Chardy Fights Back For First Title In Stuttgart

© Bongarts/Getty ImagesJeremy Chardy is the fourth first-time ATP World Tour titlist this year.

Jeremy Chardy captured his first ATP World Tour title and became the first Frenchman to win the MercedesCup in Stuttgart since Henri Leconte in 1984, after defeating fourth seed Victor Hanescu of Romania 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in Sunday’s final. It was the pair’s third meeting (Chardy 2-1).

Chardy, who won two matches on Saturday to reach his second ATP World Tour final, collected €71,700 and 250 South African Airways 2009 ATP Ranking points while Hanescu picked up €37,700 and 150 points. Chardy was also presented with a Mercedes E350 car by the title sponsors.

“It’s so good, my form this year has been very good,” said Chardy. “I was very nervous at the start and in the second set I started to play my game and the match began to chance. In the third set, I had two service breaks but found it difficult to close out. It was tough at the end.”

The 22 year old, runner-up to compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the SA Tennis Open in Johannesburg in February, is the fourth first-time winner on the ATP World Tour circuit this year (also Guillermo Garcia-Lopez-Kitzbuhel, Benjamin Becker-‘s-Hertogenbosch and Rajeev Ram-Newport).

Chardy will move to around No. 35 in the South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings. He is one of eight Frenchmen in the Top 50.

Hanescu, appearing in his third ATP World Tour final, clinched the first set in 31 minutes – courtesy of service breaks in the second and sixth games. The ATP World Tour No. 33 hit two aces and won 19 of 29 service points.

The second set went with serve until the sixth game, when Chardy sealed a service break. The Frenchman ran through the 31-minute set, winning 20 of 26 service points including four aces.

Chardy maintained his stranglehold on the match by jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the third set, but Hanescu regained his composure and began to fight back. The soon-to-be 28 year old broke serve in a seven-minute sixth game, and saved two break points in the next game to trail 3-4.

Hanescu was unable to convert two break point opportunities in the eighth game. Chardy sprang into life to clinch a fourth service break for victory in one hour and 49 minutes.  The Frenchman hit 10 aces, five double faults and saved five of eight break points in total.

Chardy lost two sets (10-2) at the ATP World Tour 250 clay-court tennis tournament and improved to 26-17 (12-6 on clay) on the 2009 ATP World Tour season.

“I head off to Hamburg [for the International German Open], feeling fresh after this victory,” said Chardy. “I'm not tired, I’ll be ready. I want to be ranked in the Top 32 to gain a seeding at the Grand Slams – that is my first goal.”

Hanescu dropped to 18-19 (12-8 on clay) on year, highlighted by three quarter-final exits at Doha (l. to Roddick), Casablanca (l. to Ferrero) and Kitzbuhel (l. to Garcia-Lopez).

“It was a tough day, losing both of the finals," said Hanescu. "I am very happy with my performances this week. I won the first set in the [singles] final with some good play, but Chardy started to serve better in the second set and deserved to win the title.

“It’s definitely a big couple of weeks for me. I’m in good shape. I’ll fly over to Hamburg tomorrow as I have a first round bye, and I will hope to perform well and go on to defend my Gstaad title the following week.”