Almagro vs Chela in Buenos Aires final
Nicolas Almagro beat Tommy Robredo 7-5 6-1 to reach the final at the Copa Claro in Buenos Aires.
Almagro will face Juan Ignacio Chela, who scored a 6-2 6-2 upset victory over Stanislas Wawrinka.
Wawrinka had earlier beaten Juan Monaco 7-5 6-3 in their quarter-final.
“I’ve been looking for this for 11 years,” Chela said of the tournament at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club first held in 2001. “Today I played a great match against a great player.”
“I didn’t expect what happened last year, winning two titles gave me a lot of confidence,” added Chela, enjoying a new lease of life after victories in Houston and Bucharest in 2010.
Almagro has been in good form this month adding a more aggressive streak to his game once regarded as defensive.
He took his tally this year to 13-2 as he crushed Robredo in the second set after taking the first with a break of serve in the 12th game.
Allowing Robredo just one game in the second, Almagro peppered his compatriot with pin-point drives across court and down the lines.
Setting himself up with three match points serving at 5-1, the right hander won it on the first with yet another crosscourt shot as he met Robredo’s return at the left sideline.
“This was a very special day, winning two such important matches,” said Almagro. “I had to attack a lot, Robredo came with a lot of confidence from the Santiago title.”
Source Reuters
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Almagro vs Chela in Buenos Aires final
Saturday, February 19, 2011 Buenos Aires Copa Claro, juan ignacio chela, Nicolas Almagro, Stanislas Wawrinka, tommy robredo