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Berdych claims Japan Open title

Posted October 5, 2008 20:47:00

Czech Tomas Berdych halted fifth seed Juan Martin Del Potro's hot streak by beating the Argentine 6-1, 6-4 to win the Japan Open in Tokyo on Sunday.

Ninth seed Berdych's fourth ATP Tour title and his first since winning on grass in Halle last year came after Del Potro left the court to take medicine for an upset stomach.

"Everyone could see he had some problem," said Berdych, who stunned second seed Andy Roddick in the semi-finals.

"But he took some pills and was getting back into the match.

"It might have been different if Juan Martin was feeling better but I served well and everything came together."

Del Potro had been strong favourite to win the final at the Tokyo hard court tournament, having won 29 of his previous 30 matches, but Berdych dominated from the start.

Wozniaki triumph

Meanwhile Caroline Wozniacki continued to enjoy her best season by beating Kaia Kanepi of Estonia to win the women's tournament.

The 18-year-old Danish top seed, the semi-finalist last year, completed a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 victory over the fifth seed in just two hours.

"I feel amazing. I just won another tournament. It's been an incredible year. This is my first title here in Japan and I'm very happy," said a jubilant Wozniacki, ranked 16th against Kanepi's 33rd.

"I think I improved a lot last year and I think I improved pretty much everything".

Wozniacki said she was now battling for every point and had got into the winning mood.

-Reuters/AFP

Tags: sport, tennis, argentina, czech-republic, denmark, estonia, japan

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