Querrey completes hat-trick of finals with LA win

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 11:40

The third time’s the charm, so they say, and they were right if they were talking about Sam Querrey. Whoever they are.

The American has raced to an early lead in the US Open Series after reaching three finals in his past three events, but finally clinched his first title of the season – and just the second of his career – with a 6-4 3-6 6-1 victory over Carsten Ball in the final of the LA Tennis Open.

Querrey had lost back-to-back finals last month in Newport and Indianapolis, but in the battle of the local boys – Querrey is from Thousand Oaks, while Aussie Ball was born in LA – he finally ended his jinx.

“I started thinking about the other finals – there was no way I wanted to lose a third”

The young guns knew each other from their junior days, but while Querrey has reached the world’s top 30 since turning pro in 2006, world No.205 Ball emerged from qualifying to reach the main draw of an ATP event for the first time in his career.

Both players traded breaks in the opening set before Querrey claimed the decisive break in game nine. But as the American stuttered on serve in the second, Ball – son of 1974 Australian Open doubles finalist Syd Ball – capitalised and leveled the match.

However, the No.6 seeded American was determined not to let another chance to add to his 2008 Las Vegas title. A break in the second game of the final set was enough for Querrey to seal the title.

“It feels great,” Querrey said. “After losing two finals there was no way I wanted to lose a third.

“I was worried after the second set, he was putting pressure on me and I was mad at myself. I started thinking about the other finals.

“But I sat down at the changeover and collected myself. I lifted my first-serve percentage in the third set, that was the key. I was able to keep it all together.”

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