Juan Martin del Potro Claims Second Consecutive Estoril Open Title
May 7, 2012 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Juan Martin del Potro of Spain won his second Estoril Open title after defeating Richard Gasquet of France 6-4, 6-2. He was seeded first and is ranked 12th making this his second title for the year and 11th overall in his career. Gasquet was seeded second and lost in the finals of the Estoril Open in 2007 to Novak Djokovic. Del Potro did not give up a break chance the entire, and improves his record against Gasquet to 4-1.
”I felt it was my best match of the week,” Del Potro said. "I am getting closer and closer to my best form. I have worked really hard at home and now I have another important tournament next week to improve further. If I play as well as I did today over the coming days, I will be happy."
Del Potro became the third player in the 23-year-old history of the ATP World Tour 250 clay-court tournament to win back-to-back titles. He joined Spaniard Albert Montanes (2009-10), who he beat in this year’s quarter-finals, and former world number one-ranked Thomas Muster (1995-96).
"It’s always disappointing to lose a final. [In the others finals I have lost] I lost five times to Djokovic, [Roger] Federer, now del Potro. They were better than me," said Gasquet."It’s good for me to reach a final. It was a good tournament to prepare for the clay season. I get confidence from this tournament."
