KUALA LUMPUR: David Ferrer beat his fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 7-5, 7-5 in the final of the Malaysian Open on Sunday to capture the 25th title of his career and his fourth this year.

Appearing in his 50th ATP career final, the 33-year-old Ferrer won the hard-fought match against his good friend and Davis Cup teammate to add the Malaysian title to his previous tournament wins this year in Doha, Rio and Acapulco.

“I feel very happy, because I have never played so well at this tournament,” said Ferrer, who was the top seed. “I played my best match of the week in this final, and my sensations after my elbow injury are now very good.”

Ferrer had not lost to Lopez since 2009 but his streak looked to be in danger of ending when he made a slow start and went down an early break.

But Ferrer quickly broke back and clinched the opening set when he broke second-seeded Lopez again in the 12th game. In the second set, Ferrer again made the vital break in the 12th game, sealing a straight-sets win.

“Feliciano is a good tennis player, but an even better person,” said Ferrer. “I wish him all the best for the rest of the season.”

Berdych, Garcia-Lopez in final

In Shenzhen, China, Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic overcame a second day of rain delays to down Spain’s Tommy Robredo on Sunday in straight sets in the semifinals of the Shenzhen Open.

Berdych, the top seed, defeated No.3 seed Robredo 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the final.

He will face Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, also of Spain, as the number four seed upset Marin Cilic of Croatia, seeded second and the winner of last year’s US Open, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.

The semifinal matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday but were delayed and finally postponed after persistent rain fell over the southern Chinese city.

Both matches Sunday also suffered delays after play began.

Berdych and Garcia-Lopez are scheduled to play for the championship on Monday.