Top seed David Ferrer of Spain clinched his 25th career title after beating fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 7-5, 7-5 to win the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
The match was tightly contested but Ferrer’s determination and deep forehands ultimately proved too much for Lopez. “It was my best match of the tournament and my best performance here in Malaysia,” the world number eight told reporters.
“I was consistent with my game and am happy with the victory. My serve was good today and it needed to be because Feliciano pressured me today.”
Ferrer netted victories in Qatar, Rio and Mexico prior to Sunday’s Malaysian triumph, winning all four finals he contested this year. “It’s been a good year for me, winning all the finals. But I remember two years ago I lost in five finals and the statistics have changed,” said Ferrer, who pocketed $170,600 in prize money with the win.
“I have to enjoy this moment. When I end my career I won’t have any of this anymore.”
The match was Ferrer’s 50th tour-level final. Others who have attained the feat are Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.
Ferrer’s journey to win the Malaysian title included a two-hour, five-minute battle to overcome unseeded semifinalist Benjamin Becker from Germany on Saturday.
Second seed Lopez said a change of balls in the first set had affected his rhythm on Sunday. “I made some fantastic points in the first game, but a change of balls changed the momentum,” he said.
“I was playing aggressive, but after that he was more consistent and it was difficult for me to win the points.”
In the men’s doubles final, Treat Huey from the Philippines and Henri Kontinen from Finland won their second consecutive tournament as a pair after a 7-6 (4), 6-2 victory over South African Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram from the US.
E-Paper
