ANDUJAR REPEATS AS CASABLANCA CHAMPION

Written by: Staff on 15th April 2012

ANDUJAR REPEATS AS CASABLANCA CHAMPION

Pablo Andujar of Spain returns a shot during the second round men's singles match against Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina during the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 19 January 2012. EPA/AHMAD YUSNI |

Casablanca, Morocco

by ATP Staff

15.04.2012

original story: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/04/15/Casablanca-Sunday-Andujar-Beats-Ramos-To-Retain-Title.aspx

Third seed Pablo Andujar defeated seventh-seeded countryman Albert Ramos 6-1, 7-6(5) in a rain-delayed final to successfully defend his Casablanca title at the Grand Prix Hassan II on Sunday.

“I’m very happy, as this is very special to me. I didn’t think that I could win here twice in a row,” said Andujar. “It was difficult with the three rain delays.”

Andujar capitalised on all four of his break opportunities, winning 47 per cent of his return points to triumph in one hour and 46 minutes. He is yet to drop a set in his three tour-level meetings with Ramos.

“Albert was a bit nervous at the beginning and I played very well during the first set,” Andujar assessed. “The second set could have gone in both directions. It wasn’t easy to remain calm in the end.”

Read Andujar Q&A

The 26-year-old Andujar improved to a 2-3 final record, with all of his title match appearances coming on clay. He is 9-0 in Casablanca, taking 18 of the 20 sets he’s played at the ATP World Tour 250 event.

Ramos was contesting his first ATP World Tour final and dropped to a 14-10 season record.