Men’s tour news from the weekend in Hamburg and Bogota by Ricky Dimon
Two tournaments wrapped up on Sunday and not one featured a seeded champion. Both finals required a third-set tiebreaker to be decided. In Hamburg, Leonardo Mayer upset No. 1 seed David Ferrer 6-7(3), 6-1, 7-6(4). In Bogota, Bernard Tomic toppled Ivo Karlovic 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-6(4).
Hamburg summary
Mayer’s first-ever ATP title is of the 500-point variety, as the Argentine capped off an improbable run at the bet-at-home Open by taking down Ferrer. Mayer had not dropped a single set all week, but a run-in with Hamburg’s top seed proved to be more difficult. Ferrer took the first set then made a late charge after dropping the second 6-1 and going down a break in the third. Mayer failed to serve out the match at 5-4 in the decider, but he delivered a clutch hold at 5-6 and controlled the final tiebreaker from start to finish.
“I can’t believe it,” Mayer said. “I was able to do it against Ferrer, who is one of the best players on this surface. I’m really happy and it still hasn’t sunk in that I won. I wasn’t the top favorite, but I gave it all my strength, power, and energy because I absolutely wanted to win.”
Bogota summary
Tomic worked overtime to capture the second ATP title of his career. On Saturday, the 21-year-old Australian outlasted Victor Estrella Burgos in a third-set tiebreaker in a match that consisted of three ‘breakers. He also went the distance against Karlovic, failing to break a single time but taking both of the tiebreakers. Karlovic broke once in the second set, saved all five of the break points he faced, and finished with a whopping 39 aces. The 6’11” Croat is now 0-4 in ATP finals this season and has three runner-up performances in his last seven tournaments.
“I kept trying and believing in myself,” Tomic explained. “Against [Karlovic], if you stop believing and trying he will beat you. It’s my first tournament on hard courts since my surgeries in Australia. This title is huge and it’s one I will always remember.”
Briefs
* Mayer upsets Ferrer for first ATP title, surges 19 spots to No. 27.
* Kohlschreiber falls in semifinals, but swaps places with Haas for No. 25 to become top-ranked German.
* Zverev sees run end in semis, still climbs to 161st on Monday (up 124 spots).
* Tomic outlasts Karlovic to win in Bogota, jumps of 54 places to 70th.
* Stepanek stopped in semifinals, up five positions to No. 24.
* Estrella Burgos has run end in dramatic fashion, climbs 10 spots to 82nd.
Topics: Atp, Bernard Tomic, Bogota, Claro Open Colombia, David Ferrer, Hamburg, Ivo Karlovic, Leonardo Mayer, Ricky Dimon, Tennis, Tennis News
KARLOVIC LOSES TO THE TOTALLY TALENTED TOMIC IN BOGOTA FINALS- http://t.co/Saap980p3u @ivokarlovic #Tomic #tennis #Bogota @RD_Tennistalk
RT @10sBalls_com: KARLOVIC LOSES TO THE TOTALLY TALENTED TOMIC IN BOGOTA FINALS- http://t.co/Saap980p3u @ivokarlovic #Tomic #tennis #Bogota…