Berdych breaks two-year victory drought with Beijing title

Oct 9, 2011, 10:37 GMT

Beijing - Czech Tomas Berdych claimed his first ATP title in two and a half years as he fought back to defeat Marin Cilic 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 for victory in the final of the China Open on Sunday.

The women's title was to be decided, with German ninth seed Andrea Petkovic facing Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska, winner of last week's Tokyo trophy.

Berdych, ranked 10th, improved his chances for qualifying for one of the last four spot in London at the year-end finals in November with his victory in a shade over two hours.

The Czech whose last finals appearance was a Wimbledon loss to Rafael in summer of 2010, now owns six career trophies.

'I was really hanging in there,' said the winner. 'When I lost the first set, I knew I needed to start to play a little more aggressively or change something.

'When I lost my serve and I was two breaks down, I was still positive. I think the key moment was a break at 5-4. Marin was serving and I made a set point and won the second set. From that moment I started to feel great; I had more energy for the third set.'

Cilic was denied in Beijing for the second time in three editions after losing the 2009 final to Novak Djokovic.

Berdych dropped the first set but rallied in the second as he went up an early break then lost it in the eighth game. But the third seed profited as Cilic double-faulted to yield a set point and could not answer as Berdych sent over a down-the-line winner for a set apiece.

In the third, it was all Berdych as he broke Cilic at will to secure the victory.

The Croatian said he was disappointed after going since February of last years without a trophy and losing four succesive finals since.

'I'm feeling a little bit disappointed by the loss today. I would say that I was playing really great tennis from the beginning of the match.

'I felt it psychologically in the critical moments, especially at the end of the second set and the beginning of the third, I missed a few chances here and there. So I would say that was the reason.'

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