Karlovic, Ramos Capture 250 Titles. Klizan Continues 500 success in Hamburg
Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic
ATP Hamburg
Martin Klizan won his second ATP 500 title of the season in Hamburg. In a big boost since returning from injury, Klizan upset Pablo Cuevas in straight sets 6-1 6-4, after defeating journeyman Stephane Robert in the semifinals in straight sets. Klizan also posted wins over Igor Sijsling, Louis Wessels, and Daniel Gimeno-Traver last week, all without dropping a set, with a textbook power tennis performance.
Cuevas beat Renzo Olivo, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Thiago Monteiro, and Florian Mayer this week, as he continued his great clay court season. Henri Kontinen and John Peers took home the doubles title over Daniel Nestor and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi.
ATP Newport
37 year old Ivo Karlovic served well for four straight matches and took home the title in Newport, adding a big result to his poor season overall. Karlovic defeated fellow big server Gilles Muller 6-7 7-6 7-6 in the final, after posting previous wins against Frank Dancevic, Marco Chiudinelli, and Marcos Baghdatis earlier in the week. Muller defeated Victor Estrella, Adrian Mannarino, and Donald Young to reach the final. Sam Groth and Chris Guccione beat Jonathan Marray and Adil Shamsadin in the doubles final. Karlovic continues to be a tremendous threat on fast surfaces.
ATP Bastad
Albert Ramos won his first ever ATP title in Bastad, upsetting Fernando Verdasco 6-3 6-4. Ramos beat multiple Spaniards last week in Sweden, Roberto Carballes Baena was his first victim, then he defeated Andrea Arnaboldi in three sets, and David Ferrer in straights to reach the final. Ferrer had never lost to Ramos before, but he upped his game, and his spin, to defeat his higher ranked countryman.
Verdasco defeated Henri Laaksonen, Albert Montanes, Facundo Bagnis, and Gastao Elias, all without dropping a set. Marcel Granollers and David Marrero defeated Marcus Daniell and Marcelo Demoliner in the doubles final to make it all-Spanish champions in Bastad.
Tennis Atlantic 