French fifth seed Paul-Henri Mathieu overcame blistering temperatures and a dogged opponent to secure his fourth career title at the Swiss Open on Sunday. The world number 28 had to twice come from behind against Italian world number 111 Andreas Seppi in temperatures approaching 40 degrees centigrade before eventually winning through 6-7 6-4 7-5.
"I think I came back from a long way for sure today, especially after losing the first set," Mathieu said. "I fought well and I think that's why I won in the end but I felt sorry for Seppi because I thought he deserved it just as much."
Seppi, playing in his first ATP final, got off to a strong start as he stormed through the opening-set tiebreak 7-1. Mathieu rallied, hitting a backhand winner down the line to take a decisive break late in the second set, but was soon back in trouble in the decider.
After successfully defending two break points in the sixth game, the Frenchman was less fortunate in the eighth when Seppi benefited from a lucky net-cord bounce to go 5-3 up with serve.
FIRST SERVES:
As he served for the match though Seppi seemed suddenly struck by nerves, handing Mathieu three break points and then promptly double-faulting. "Of course I was nervous at being in my first final, but at that point in the match it was more a question of not playing aggressively enough," Seppi said.
"I didn't make any of my first serves in that game and I think that made the difference." After breaking Seppi once more to go 6-5 up, Mathieu found time for some wobbles of his own, over hitting a forehand to trail 30-40 and offer the Italian the prospect of at least another tiebreak.
The chance evaporated as Mathieu dug himself out of danger with an ace. He then fired in two successive winners to end an entertaining contest and clinch his second clay court title of the season, following his triumph in Casablanca in April.
His latest win allowed the Frenchman to equal his breakthrough season of 2002 when he was voted ATP Newcomer of the year following back-to-back wins in Moscow and Lyon.
"I just hope I don't have to wait another five years for my next title," Mathieu, who was plagued by injuries in the intervening seasons but is now at his highest position in the world rankings. "I don't know how high I can go but this year's wins have certainly restored my confidence so we'll just have to see."