Indianapolis (Indiana), July 27 (DPA) History repeated for Robby Ginepri Sunday as the 95th-ranked outsider again turned the formbook on its head with a second career title at the Indianapolis Tennis Championships.
Ginepri, a one-time top 20 player set to advance back into the top 60 as a result of his third trophy, achieved a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Californian third seed Sam Querrey. Ginepri won the event in 2005.
Defeat was the second in two finals this month for the 37th-ranked Querrey, who was beaten on grass a fortnight ago in Newport by Rajeev Ram.
Ginepri, who missed two months due to appendix surgery in the spring, said he came into the week without a shred of expectations.
His win came in the first meeting between the pair of frequent practice partners.
“When I won here in 2005 I was about in the same ranking,” said Ginepri. “But this one has to be more special as I really never expected it. … But I had no pressure either. It’s funny how things work out.”
Ginepri followed his game plan of stifling Querry from the start, breaking twice to lift the opening set in 26 minutes and profiting with a break for 5-4 in the second as Querrey produced one of his nine double-faults.
Ginepri calmly served it out minus any hesitation to claim the title in 62 minutes.
“Sam has a big serve, but I got onto it early in the match,” Ginepri said. “If I hadn’t run him around court he would have taken control.”
Querrey admitted: “I didn’t have a rhythm on serve today. It was not there. He’s such a good returner, he puts a lot of pressure on you. Robby played well and had very few unforced errors. It was not my best day, but I still made him play a lot of balls. I’ve practised 100 times with him, but a match is different.”
Ginepri was slowed early in the year by a nine-day hospitalization due to appendix surgery, and he had not reached a semi-final since March 2008 in Las Vegas. He out-aced the usually big-hitting Querrey, firing four aces and 13 winners.
Both men are continuing their US Open build-up next week in Los Angeles, where Ginepri faces Marat Safin and Querrey takes on Denis Istomin.
rounak