Confidence-builder
Alonzo continues Spain's clay-court dominance at Bologna
Posted: Sunday June 14, 1998 06:22 PM
BOLOGNA, Italy (Reuters) -- Third-seeded Julian
Alonso of Spain claimed the second title of his career when
he beat Moroccan Karim Alami 6-1, 6-4 to win the Bologna men's
clay-court tournament on Sunday.
The world No. 39, with just four wins in his last 21
matches going into the tournament, disposed of a lackluster Alami in less than an hour.
It was the 20-year-old Spaniard's first title since he beat
current world No. 2 Marcelo Rios in his hometown Santiago
last October -- a result that denied the Chilean a place in the
ATP Tour World Championships.
"I wanted this win very badly. I needed to get back
confidence in my tennis," said a delighted Alonso, who had
failed to get past a second round in 1998.
Alonso, better known as the boyfriend of world No. 1
Martina Hingis, did not drop a set all week, showing a welcome
return to the form that propelled him 253 spots into the world's top 50.
Not surprisingly, Alami, forced to play two tough semifinals
in the singles and doubles tournament on Saturday, blamed his
defeat on exhaustion. But the quality of Alonso's play was the
real problem.
The big-serving Spaniard -- one of just three players on the
Tour to have hit a 140-mph serve -- appeared heading toward a romp, racing to a 5-0 lead.
Alami finally held serve in the sixth game to avoid a first
set whitewash, but Alonso served out to take the first set.
The Moroccan bravely kept pace with his opponent in the
second set, but Alonso secured the vital service break in the
11th game and held serve to take the title.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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