Sunday, April 20, 2008

Granollers-Pujol Upsets Blake to Win U.S. Clay Court Title

By Robert H. Kelly
Copyright 2008 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (April 20, 2008) Marcel Granollers-Pujol upset top-seeded James Blake 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 today in the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship at River Oaks Country Club on Houston. The win was the first tour title for the Spaniard.

Granollers-Pujol showed great determination, fighting back from 3-0 deficit in the third set. Blake had been hitting well, winning 18 of 19 points, but the Spaniard just would not give up. He clinched his first title when Blake hit a backhand long.

The 22-year-old, who came into the event ranked 84th in the world and seeded seventh, had never previously advanced past the quarter-finals of an ATP tournament but he battled back gamely against the world number eight to seal a deserved victory.

"It's the best day of my life, I think, and I'm very happy for this," Granollers-Pujol told reporters

"I've played tennis since I was very young and have always dreamed of a day like this," added the Spainiard, who jumped into the swimming pool at the River Oaks Country Club to celebrate his win.

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