HEAD Pros Outlast the Competition During Recent Tournaments

HEAD players enjoyed success last week during tournaments around the world.

HEAD player and No. 3 seed Richard Gasquet of France reached the final at the AIG Japan Open Tennis Championship in Tokyo. The spot in the finals marked Gasquet's second consecutive final match after his victory in Mumbai where he clinched his fifth career ATP crown.

Gasquet, who plays with the HEAD MicroGel Extreme Pro, defeated No. 2 seed Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 7-6(3), 6-3 in one hour and 29 minutes.

“I had to play my best tennis against Berdych because he is one of the best players in the world and has a great forehand,” Gasquet said. “I am tired after last week but it is one more match so I will give as usual my best."
Gasquet went on to play No. 1 seed David Ferrer where he lost 6-1, 6-2.

Meanwhile, fellow HEAD player Ivo Karlovic, who plays with the HEAD Flexpoint Instinct, reached the semi final round after beating former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt on Friday 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6).

In the women’s tournament, HEAD player Virginie Razzano, who plays with the HEAD Flexpoint Radical MP, claimed her second consecutive singles title with a victory over top seed Venus Williams.

Fresh off her win at Guangzhou last weekend, the fifth-seeded Frenchwomen upset American Williams after fighting back to claim a 4-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 win.

“I’m very happy to win today, it’s my second title, it’s very good,” Razzano said after beating Williams.

HEAD player Andy Murray reached his first final round since his injury earlier this year at the Open de Moselle in Metz. In the final match, Murray competed against No. 1 seed Tommy Robredo.
Murray, of Scotland, raced away winning the first set to love in just 23 minutes, but clay-court specialist Robredo hit back to win the title 0-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Despite the defeat, the tournament was a great starting point for 20-year-old Murray, who missed three months of the year, including Wimbledon, with a wrist injury.
Meanwhile, in the doubles competition, second-seeded French duo Arnaud Clement and partner Michael Llodra defeated No. 3 seeds Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski 6-1, 6-4 in 54 minutes to win the doubles title. Clement plays with a Flexpoint Radical MP.

"We are very motivated, especially when we play in France,” Clement said. "Our goal is to enjoy our time on court and that is what we did here.”
The victory was Clement and Llodra’s third title of the season, following their success in Marseille and Wimbledon.

U.S. Open runner-up and HEAD player Svetlana Kuznetsova reached the semi final at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. On her way, second seed Kuznetsova, who plays with the HEAD MicroGel Extreme, won against Polish teenager Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-3.

"She played very well in the second set, and I didn't do the things I wanted to do," Kuznetsova said. "I knew she couldn't go on like that for three sets."

At the Tashkent Open in Uzbekistan, top-seeded Russian HEAD player Victoria Azarenka was in the final round. In the final, Azarenka faced France's Pauline Parmentier where she was finally defeated 7-5, 6-2.