Monfils wins Stockholm title Bopanna/Qureshi win doubles crown

Written by: Global Chick on 23rd October 2011

Monfils wins Stockholm title Bopanna/Qureshi win doubles crown

Gael Monfils of France poses for the photographers with the trophy after winning against Jarkko Nieminien of Finland in the final of the ATP Stockholm Open tennis tournament, in Stockholm, Sweden, on 23 October 2011. EPA/FREDRIK SANDBERG * SWEDEN OUT * |

Top seed Gael Monfils captured his first title for the year in Stockholm on Sunday. The Frenchman beat Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen 7-5 3-6 6-2 in the final at Kungliga Tennishallen.

The World No. 10 broke late in the first set and took a 6-5 lead and then served out the first set. The second set consisted of a few breaks of serve on both sides. Nieminen finally broke and took a 5-3 lead and served home the set to make it 1-1. In the third set Monfils was too strong and broke the Finn twice to finish off the match in just under 2 hours. Nieminen said after the match, “That’s when I play my best and I played a really good second set. I continued that for the beginning of the third set, but unfortunately went down a break and got tired and Monfils stayed strong at the end.”

The World No. 73 has reached the Stockholm final three times and has failed all three attempts to take home the trophy. “It was great to see so many Finnish people. They’re always coming here especially towards the end of the week. It’s always really nice when they come to support me but the way the Swedish people support me is also amazing, as it feels almost like a home court for me.”

Gael Monfils came to the If Stockholm Open for the first time this week. The Frenchman is now the holder of four ATP Tour singles titles. The 25-year-old said, “My concentration was the key for me today. I just believed I could win this match.”

The Stockholm Open Champion continued, “Jarkko was playing good when he was in front. Some spots of the match were high level tennis and he was moving well. At the end I think he got a bit fatigued. I played him three weeks ago in Bangkok but I was more impressed with him today.”

The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London at the end of the season is still within reach for Monfils if he continues to play well and win matches for the next couple of weeks. After Sunday’s win he is now ranked No. 14 on the Battle of London rankings.

The Indo/Pak Express have captured their second title for the season this week. The duo won the Halle tournament just before Wimbledon. Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-Ul-Haq defeated Brazilans Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares 6-1 6-3 in Sunday’s final. “It’s been a great week for us here. I always enjoy coming back to Stockholm. A few years ago I lost against Jonas Bjorkman in the first round and learnt something from that defeat. It’s also very special for me here thanks to the Pakistani fans who come to the stadium to support us. Of course I also want to thank Rohan. We have ben playing together for two years now and it’s going great,” Qureshi said.

The duo have now increased their chances of taking one of the three spots remaining for the end of year event in London. They are currently the number seventh ranked team on the London rankings.

Bopanna and Qureshi will get to share $29 400 and they receive 250 ranking points.

Topics: bopanna, Gael Monfils, Qureshi, Stockholm Open 2011