No. 6 seed Rafael Nadal won the fifth edition of the Brasil Open on Saturday in Costa do Sauipe after an impressive victory over Alberto Martin.
In what was the second all-countrymen final of 2005 after Buenos Aires (Gaudio d. Puerta), Nadal was 6-0, 4-0 up but needed a third set to close the match 6-0. 6-7(2), 6-1 in two hours and six minutes.
The 18-year-old from Mallorca, who broke through in 2004 by leading Spain to Davis Cup title and claiming his first career title in Sopot (d. Jose Acasuso) was playing in his third career final.
Alberto Martin, who was appearing in his fourth career final was hoping to lift a fourth trophy.
The 26-year-old from Barcelona, who claimed the titles in Casablanca (1999), Bucharest (1999), and Mallorca (2001), hadn�t gone past semifinal action in four years before today. His best result in 2004 came in Valencia where he reached the semis (l. to Albert Montanes).
In the doubles final, No. 3 seeds Frantisek Cermak and Leos Friedl won their second consecutive 2005 title (Buenos Aires) after defeating Argentines Jose Acasuso and Ignacio Gonzalez King with a 6-4, 6-4 result.
Cermak and Friedl, who played together for the first time in Sopot 2002, claiming the title, earned their sixth career title as a team on Saturday in Costa do Sauipe.
WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID:
MARTIN: "I was very, very nervous at the beginning and he played well. I was thinking too much about the match, the final and put too much pressure on myself."
"Then I changed my game and could get the 2nd set."
"Rafa [Nadal] is a very good player who has a great future ahead of him, but I should have taken this chance."
"I am happy the way things went during these two weeks and I hope to keep going on playing well in Acapulco.�
NADAL: "I was leading easily doing simple things and playing well. I even thought it was too easy, and in a final, things can turn around really quickly. I got a little tense and he managed to come back."
"I am very happy about this second ATP title. It gives me a lot of confidence and tells me that I am doing the right things. I wanted to get a certain number of points during this clay swing and I have achieved this goal. It is a good start that puts me in a good position for what I have planned for the year."
"Now it is time for Acapulco but I really had a great time here in Latin America."
"Acapulco is the biggest of the four events of the Latin American swing, with the highest amount of points, so hopefully I can win a lot of them."
FRIEDL: "The key was the semifinal yesterday when we saved one match point on a second serve. After that we felt we could not only win the match but also the final today.
I think my girlfriend brought us luck this week. Even though she�s already left, every time she comes to a tournament we end up winning."
CERMAK: "We are going to take a rest and go back home for 3 weeks to prepare for Indian Wells and Miami. We hope we can continue with good results at these important ATP Masters Series events."
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