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Verdasco wins Kooyong ClassicIsner clinches maiden ATP crown
Reuters
Last Updated IST
Ukraines Alona Bondarenko displays the Hobart International title after defeating Israels Shahar Peer on Saturday. AP
Ukraines Alona Bondarenko displays the Hobart International title after defeating Israels Shahar Peer on Saturday. AP

World number nine Verdasco broke the 10th-ranked Frenchman late to clinch a hard-fought first set, then broke him twice more to race to a 4-0 lead in the second under bright sunshine at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club.

Tsonga broke back to rally to 5-3, but struggled with unforced errors and was unable to reel in the Spaniard, whose powerful baseline game was on song throughout the tournament.

Bondarenko wins

Ukraine's Alona Bondarenko defeated Israel's Shahar Peer 6-2, 6-4 in the final of the Hobart International on Saturday to claim her second WTA title.

Bondarenko raced to victory in 73 minutes, despite dropping serve twice in the second set, to add the Hobart title to her previous win at Luxembourg in 2006.

In Auckland, big serving American John Isner saved one championship point and overcame some loose shotmaking to beat France's Arnaud Clement 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 and win his first ATP Tour title at the Auckland Open on Saturday.

Earlier,  New Zealand's Marcus Daniell and his Romanian partner Horia Tecau clinched the doubles title with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Brazilian duo Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares.

In Sydney, Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus overcame the distraction of a lengthy rain interruption to beat France's Richard Gasquet 6-4, 7-6 in the final of the Sydney International on Saturday.

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(Published 16 January 2010, 22:21 IST)