views
Chennai: Belgian Xavier Malisse defeated Austrian Stefan Koubek 6-1, 6-3 in the Chennai Open final on Sunday to win the second title of his career.
Third seed Malisse, who upset world number two Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals, produced a dominating all-court display for the second day in succession to close out the match in 61 minutes.
A Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2002, world number 37 Malisse broke his left-handed opponent in the first, third, fifth and seventh games to clinch the first set.
Thirty-year-Koubek, who beat former world number one Carlos Moya in the semi-final never quite managed to find his rhythm.
Malisse, who displayed a range of shots in the second set, broke his Austrian opponent in the fourth game to close out the match.
Malisse capped off a brilliant day in the office by winning the doubles title as well.
Malisse and compatriot Dick Norman beat Spaniards Rafael Nadal and Bartolome Salva-Vidal in straight sets 7-6, 7-6. The match lasted for one hour and 43 minutes.
This is Malisse's third career doubles title and the first for Norman. It wasn't exactly a great Chennai Open for Rafael Nadal though. He had earlier lost to Malisse in the singles semi-final.
Comments
0 comment