Berdych Rolls in Rotterdam, Nishikori Repeats in Memphis, Ferrer Wins 3rd Copa Claro
Steen Kirby, Tennis East Coast
ATP Rotterdam
As predicted, a red hot Tomas Berdych, who is playing like one of the top 3 players in the world right now, rolled through Marin Cilic, playing his second ATP final in as many weeks, 6-4 6-2 to capture his first title of 2014.
Berdych has only lost twice this year. It was one-way traffic after a slow start for both players and Cilic simply looked like he had nothing left in the tank after so much tennis in the past couple of weeks.
Berdych beat Andreas Seppi and Nicolas Mahut in the first couple of rounds without dropping a set, then beat Jerzy Janowicz in 3 sets and beat surprise semifinalist Ernests Gulbis 3 and 2 in the semis.
Gulbis upset Juan Martin Del Potro in the quarterfinals.
Cilic beat Lukas Rosol, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Andy Murray, all without dropping a set, before winning a 3 setter against surprise semifinalist Igor Sijsling. Tsonga and Murray both played poorly, while Cilic was sportsmanlike and solid.
Michael Llodra/Nicolas Mahut won the doubles title over Jean-Julien Rojer/Horia Tecau
ATP Memphis
As predicted, Kei Nishikori repeated as champion in Memphis, defeating Ivo Karlovic 6-4 7-6 in a final in which he had the upper hand throughout. Nishikori-san broke early in the first and held, and then held with ease until the second set tiebreak.
Nishikori beat Benjamin Becker in straights, Alex Bogomolov in 3 sets (coming back from a set and a break down in that one), and surprise semifinalist Michael Russell also in straights to make the final.
Karlovic, my dark horse pick for Memphis, found his way to the final, as he served well against Matt Ebden and Feliciano Lopez, taking care of them in straight sets before beating Jack Sock in 3 sets and Rendy Lu 6-1 with a retirement in the semis.
Eric Butorac/Raven Klaasen continued their career year in doubles as a team, beating the Bryan Brothers for the doubles crown.
ATP Buenos Aires
David Ferrer won his third overall and third straight Buenos Aires title, ending the 10 match clay court win streak of Fabio Fognini, 6-4 6-3. Fognini faded midway through the second set and simply appeared to be running on empty, like Cilic, as he was playing in his second final in as many weeks and had Davis Cup duty before that.
Ferrer beat Maximo Gonzalez, Santiago Giraldo, Albert Ramos and Nicolas Almagro all without dropping a set, as he made quick work of things this week. Fognini beat Julian Reister in straights, Leo Mayer in 3 sets, Pablo Andujar in straights and Tommy Robredo in 3 to reach the final, having much greater difficulty, but prevailing regardless.
Marcel Granollers/Marc Lopez are the doubles champs. They beat Pablo Cuevas/Horacio Zeballos.
Tennis Atlantic 