By Chris Soderstrom
Czech ninth seed Tomas Berdych claimed his first title of the season yesterday, capping off a phenomenal campaign at the Japan Open.
The former top 10 player added fifth-seeded Argentine, Juan Martin Del Potro, to his tournament’s list of scalps which included second and third seeded players, Andy Roddick and Fernando Gonzalez.
“If someone had told me before the match (how I would control the play) I wouldn’t have believed it,” said Berdych after the 6-1, 6-4 win.
“I was really looking forward to these two tournaments (Bankgok & Tokyo) because last year I made two semi-finals here and in Bangkok. So it’s really nice to play here, everything is going well. I like these two places and I hope I’m going to be here next year because I like the place very much.”
Berdych, the World No. 9 in August last year, powered to a fourth career title and the first on hard-court. He fired 11 aces, converted three of eight break points and defended all three against him throughout the one hour and 17 minute encounter.
It wasn’t all doom-and-gloom for Del Potro though, who surges into a career-high No. 9 when the new rankings are released today. He joins fellow Argentine David Nalbandian (7) in the elite Top 10.
In the women’s draw, Danish 18-year-old Caroline Wozniacki continued her tremendous form, beating Kaia Kanepi in the final.
The top seed completed a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 victory over the Estonian in just two hours.