Levinsky, Polasek Triumph In Gstaad

© Getty ImagesJaroslav Levinsky, Filip Polasek

Rookie pairing and No. 4 seeds Czech Jaroslav Levinsky and Filip Polasek (pictured) of the Slovak Republic clinched their first ATP team title at the Allianz Suisse Open Gstaad on Sunday, after defeating Swiss duo Stephane Bohli and Stanislas Wawrinka 3-6, 6-2, 11-9 (Match TB) in one hour and 12 minutes.

On Saturday, three rookie teams captured ATP titles, with Levinsky/Polasek, Kas/Kolhschreiber and Bjorkman/Soderling being the eighth, ninth and tenth rookie pairs this year to have won their first ATP team title. Others include Skoch-Kohlschreiber (Doha), Martin Garcia-Marcelo Melo (Adelaide), Berdych-Tursunov (Rotterdam), Gulbis-Schuettler (Houston), Michael Berrer-Schuettler (Munich), Cuevas-Horna (Roland Garros) and Soares-Ullyett (Nottingham).

Levinsky improved to 4-8 lifetime in ATP finals. The 27-year-old Prostejov resident has also won title at 2004 Amersfoort (w/Skoch) and in 2006 at Zagreb (w/Mertinak) and Umag (w/Skoch).

On his two previous Gstaad appearance in 2004 and 2007 he had fallen in the first round with compatriot David Skoch. He improved to 12-13 on the season, which includes a semifinal exit at Auckland (w/Coetzee).

"It was a wonderful week for me, also because my wife was here with me,” said Levinsky. “Filip and I played together for the first time and we played unbelievable, both serving well. We knew that we had good potential playing in altitude.

“Filip came here with a lot of confidence. Meanwhile I hadn't won a lot of matches lately. But I started playing better and I'm very happy about this win. We will also play together in Umag next week."

The 22-year-old Polasek, currently No. 55 in the Stanford ATP Doubles Race, has reached the Valencia final (w/Parrot) and the Zagreb semifinals (w/Cerretani). He improved to 14-7 on the season.

"This is a very special moment for me,” said Polasek. “My team mates from the club matches come to cheer for me. I played club matches in Thun, which is a little town close to Gstaad this year and last year. So it's something like a home tournament for me."

Bohli and Wawrinka failed to convert their first break point in the second game, but secured a 5-3 lead with a break of the Levinsky serve after 29 minutes. The Swiss, who were competing together for the first time since 2006 Basel, hit three aces and saved all three break point they faced to clinch the first set in 33 minutes.

Levinsky and Polasek dropped just two points on serve in the 23-minute second set and broke the Bohli serve in the fourth and eighth games to ensure a tense Match Tie-break.

The Czech-Slovak pair moved into a 4-2 lead in the Match Tie-break before finding themselves pinned back. They failed to convert match points at 9-7 and 9-8, but clinched their third opportunity on serve.

"I think we showed a bigger heart in the match tie-break and we were more aggressive," said Levinsky.

Wawrinka also finished runner-up at the tournament in 2004 (w/Rosset). Bohli was competing at an ATP doubles tournament for the first time since 2006 Basel.

Levinsky and Polasek split €19,500 in prize money and earn 175 points towards their Stanford ATP Doubles Ranking, while Bohli and Wawrinka collected €11,000 and 120 points.