Querrey ignites his summer with second career title

LOS ANGELES - Sam Querrey lifted the second title of his career after losing two finals last month as he defeated Australian Carsten Ball, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 to win the Los Angeles Open tennis tourney.

The number 32 American from the LA area found his winning touch Sunday after missing out in title shots in Newport and last weekend in Indianapolis, Indiana, against Robby Ginepri. He added the honour to the Las Vegas trophy he won in 2008.

“It feels great,” said the winner. “After losing two finals there was no way I wanted to lose a third. I was worried after the second set. he was putting pressure on me.

“I was mad at myself. I started thinking about the other finals. But during the changeover I collected myself. I lifted my first-serve percentage in the third set — that was the key. I was able to keep it all together.”

Querrey called the LA Open “one of my favourite events the last four years”.

“It’s great to finally win here,” he said. “Carsten had an unbelievable week. You don’t see guys bust out of qualifying like this too often.”

The pair of 22-year-old big hitters, who played numerous times during their recent junior days, each struck 11 aces and three double-faults. Ball was competing in the first ATP-level event of his career after going through qualifying rounds and never expecting to get this far.

“I’m tired, but it was a good week for me,” said the first-time finalist, son of Australian player Syd Ball.

“I never thought I’d get to the final. I was just thinking about winning the qualie matches, one at a time. I had some luck this week. It was great to play a fellow Southern California buddy, also.”

On fire since Wimbledon, Querrey is now 13-2 over the last month. He is the first US player to reach at least three ATP finals in a row since Andy Roddick advanced to four straight from June 7-Aug 1, 2004.

Ball, 22, was the fifth qualifier to reach an ATP final in 2009 but was unable to equal the feat in Gstaad against Tomaz Bellucci, who won that Swiss clay title Sunday.

Ball is the first Australian to play the LA final since Lleyton Hewitt six years ago.

Querry’s ranking will rise to around the top 30, putting him in good position for the US Open seeding of his dreams.

“My goal is to go deep in a Grand Slam or a Masters,” he said. “The way I’m playing now, at least that’s possible.”