Ferrer beats Dolgopolov for Valencia title
MADRID (AFP) –
Spaniard David Ferrer gave the home fans something to cheer Sunday when he lifted the Valencia Open title after a 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 win over Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov to bag his sixth crown of the year.
Ferrer, who hails from nearby Alicante on Spain’s east coast and who also had runs to the semi-finals of Roland Garros and the US Open, made it six wins from seven season finals, although 21st-ranked Dolgopolov made him work.
A break in the fourth game set Ferrer on his way in the opening set, finished off with a service game to love. But Dolgopolov pocketed a swift break as he raced 3-0 clear in the second set and maintained his advantage to level the contest.
In a tight decider, Dolgopolov had two break chances but Ferrer dug in as he finally converted for a 4-3 lead, whereupon Dolgopolov began to commit too many forced errors as he saw his challenge fall away.