The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and OpinionsTomas Berdych defeated Richard Gasquet 7-6(5) 6-7(2) 6-3 after recovering from his appendix operation, having missed the last 2 months through appendicitis.
He looked back to full fitness in the first set, but Gasquet came back in the second after Berdych had the opportunity to serve for the match at 5-4 in the second set.
Gasquet however, chose his moments to hit top form, breaking Berdych when it mattered most, and went on to win the tiebreak comfortably, with Berdych failing to make a first serve in the tiebreak.
Gasquet continued his form in the start of the second set, but couldn’t maintain it as the Czech eventually wore him down to win the deciding set.
Berdych also comfortably beat Mikhail Kukushkin, compatriot Jiri Vesely, and beating Thomaz Bellucci 6-2 7-5 in the semifinal.
The former World number 4 is currently ranked 9th and will be hoping he has recovered just in time to race the likes of Nadal, Monfils and Thiem to make the World Tour Finals in Novermber at the London 02 Arena.
Elsewhere, Karen Khanchenov won the first title of his career, with an impressive run to claim the inaugural Chengdu Open, beating Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the final6-7(4) 7-6(3) 6-3.
The 20-year-old Russian also managed to beat seventh seed, Joao Sousa, Adrian Mannarino, 4th seed, Feliciano Lopez, 6th seed Viktor Troicki in the semifinal, before finally beating the 5th seed in the final.
It was an incredible run from the 6’6”Russian who rose 46 places to a career high 55th place in the World rankings having never been passed 98th before this week.
Despite losing in the final, Albert Ramos-Vinolas also reached a career high, finally breaking the top 30.
This week, ATP 500 action returns to serve as a warm up for the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters, with the China Open and the Rakuten Open on.
