Top seeds Robert Lindstedt and Horia Tecau captured their seventh ATP World Tour title on Saturday as they defeated first-time duo Jeremy Chardy and Lukasz Kubot 7-6(2), 6-3 in the final of the BRD Nastase Tiriac Trophy in Bucharest.
“I wasn’t 100 per cent before the first match. I had a knee issue,” said Lindstedt. “To get through that one really got us set on our tracks. In the semi-finals, it was the most rewarding match for us as a team. It was a very difficult match the way it evolved. It was very important for us. Today’s match is the icing on the cake for a great week.”
Home favourite Tecau and Sweden’s Lindstedt saved five of six break points and converted both of their opportunities to claim victory in one hour and 34 minutes. They were contesting their second final of the season, following a runner-up finish in Rotterdam (l. to Llodra/Zimonjic) in February.
“It’s a fantastic feeling,” Tecau said. “Other than the Grand Slams, it’s my favourite tournament and the one I wanted to win most. I can now celebrate with my friends, family, fans, and the people that have supported me throughout my career.”
The 35-year-old Lindstedt captured his 13th ATP World Tour title in his 27th final. Tecau, 27, won his 10th title; all have come in the past two years.
France’s Chardy and Kubot of Poland had only dropped one set en route to their first team final. Chardy dropped to a 1-4 record in doubles finals, while Kubot, the Bucharest champion in 2010 with Juan Ignacio Chela, slipped to a 6-6 record.
At the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, fourth seeds Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski reached the final for the third time after battling past second seeds Max Mirnyi and Daniel Nestor 6-3, 0-6, 10-6. The Poles capitalised on three of their four break point opportunities to prevail in 64 minutes.
Fyrstenberg and Matkowski finished runners-up at the ATP World Tour 500 clay-court tournament in 2006 (l. to Knowles/Nestor) and 2008 (l. to Bryans). They are bidding for their first title of the season.
In Sunday’s title match, Fyrstenberg and Matkowski will play Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez. The Spaniards eased past eighth seeds Oliver Marach and Alexander Peya 7-6(4), 6-1 to move into their second team final of the season, following their runner-up finish in Acapulco (l. to Marrero/Verdasco). They are aiming to lift their first trophy in four finals together.
Topics: 10sballs.com, BRD Nastase Tiriac Trophy in Bucharest, Horia Tecau, Jeremy Chardy, Lukasz Kubot, Polish tennis news, Robert Lindstedt, Sports, Swedish tennis enws, Tennis, Tennis News