TWO new names were inscribed on the Liverpool International singles trophies on Saturday.
Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu became the 2010 men’s champion beating Chilean Nicolas Massu 6-3 6-2 in the final, while Canada’s 16-year-old starlet Eugenie Bouchard was crowned women’s champion after a 6-3 6-3 success over Norwegian Ulrikke Eikeri.
Earlier in the week Chile’s Massu had spoken of his dislike for grass, and Mathieu took advantage with another impressive performance.
He broke in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead and serve out for the first set.
Mathieu continued to dominate on serve, winning cheap points and preventing his opponent from developing any rhythm in the rallies.
He threatened to break in the third game of the second set, but Massu held on, determined to maintain an unbeaten head-to-head record against the Frenchman.
But the 28-year-old wasn’t to be denied and broke Massu twice more to serve for the match at 5-2 – holding comprehensively to love.
“I think we had a great match today,” Mathieu sportingly suggested afterwards. “I think we played some good points so I’m really happy.
“The event is great. I didn’t see much of the city as it’s my first time in Liverpool, but maybe I’ll come back to see the nightlife.”
Massu, however, admitted that he struggled to adapt to the grass.
“Mathieu played really well, I think the last time I played on a grass court was in 2007, I like it but I need to practice more to know how to play here,” he said.
“I want to say thank you, it’s my first time here, this exhibition had a lot of people here, we had a good time. I like to play in England so see you soon!”
In the women’s final Canadian junior Eugenie Bouchard beat Norway’s Ulrikke Eikeri 6-3, 6-3.
The Norwegian only just scraped through to the final on games won throughout the tournament, edging out Romania’s Ana Bogdan and Liverpool’s Amy Askew.
Bouchard came into the final full of confidence having beaten Eikeri the night before and in the final of the ITF Junior Uruguay Bowl tournament in March and broke in the very first game of the match.
Bouchard’s consistency from the back of the court made all the difference, breaking twice more to take the first set 6-3.
The second set was a closer affair, with Eikeri settling into her service games and leveling at 3-3. But the Norwegian’s game deserted her when it mattered most, as Bouchard broke at the third attempt to take a 5-3 lead and serve for the match.
Bouchard, who won the Girl’s Singles Championship at the Pan-American Closed ITF event last year, showed her class once again, surviving a late fightback to hold serve and become Women’s Champion for 2010.
“I’m really excited, me and my coach left the players dinner early last night so I could get sleep and we could prepare for today.” said Bouchard. “It’s been a long career. I’ve played tennis for 11 years already, train most days of the week and I’m traveling a lot. But I really enjoy it and it’s worth it.”
Bouchard joins a prestigious list of players to have won the title in Liverpool.
The 2008 champion, Caroline Wozniacki, is now ranked three in the world and last year’s winner, Michelle Larcher de Brito, is up against world number one Serena Williams in the first round of Wimbledon this week.
