http://www.atptennis.com/en/newsandscores/news/2004/dubai_sunday.asp
DUBAI TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
MARCH 6, 2004
Federer Becomes First Player to Defend Dubai Title
Top seed and INDESIT ATP 2004 Race leader Roger Federer became the first player
to defend the Dubai title when he rallied from a set down to defeat Spaniard
Feliciano Lopez 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Lopez, playing in his first ATP final, performed like a man possessed in the
first set with attacking tennis. However, Federer showed why he is No.1 by
raising the bar conceding just three games in the final two sets.
Federer is now 16 wins from 17 starts in 2004 and he has won 21 of 22 matches
dating back to his unbeaten run at Tennis Masters Cup Houston last November.
WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID:
Federer: "He definitely played good tennis and it was difficult to comeback
against him, especially to give him the lead like I did after I got broken in
the very first game. I knew right away when I gave him that start it would be
difficult. I had many, many chances to come back but I felt it (the match)
could swing away so I was happy to change some things in the second set and
from then on it went really well. I changed my return, because every time I
had break chances on the ad court and every time I thought I played a good
point but I lost it. So I had to take more risks.
"I thought he played unbelievable tennis in the first set and came up with some
great shots, big power, great serving and he totally deserved the first set."
How he rates this win and title: "Very high! Especially to come back from a set
down and to win; it's very difficult in general in tennis, especially in the
finals. I thought experience could play a role, and it did a little bit because
he probably got a little frustrated. This (title) is very high in my rankings;
defending a title is something else than winning the first time."
Lopez: "Well I'm happy because I had a great week. I was playing so good
especially at the beginning of the match. I was close today; I almost beat
the best player in the world, so I have to be happy."
"He (Federer) was returning my serve so good and then he served unbelievable in
the second and third sets. He was getting better and better as the match went
on but I was getting a little down as the match went on. The thing is, I was
playing wonderful tennis in the first set but it's not easy to keep it going."
What he learnt from the experience: "Many things. I get confidence for the next
tournament and then the experience, to play with Roger in a final. We have
played three times and he has beaten me three times, I have always played good wit
h him and I have always lost which means he is a very good player, he's the
best player. This is a great experience.?
BHUPATHI & SANTORO WIN DOUBLES TITLE
Top seeds Fabrice Santoro and Mahesh Bhupathi captured their second title as a
pair in as many outings when they defeated the number two seeds, Leander Paes
and Jonas Bjorkman 6-2, 4-6, 6-4. The Santoro/Bhupathi pairing won in Auckland
in January this year and won their second title in front of capacity crowd of
5,400. The number one seeds were the better returning team which made the
difference tonight as they had 16 break point opportunities whereas Paes and
Bjorkman only had four break point opportunities.
Santoro is undefeated in doubles in 2004. This doubles title makes it three in
a row for Santoro who has now won Auckland, the Australian Open and Dubai.
Santoro said: "My opinion was that this was a very high level game of doubles,
everything was there. Four good players on the court with many career titles be
hind them, good quality of tennis in front of a full stadium and at the end it
was very tight so we had big emotions."
"I'm very happy to play with Mahesh. Every time I have won a title it's because
I have been happy next to my partner. I have never won a title with someone
I'm not happy to be with. That's the key to the success."
Bhupathi said: (On playing Paes) "It's never easy when we play each other.
Fabrice told me after the match it's not easy on him because he knows it's not easy
on me and Max (Mirnyi) told me the two times we played him last year it's the
same feeling."
"Every time Fabrice and I return against anyone, there is pressure on them
because our strength is our returns. Today we got off to a good start winning
the first set 6-2 and we continued to hold many break points throughout the
match but luckily we held up because if it had got to 5-5 in the third set,
it would have been my serve and it could have got ugly after that."
"We have our respective partners, but whenever we have a chance, we will play
together."
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※ 編輯: FedererEX 來自: 61.64.168.210 (03/08 12:12)