CLAY COURT CHAMPIONSHIP—HOUSTON, TX, U.S.A.
American Steve Johnson put forth a tremendous effort on Sunday to capture the Clay Court Championship in Houston, Texas, dismissing No. 8 seed Thomaz Bellucci 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(5).
Beginning to cramp at 4-2 in third set, Johnson held his serve with a 65 MPH second serve at 5-all and never looked back. Using his forehand to great effect, Johnson raced out to a 6-3 lead in the third set tiebreaker before closing out the match with yet another forehand winner.
Traveling to the tournament from a Davis Cup tie in Australia, Johnson won his second-career title after winning in Nottingham, England last year.
Bellucci, who was looking for his fifth career victory, had an excellent week which included playing five-straight, three-set matches.
*****
GRAND PRIX HASSAN II—MARRAKECH, MOROCCO
Borna Coric captured his first-career ATP World Tour title on Sunday in Marrakech, Morocco, defeating No. 3 seed Philipp Kohlschreiber 5-7, 7-6(3), 7-5. Saving five match points in the second set, Coric displayed tremendous mental fortitude during the two hour 38 minute affair. Hitting 10 aces, Coric won 65 percent of his first serve points, 61 percent of his second serve points and broke serve on three occasions.
The 20-year-old had previously lost in the finals of Marrakech and Chennai, India last year. Coric is set to increase his ranking by approximately 29 places to No. 50 in the world on Monday.
Kohlschreiber, who was aiming to win his eighth career final, fell to 7-9 in championship matches.
