In the final of AIG Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo, Tomas Berdych defeated Juan Martin del Potro 6-1 6-4. Del Potro was trying to be the first player since Sjeng Schalken who won first five finals on ATP circuit. The young Argentinian who has been playing impressive tennis since Wimbledon (won 29 out of the last 30 matches before the Tokyo’s final) had some stomach problems and was close of being destroyed by Berdych. After losing the first set Del Potro saved triple break point at 1:3 in the second set. Berdych managed to hold the only service break in the second set, won his first title in Asia and first title on a hardcourt outdoors. The 23 year-old Czech has won 4 titles so far and each of them in the different conditions (Palermo 2004 – clay; Paris 2005 – indoor hardcourt; Halle 2007 – grass; Tokyo 2008 – outdoor hardcourt).
Dmitry Tursunov captured 5th title in career after beating 7-6(6) 1-6 6-4 the crowd-favourite Paul-Henri Mathieu in Metz. The Frenchman was leading 6:3 in the first set tie-break (after saving set point on Tursunov’s serve in the 12th game) but The Russian saved triple setpoint in a good style (2nd serve service winner, ace, forehand winner) and took the first set on his second chance. Mathieu leveled up to one set apiece thanks to 3 breaks of serve but lost his own serve at 2:2 in the final set. It was a crucial break. Tursunov wasted admittedly double match point in the 9th game but in the following game he quickly obtained another three match points and finished the match with 2nd serve service winner. It’s the first European title for Tursunov.
