January 11, 2025
ATP

In a match-up of the top two seeds, Carlos Moya defeated Paradorn Srichaphan in three close sets Sunday to win the TATA Open in Chennai, India. The last time the top two seeds played in an ATP final was in Vienna last October.

Srichaphan was looking for his 10th consecutive victory in Chennai after winning the tournament last year and looked like he had the edge when he went up 5-3 in the third-set tiebreak, but Moya reeled off four straight points to win his 15th ATP title.

Moya picks up 35 points in the ATP Champions Race 2004, as he begins his quest to return to the year-end Tennis Masters Cup for the 3rd consecutive year. Both Moya and Srichaphan saved match points en route to the final in Chennai.

In doubles, the top seeds Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram of Israel were surprised by singles standouts Rafael Nadal and Tommy Robredo of Spain. Erlich and Ram reached the semifinals at Wimbledon last year as a team before collecting titles in Bangkok and Lyon during the indoor season.

It was the first ATP doubles title for Robredo and the second career doubles title for Nadal, who won at the Croatia Open 2003 with Alex Lopez Moron. This was only the second time Robredo and Nadal have played doubles together at an ATP event. Last year, they fell in the first round at Basel.

ADDITIONAL EXCERPTS RE DOUBLES:

From tennisindia.org (Jan. 11, 2004): "..... As for the young Spanish pair that won the title, their run has been great too -- they won all four of their matches in close three sets, dropping the second set every time .. Always good to see younger players winning doubles titles, especially those who have singles as their focus ....... ..... Watch out for Rafael Nadal, the truly rising phenom from Spain .. Getting him to come to Chennai was nice, and this tournament is indeed getting some reputation as a favorite place for many rising stars ......."

From marca.com (Jan. 11, 2004) (as translated by joes): "With their title, Nadal and Robredo aspire to convince the G3 (Avendano, Arrese and Perlas) to be the next doubles team for the tie against the Czech Republic."

From telegraphindia.com (Jan. 11, 2004): "Unseeded Rafael Nadal and Tommy Robredo of Spain shocked top seeded Israeli pair of Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-3 to lift the doubles title on Sunday. The Nadal-Robredo victory made it a Spanish sweep. The Spaniards held a slight edge as they played an attacking game, putting the top seeds under pressure. Nadal was more pronounced in his forehand smashes from the net which helped them to hold their serves on many occasions. The Isarelis too played well, but a few errors on crucial stages cost them the match which did not rise to any great height."

From Bob Larson Tennis (Jan. 11, 2004: "The doubles final was nearly as close as the singles final, going three sets with one set ending in a tiebreak. Rafael Nadal, who gets all the press for his singles results but who arguably has had his best results in doubles to date (he won Umag last year with Lopez Moron, but has yet to reach a singles final) teamed with Tommy Robredo to beat top seeds Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram 7-6 4-6 6-3. It's interesting to note that it's the first-ever doubles title for Robredo despite his huge edge in experience over countryman Nadal."