MADRID (AP) — Roger Federer won the Madrid Open for a third time Sunday, rallying past Tomas Berdych 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 in the final on the new blue clay court.
On the women’s side, Serena Williams overpowered top-ranked Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 6-3 to capture the title.
Federer prevailed in a tournament in which Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal had already been eliminated, both blaming the court their early exits,
Federer defeated an opponent who had beaten him in three of their previous five matches. Berdych hit 14 winners and made just two unforced errors in a dominant first set.
Federer, however, found his ground game, breaking twice to even the score and force the decisive third set. He finally won after Berdych saved three championship points.
