Tomas Berdych successfully defended his Stockholm Open title on Sunday with a relatively comfortable straight-sets victory over Jack Sock.
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The Czech next meets 2009 victor Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus who defeated Gilles Muller 7-6 (5) 4-6 6-3 in an error-strewn clash during which the eighth seed from Luxembourg smashed his racket in frustration.
Serving for the set in the 10th game put more pressure on the young American and he buckled, Berdych converting his second break point to bring proceedings back on serve. The 28-year-old Chardy capitalized and forced a tiebreak.
“Jeremy has a very good serve and very good forehand so I need to play my best tennis to win”.
Darcis, who once beat Rafa Nadal at Wimbledon, won the deciding rubber against Argentina in a thrilling semi-final, beating Federico Delbonis.
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That victory avenged his loss to Simon in Rome earlier in the year. “I was able to use my experience well to get past a guy with a great future in front of him, and I wish him well”.
