Mystery Disease Kills Thousands
Gay Marriage Vote Puts Heat On Christie
JOHANNESBURG (AP) -- Third-seeded Feliciano Lopez of Spain won his second career ATP Tour title Sunday by beating Stephane Robert of France 7-5, 6-1 in the SA Open final.
The 39th-ranked Lopez broke in the last game of the first set and then cruised in the second to earn his first title since 2004. The Spaniard never faced a break point but created 12 as he continually pressured Robert on his serve, breaking two more times in the second set.
"It's been six years since my last ATP title, which was also my first, so to win again is very sweet," said the 28-year-old Spaniard, who beat top-seeded Gael Monfils in the semifinals. "Playing tennis at high altitude here in Johannesburg where the game is faster suits me because I like to hit the big shots and go to net."
Robert was playing in his first career ATP final. He returned to the tour just six months ago following a long bout of hepatitis that sidelined him for the previous 15 months.
"This has been a very big week for me," he said. "I'm not a power player like Feliciano and my game is more suited to clay-court tennis. But I've proved to myself here that I can also be competitive against the big servers at altitude, and I beat four of them to get to the final."
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
How Long Will Santorum's Surge Last?
Washington Gay Marriage Legislation Signed Into Law By Governor Chris Gregoire
House GOP Offers Deal In Big Fight
Officials Confirm: Prescription Drugs Found In Whitney Houston's Room
Obama Budget Signals Shift From Austerity Measures To Campaign Promises
U.S. Green-Lights Google's Massive $12.5 Billion Purchase
Syrian Rebels Fight Off Attack On Key Town
Downgraded: Moody's Cuts Credit Ratings Of Italy, Portugal And Spain
WATCH: Fox News Pundit's Disturbing Comments About Rape
Pressure Mounts On Mortgage Giants To Pursue Principal Reductions
When Will The New iPad Be Announced?
Wall Street Fears Volcker Rule Will Force Testosterone Monitoring
Topless Protesters Target 'Gas Gangsters'
Afghanistan Base Named 'Aryan' Raises Objections From Soldiers
WATCH: CPAC's 'Best In Show'
WATCH: 25 Million Tons Of Japan Tsunami Debris Headed Directly Our Way
Obama's Birth Control Rule Will Hurt Homeless Veterans, Warns GOP Congressman
WATCH: Bill Maher Rips GOP Concept Of 'Elites'
GOP Candidates Out Of Step With Catholic Church On Unemployment
WATCH: Anderson Cooper's Hilarious Adventures With Adele
Supreme Court Justice Robbed
It's Only Getting Worse: Economists' Latest Dire Prediction
Huff TV: WATCH: Arianna Weighs In On Tony Bennett's Call To Legalize Drugs
