Del Potro Repeats as Estoril Champion Over Gasquet

By Erik Gudris Photo Credit: AP Photo

Juan Martin Del Potro - 2012 Estoril

(May 6th, 2012) For Juan Martin Del Potro, Estoril is certainly becoming one of his favorite places in the world.

Despite being out of action for five weeks, Del Potro got his clay court season off to a rousing start as he comfortably dismissed No. 2 seed Richard Gasquet to repeat as champion of the Estoril Open.

Del Potro must have sensed it would be his day after he broke Gasquet to love during the Frenchman's opening service game of the match. The Argentine had chances to break again while up 3-1, but Gasquet saved the break point with a forehand volley winner.

Del Potro went on to close out the set 6-4 and, just as he did to start the match, he broke Gasquet in the opening game of the second set to further seal his stamp of authority on the afternoon. With a powerful forehand winner, Del Potro jumped out to a 4-1 lead and didn't look back as he serve out the match and the title with a love game winning 6-4, 6-2 in just under 90 minutes.

"I felt I played well really well today. I felt it was my best match of the week, so I am very glad for that to get another title in Estoril," said Del Potro afterwards. "I am getting closer and closer to my best form. I have worked really hard at home and now I have another important tournament next week to improve further. If I play as well as I did today over the coming days, I will be happy."

Del Potro was nearly perfect the whole week as he never dropped a set and was only broken twice in 35 games while breaking his opponent's serve 15 times in 34 games. The title is his 11th career title and his fourth on clay.

Top seeds Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and Jean-Julien Rojer won the doubles title over Julian Knowle and David Marrero 7-5, 7-5.