May 20th, 2007

Sergi Bruguera won his third consecutive clay court title on the BlackRock Tour of Champions to surge further clear at the top of the South African Airways Champions Tour Rankings.

The Spaniard added Hamburg to his titles in Barcelona and Rome as he beat Thomas Muster 6-1, 6-4 in the final.

It means that Bruguera has now won 12 matches in a row to dominate the clay court swing on the BlackRock Tour of Champions.

“He was always a great player on clay on the ATP circuit and he’s just as tough now on the BlackRock Tour,” said Muster afterwards.

The Tour will now move onto hard court in Algarve (Portugal) and Graz (Austria) in August.

After those events, the Tour will visit Paris, Eindhoven, Liege and Frankfurt before arriving in London for the BlackRock Masters Tennis.

REACTION TO ATP MASTERS SERIES HAMBURG FINAL

Thomas Muster on Federer vs. Nadal

“It was a gut feeling I had that Roger would win this one. He played an incredible third set and Rafa didn’t have the strength left to resist what Roger threw at him on court today. It was a great effort. It’s awesome. He played great tennis after the first set, changed the momentum, came in a bit more, played angles, and started serving better. He used everything he could to win.

“Rafael has played an awful lot of matches coming in to this. Already in Rome he was a little tired, and always being reminded that he had this winning streak on the line. It might mean that it’s a bit of a relief for him that it’s gone.

“The French Open is a different tournament. There is another week to go for Rafa to recover. He has played more matches than Roger on this surface and it’s a whole new game. I don’t think this has any influence on Paris. If they met in the final there it would be a whole new ball-game – best of five sets, so you can’t compare. Also Hamburg is really slow, Paris is faster, and that will suit Rafa better to give his top-spin more effect. Hamburg has always been different. It was also the only tournament that I didn’t win on clay of the big ones.

“Maybe it brings Rafa back to earth and it might be good for him to have it.

I would still make Rafa the favourite over five sets. The momentum can change, and you have more time.”

Sergi Bruguera on Federer vs. Nadal

“It’s a relative surprise. I think everyone knew that he had the game to beat Rafa (on clay), but we didn’t see it until now.

“For sure, in the mind of Roger, this will influence the French Open. With this win, especially 2-6, 6-2, 6-0, it’s going to help Roger in his mind.

“The French Open is another tournament, another situation, another story, but it’s good for Roger that he won today.

“Hamburg is one of the best places to play Rafa because it’s very slow and the ball doesn’t bounce too much. That is better for Roger. It was very good the way that he was fighting. He saved two matches against Moya and Ferrer not playing his best tennis, and he beat them by fighting and suffering.

“That helped him for playing Rafa because he was fighting today very well.

“Before, everyone thought the French Open would be easy for Rafa, but now it’s going to be very interesting.”

RESULTS – SUNDAY 20th MAY, 2007

The Final

Sergi Bruguera d. Thomas Muster 6-1, 6-4

3rd/4th Place play-off

Goran Ivanisevic d. Henri Leconte 6-4, 6-4

GROUP STANDINGS

GROUP A
Matches Won/Lost (sets)
Thomas Muster 2-1 (5-3)
Henri Leconte 2-1 (5-2)
Karel Novacek 1-2 (2-4)
Boris Becker 1-2 (2-5)

GROUP B
Matches Won/Lost (sets)
Sergi Bruguera 3-0 (6-0)
Goran Ivanisevic 2-1 (4-2)
Cedric Pioline 1-2 (2-4)
Michael Stich 0-3 (0-6)

SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS 2007 CHAMPIONS TOUR RANKINGS (after four events)

POS. PLAYER PTS

1 Sergi Bruguera 1200
2 Henri Leconte 635
3 Wayne Ferreira 450
4 Thomas Muster 410
5 Anders Jarryd 400
6 Cedric Pioline 340
7 John McEnroe 310
8 Jordi Arrese 250
9 Goran Ivanisevic 200
10 Michael Stich 185
11 Carl-Uwe Steeb 140
12 Pat Cash 80
12 Jeremy Bates 80
12 Renzo Furlan 80
12 Karel Novacek 80
16 Richard Krajicek 60
16 Paolo Cane 60
16 Boris Becker 60

The BlackRock Tour of Champions Calendar 2007

BELFAST, Northern Ireland - February 22-25
(Winner: Anders Jarryd; Runner-up: Henri Leconte)

BARCELONA, Spain - April 19-22
(Winner: Sergi Bruguera; Runner-up: Jordi Arresi)

ROME, Italy – May 12-15
(Winner: Sergi Bruguera; Runner-up: Wayne Ferreira)

HAMBURG, Germany - May 17-20
(Winner: Sergi Bruguera; Runner-up: Thomas Muster)

ALGARVE, Portugal - August 7-10
GRAZ, Austria - August 14-18
PARIS, France - September 20-23
EINDHOVEN, Netherlands October 4-7
LIEGE, Belgium November 8-11
FRANKFURT, Germany - November 15-18
LONDON, UK - December 4-9

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