Martin Klizan needed just 59 minutes to defeat Pablo Cuevas 6-1, 6-4 to claim the German Open title.
Klizan breaks open first set, wins final five games to take the lead
Cuevas looked to be on the front foot right away, a break point opportunity in the third game, but Klizan saved it well and what followed was the first break of Cuevas' serve in the tournament to give the Slovakian a 3-1 lead. Another break followed in the sixth game and now Klizan had an insurmountable 5-1 lead. He served the out to love and needed just 26 minutes to take it 6-1. So much was his dominance that Klizan won 16 of the last 20 points of the set.
Klizan takes the second set to win his fifth career title
After four relatively calm games to start the second set, Klizan broke in the fifth game with a searing forehand winner, a common theme in this match, to take a 3-2 lead. Cuevas has titles in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro on clay this year and he showed why, fighting back to break and even up the set. The Uruguayan would let his guard down again and it cost him, Klizan getting the decisive break to take a 4-3 lead. Serving at 5-4 to finish off the match, Klizan held to 15, a final Cuevas forehand sent into the net, the Slovakian a winner for the fifth time in five career finals.
Klizan talks about various topics after his big win
On the match: “The key was to make pressure on his service which I think I did a couple of times very good. There were a couple of games I didn’t even have one chance to break his serve, as he was serving quite well. But when I got the chance I was trying to use the opportunity and took his serve. I am so happy to win my second ATP 500 title,” (Klizan previously won the ATP 500 title this year in Rotterdam).
Recovering from injury: “I have been injured for three months. I didn’t even touch the ball, didn’t do any gym, nothing. So, I was just lying on the couch,” he told with a smile. “It were very frustrating months I spent. Now, winning my second title of the season is just amazing and I hope I can continue like this.”
Talking about his perfect career record in finals: “There is no secret. Every final you play is different. It does not matter if you play guys of the top 10 or of top 100. I am just trying to focus on my game. I have never been nervous about playing a final. That’s maybe a little advantage I have that I am not scared.”
Choosing to play here over Davis Cup: “It was a tough decision. Our captain Miloslav Mecir told me that I do not need to play Davis Cup and that I can play in Hamburg but I need to win the trophy. He won here in 1985 and I am very proud to sign my name on the trophy here as well. The team is leading 2-0, so it seemed to be a good choice.”