J. Safra Sarasin Swiss Open Gstaad

Men’s Final: [21] Feliciano Lopez (ESP) vs. [95] Robin Haase (NED)

It would mean a lot to Lopez to win this title and it was equally as important for Haase to win for different reasons.  Haase despite being the much lower ranked player had the advantage of leading their head-to-head 3:1.  Motivated by the fact that he had not beaten Haase since 2012 and never won a singles title on clay, Lopez gave the extra effort today. The desire to win is great for every tennis player; however, desire alone is not enough to win.  Discipline, both physical and mental is the key.

If you put the work in off the court and remain focused on court you will gain the rewards.  Lopez showed that today, looking so exhausted he could barely move, Lopez relied on his years of off-court training to summon the extra reserve of energy to push through his fatigue and nerves to get back on serve in the second set. Sensing this was probably a great opportunity just within touching distance, Lopez demonstrated that his will to succeed was greater than his desire to give in to fatigue and broke Haase a second time in the second set to give him the opportunity to serve for the title.  It was not the cleanest finish because no matter how many times you have won, serving for the match generates a different type of tension that you must control in order to function properly.

Lopez won 6-4, 7-5.  He defeated Haase for the second time and first since 2012.  He won his first singles title on clay and his first since 2014.  Interestingly, his first clay court final was this tournament in 2006.