HEAD racquet rebels sweep to three ATP titles
February 11, 2013
Kennelbach/Austria — HEAD racquet rebels finished a breakthrough week with three ATP World Tour titles. In Montpellier, Richard Gasquet won his second trophy of the season with his YouTek™ IG Extreme, while Marin Cilic marked his third tournament victory in Zagreb, swinging his brand-new YouTek™ Graphene™ Instinct. But the biggest surprise came in Vina del Mar, Chile as HEAD’s Horacio Zeballos upset Rafael Nadal 6-7(2), 7-6(6), 6-4 to spoil the Spaniard’s return to tennis after nearly eight months of injury. It was the first career title for Zeballos and could not have come at a better moment.
“It’s a dream for me. It’s a moment that will stay in my memory for the rest of my life,” said Zeballos, who plays with a new YouTek™ Graphene™ Speed. “I’ve worked hard because I really wanted to be at this level and I think I’m at the best moment of my career. I’m very strong physically and psychologically.” The Argentine beat four seeds in his trophy run on clay at the Pacific resort: No. 4 Andujar, No. 5 Ramos, No. 8 Berlocq (YouTek™ IG Prestige) plus No. 1 Nadal.
In Montpellier, Gasquet, now back in the Top 10, becomes the first man this ATP season to win two trophies as he defeated compatriot Benoit Paire 6-2, 6-3, running his 2013 record to an impressive 14-1. He has now won a hat-trick of trophies in his home country (Lyon 2006, Nice 2010).
“I feel very happy and relieved to win here in Montpellier in front of my friends and family,” said the ATP No. 10 who was born just 70 km away and now owns nine ATP World Tour titles. “It has always been my objective to lift this trophy. This is my best season start ever, I just want to keep going and stay healthy.”
It was the same sentiment for Cilic, who has won his third title at the Zagreb Indoors after 2009 and 2010. He defeated Austrian Jurgen Melzer 6-3, 6-1 in only 67 minutes for his ninth career title. “Most of my game was working extremely well,” said the 12th-ranked Cilic, who fired 33 aces during the winning week. “My returns were really good and I had a read on almost all of his serves. I took my chances and defended well. Overall, I played a great match from beginning to the end.”