Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez were locked in a first-round scrap. The ATP world no. 39 and the no. 53, respectively, duked it out for 2 hours and 18 minutes in the first match of the day in Gstaad. Garcia-Lopez, a JC Ferro Equilite alum, eventually prevailed 6-4 7-6(4) 6-3 and sent the seventh-seed home in the day’s first upset on the singles side.

Garcia-Lopez will now meet Andreas Beck of Germany in the second round. The two players have never met in ATP competition.

(Images: AP/Peter Schneider)

Dmitry Tursunov has made a nice run in Eastbourne this week and has booked a spot in the final. The second-seed did so by getting passed eighth-seed Guillermo Garcia-Lopez pretty easily 6-2 6-2 after just 70 minutes of play. The Russian has had a less than a stellar season so far and has not passed the round of 16, so this week’s run is a season booster.

He books a spot against Canadian-qualifier Frank Dancevic, who beat Fabrice Santoro 6-4 6-4. The 24 year old and current ATP World No. 126 is looking for his first career title, and tomorrow’s appearance will only be his second career final. It will be an uphill battle for the Canadian, as the Russian is a little more experienced with a couple more years on tour and five career titles. Tursunov also leads their head-to-head 2-0.

(Images: AEGON International)

Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, former JC Ferrero Equelite attendee, rallied to beat lucky loser Julien Benneteau of France to capture the Kitzbuhel title. He captured the Austrian trophy after battling the Frenchman for three hours and ten minutes for a 3-6 7-6(1) 6-3 victory. Kitzbuhel is the Spaniard’s first ATP career title, so a congratulations is in order for the 25-year-old world no. 74.

On the doubles side, the Brazilian duo of Marcel Melo and Andre Sa successfully defended their title. They overcame a one-set deficit to beat Romanians Andrei Pavel and Horia Tecau 6-7(9) 6-2 10-7. The championship is their first of the year and their fifth title together.


Championship Results
Singles Final
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) def. LL Julien Benneteau (FRA) 3-6 7-6(1) 6-3

Doubles Final
2 M. Melo (BRA)/A. Sa (BRA) def. A. Pavel (ROU)/H. Tecau (ROU) 6-7(9) 6-2 10-7


(Image: AP)

With the top-six seeds out of the way for the Russian, the title is his (Mikhail Youzhny) to lose.

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Youzhny went on to lose to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-3 1-6 7-6(5) in today’s semifinals. Garcia-Lopez is now 3-0 over the Russian. The Spaniard will now play lucky loser Julien Benneteau in the finals.

(Image: Gepa/Osterauer)