Nicolas Almagro, Fernando Verdasco to face off in Houston final

Houston, April 13 (IANS): Two Spaniards – Nicolas Almagro and Fernando Verdasco – will face off in the US Men’s Clay Court Championship final Sunday.

Verdasco, who is the No. 4 seed and has five career titles all on clay, beat Santiago Giraldo of Colombia 6-4, 7-5 in the semifinals, reported Xinhua.

The third-seeded Almagro advanced when American Sam Querrey pulled out because of a back injury.

Almagro, a 12-time winner on the ATP Tour, reached the final for the second straight year.

America’s brothers Bob and Mike Bryan won the doubles title for the fifth time, beating Verdasco and David Marrero 4-6, 6-4, 11-9.

They have won four straight tournament and have 97 ATP Tour titles, 36 more than any other team.