Ferrer wins 25th title at Malaysian Open

KUALA LUMPUR — Top seed David Ferrer clinched his 25th title Sunday after beating fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 7-5, 7-5 to win the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur. The match was tightly contested but Ferrer’s determination and deep forehands ultimately  proved too much for Lopez. “It was my best match of the tournament and my best performance here in Malaysia,” the world No. 8 told reporters. “I was consistent with my game and am happy with the victory. My serve was good today and it needed to be because Feliciano pressured me today.” Ferrer netted victories in Qatar, Rio and Mexico prior to Sunday’s Malaysian triumph, winning all four finals contested this year. “It’s been a good year for me, winning all the finals. But I remember two years ago I lost in five finals and the statistics have changed,” said Ferrer who pockets $170,600 in prize money. “I have to enjoy this moment. When I end my career I won’t have any of this anymore.” The match was Ferrer’s 50th tour-level final. Others who have attained the feat are Rafa Nadal, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. Ferrer’s journey to win the Malaysian title included a two hour and five minute battle to overcome unseeded semi finalist Benjamin Becker from Germany Saturday. Second seed Lopez said a change of balls in the first set had affected his rhythm on Sunday. “I made some fantastic points in the first game, but a change of balls changed the momentum,” he said. “I was playing aggressive, but after that he was more consistent and it was difficult for me to win the points.” In the men’s doubles final, Treat Huey from the Philippines and Henri Kontinen from Finland won their second consecutive tournament as a pair after a 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 victory over South African Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram from the US. Berdych vs. Garcia-Lopez final Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic overcame a second day of rain delays to down Spain’s Tommy Robredo Sunday in straight sets in the semifinals of the Shenzhen Open. Berdych, the top seed, defeated number three seed Robredo 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the final. He will face Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, also of Spain, as the No. 4 seed upset Marin Cilic of Croatia, seeded second and the winner of last year’s US Open, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3. The semifinal matches were scheduled to be played Saturday but were delayed and finally postponed after persistent rain fell over the southern Chinese city. Both matches Sunday also suffered delays after play began. Berdych and Garcia-Lopez are scheduled to play for the championship Monday.