SCOTTSDALE, Arizona, 9 March 2004 — American Vince Spadea claimed his first career title on his 223rd attempt by edging past Germany’s Nicolas Kiefer 7-5, 6-7, 6-3 in the Scottsdale Classic final on Sunday.
The 29th-ranked Spadea came into the match with the ignominious distinction of being the highest ranked player never to have won a title.
Having turned professional in 1993, fourth seed Spadea finally managed to get his breakthrough in a bad-tempered match against Kiefer.
“I’m quite excited,” said Spadea.
“I’m 29-years-old. I guess this shows you can teach an old dog new tricks. I never realized that my focus was maybe not to do these kinds of things but this week it was.
“I’ll have a different mentality from now on. I thought just being on the tour was fun. It’s better late than never.”
Spadea held on for victory even though he allowed the second set to slip away from his grasp after losing the tiebreaker 7-5.
He regained his nerve in the third to seal the win after two-hours and 44 minutes of grueling play under bright sun in 86 degree temperatures.
In the first set, Spadea was more consistent from the baseline and broke Kiefer for a 6-5 lead when the German seventh seed missed a forehand pass. Spadea won the set with a sliced service winner.
The American was twice in front in the second set but could not consolidate his breaks.
Spadea broke Kiefer in the ninth game and attempted to serve out the match.
However, nerves crept in and two forehand errors and a double fault on break point allowed Kiefer back in the set.
The German capitalized on his opportunity in the breaker and fired an ace into the corner to grab the set.
Kiefer nearly snuffed out Spadea in the opening of the third set but the American fought off three break points with a series of winners.
Both men attempted to push the other past exhaustion before Spadea regained his focus after stalling play midway between the seventh game to take a drink.
When Spadea went back to serve, an irritated Kiefer tried to get his own back by telling his opponent he was not ready.
Spadea said that the incident gave him the extra charge.
“He complained (to the umpire) I wasn’t allowed to do that, even though I am,” Spadea said. “It might have given me a little ammunition to go out and hit the ball aggressively. In sports you need to step up and hit your best shots when it counts.”
Spadea then broke Kiefer for 5-3 with a forehand crosscourt pass and clinched the contest in the next game when Kiefer netted a forehand.
“He didn’t win it, I lost it,” said Kiefer.
“I had so many chances. If you don’t take the chances, it’s not easy to win. I think it was one of the worst finals I’ve ever played.”
Spadea retaliated by saying: “Anyone who has finds chinks in the armor of the victor has proclaimed his character.”
Moya Wins; Benesova Captures Women’s Title: Mexican Open
In Acapulco, Mexico, top-seeded Carlos Moya of Spain won the Mexican Open for the second time in three years on Sunday, overpowering inexperienced countryman Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-0.
On the women’s side, Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic captured her first WTA Tour title by topping Flavia Pennetta of Italy 7-5, 6-4.
The unseeded Verdasco tried to set the tone early and looked dominating, shutting out his heavily favored opponent to hold his serve in the second game.
But it was one of the few bright spots on the hot afternoon at the Fairmont Acapulco Princess for the left-handed underdog.
Moya, who stayed poised and conserved his energy in the early going, alternated between power and finesse to tire his opponent on long volleys.
As his lead grew, the world No. 7 began baiting Verdasco, who started committing many unforced errors.
Moya won the first set with a 198 kph (119 mph) ace, and then opened the second with a break.
In the women’s final, the 99th-ranked Benesova, who reached the main draw through qualifying, dominated long volleys throughout the match.
Benesova and Pennetta traded a pair of breaks in the first set, but the Czech got hot when she needed to, opening the tiebreaker with an ace and later tapping shots just over the net. But Pennetta kept the match close with a tricky off-speed serve that sent many of Benesova’s returns fluttering out of bounds or thudding into the net.
Benesova broke the Italian in the ninth game of the second set, and then held serve to win.
