ATP News : 2006


Robredo Wins First ATP Masters Series Shield

One week after a shock first-round loss to Greg Rusedski in Rome, Tommy Robredo became the 50th ATP Masters Series winner (since 1990) when he defeated Czech Radek Stepanek 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 in Hamburg


Robredo won his third ATP title (Barcelona in 2004, Sopot in 2001) and claimed his fourth win in four career meetings with Stepanek. The Spaniard saved all eight break points he faced while breaking Stepanek five times during the 2 hr., 1 min. match.

Robredo, 24, improved to 13-3 this year on clay and will be regarded as one of the favorites for Roland Garros, which begins next Sunday. Robredo is now 3-3 in career finals, all of which have been on clay. This was his first ATP Masters Series final.

Stepanek, 27, was playing in the second ATP Masters Series final of his career. He was runner-up at the Paris indoor event in the fall of 2004 (l. to Safin). The last Czech player to reach the final in Hamburg was Karel Novacek in 1991 (d. Gustafsson). In February, Stepanek garnered the first title of his ATP career at Rotterdam (d. C. Rochus).

Robredo, who dropped just one set all week en route to victory, dominated Stepanek in almost every department. He put 79 percent of first serves into play and he won 68 percent of points on his second serve, compared to Stepanek's second-serve winning percentage of just 38.

Robredo made just 16 unforced errors; Stepanek made 46.



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