After the title match of the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament was complete, Richie1308’s match record was still perfect. The dominant World No. 1 had all the answers in the ITST 500 final, defeating VMoe86 in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6.
The match was close throughout but as he has done so many times in the past, when the points mattered most, Richie1308 played his best tennis.
At the post-match press conference VMoe86 provided the details:
“We both broke each other at the start, then remained on serve until 4-4, where I got to break point, but he hit a big serve and held. Then he played a good return game (and got help from the net cord) to get set points at 5-4, of which he took one.”
“Second set remained on serve all the way until 5-5, where I got a double break point. He got out of trouble with 4 big serves (either service winner or ace), I held for 6-6 and a tie break had to decide this set. I immediately was down 0-2, another net cord! This mini break remained until the end and he won.”
The title was the 18th for Richie1308 who will begin play at Indian Wells as the overwhelming favorite.
Despite the loss VMoe86 numbers remain among the best on the tour, his global ranking steady at No. 4; his 2014 match record impressive at 12-2.