Finals of Auckland and Sydney

SYDNEY

Argentine David Nalbandian has tied his record in ATP finals (10-10) after 6-3 6-7 6-2 win over Jarkko Nieminen of Finland who slips in the finals to a very bad record 1-8. Nalbandian after winning first set had break point at 4:2 in the second. Later led 5:3, and at 5:4 was serving for the match only to lose that game to love. The end of the set was extraordinary. In the 12th game Nieminen had three setpoints but Nalbandian led the set into the tie-break. First 8 points in the tie-break were won against the server. Nieminen managed to win a point on serve and moment later had another two set points (6:4). Ambitious Finn (fell on court at two setpoints) wasted those set points, another three, and at 9:9 Nalbandian had great opportunity to gain first match point but being at the net, skipped an easy ball which landed on the line. Finally Nieminen who has been playing long tie-breakers better than Nalbandian, converted 9th setpoint with a service winner.In the third game of the final set Nieminen had break point after to amazing passing-shots but Nalbandian held his serve and won the last four games of the match finishing the tournament with an overhead.

AUCKLAND

Nalbandian’s compatriot, Juan Martin del Potro won 5th ATP title (third on hardcourt) beating 6-4 6-4  in one hour and 24 minutes American Sam Querrey in the final of the Heineken Open. The final between the two tallest players of the tournament (both 6 feet 6 inches) was dominated by powerful strokes from the baseline and hard serves (Querrey struck 10 aces, Del Potro 9), and had very similar scenario in both sets, Del Potro broke his opponent in 9th game of both sets and held serve to close out the sets. “Sam is a very good player with a great serve but today I won the break points and he didn’t” said Del Potro.
Sydney – Final

(4)David Nalbandian (ARG) d. Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) 6-3 6-7(9) 6-2
Auckland – Final   (1)Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) d. (6)Samuel Querrey (USA) 6-4 6-4