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| April 17, 2006 | Monday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 18, 1427 |
Almagro lifts maiden ATP title
VALENCIA, April 16: Spanish qualifier Nicolas Almagro won his first ATP tournament when he beat Gilles Simon 6-2 6-3 in the Valencia Clay Court Open on Sunday.
Almagro, who upset former world number ones Juan Carlos Ferrero and Marat Safin en route to the final, brushed aside the Frenchman who never managed to find his service rhythm.
The 20-year-old made an impressive start to race through the first set, broke again in the first game in the second and never looked back as he eased to the biggest triumph since turning professional in 2003.
The Spaniard becomes the fifth first-time ATP winner this season.
FISH ADVANCES
HOUSTON: American wild card Mardy Fish advanced to the final of the U.S. Clay Court Championships on Sunday after fifth seed Tommy Haas was forced to retire from their semifinal with an injured wrist.
Trailing 4-1 in the opening set, German Haas walked over to the chair umpire during a changeover and said he could not continue because of a painful right wrist.
Fish will meet Jurgen Melzer in Sunday's final, the Austrian advancing with a 6-3 6-4 win over seventh seeded American Paul Goldstein.
Results (semifinals): Mardy Fish (U.S.) beat 5-Tommy Haas (Germany) 4-1 (Haas retired); Juergen Melzer (Austria) beat 7-Paul Goldstein (U.S.) 6-3 6-4
HENIN LOSES
CHARLESTON: Justine Henin-Hardenne lost for the first time at the Family Circle Cup, falling to Patty Schnyder 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the semifinals.
The top-seeded Henin-Hardenne, who was the defending tournament champion, had won 14 straight matches here. It was Schnyder's first win over Henin-Hardenne in seven meetings dating back to 2001.
Results (semifinals): Patty Schnyder beat Justine Henin-Hardenne 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.; Nadia Petrova beat Anna-Lena Groenefeld 6-1, 6-3. —Agencies
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