Saturday, February 19, 2011

Almagro vs Chela in Buenos Aires final

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