Dubai: If there was one factor which made the difference between the men’s singles finalists in Dubai on Saturday, then it’s got be Roberto Bautista Agut’s “mental strength” that helped him sail past a higher-ranked Lucas Pouille.
Bautista Agut became only the fourth Spaniard to win the singles title with a straight-forward 6-3, 6-4 win over the heavily-favoured Pouille at the Dubai Duty Free Men’s Open late on Saturday.
Asked to put a finger on what the difference between the two was, he said: “I was all over the court and I had all control of the game. I played very good tennis tonight. I think it was tough to get the break in the second set because I had break points in the first game, the second game on his serve and I couldn’t make them. Then he took the break. But I was mentally strong. I could come back playing very good tennis.”
Alex Corretja set the ball rolling for Spanish champions in Dubai when he won exactly 20 years back in 1998. Three years later, former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero became the second champion from Spain [2001], while the last one from Spain was the distinguished Rafael Nadal who made his Dubai debut as a 19-year-old to stop seven-time champion Roger Federer in three sets in an epic final in 2006.
The tournament thereafter witnessed a total dominance from Novak Djokovic and Federer — Andy Roddick’s intrusion in 2008 being the lone exception — with the two of them alternating the trophy a record eight times in nine years between 2007 and 2015.
“Well, it means a lot to win this trophy and join them [all past winners including Nadal, Ferrero and Corretja]. I think the last winners are the best tennis players in the era. That makes me so happy,” he said.
The Spaniard, who will turn 30 next month, will surely rise when fresh rankings are announced on Monday. The Spaniard’s 500 points earned will see him make his way up from his current No. 23 to at least No. 15 as the third best Spaniard behind Nadal (No. 2) and Pablo Carreno Busta (No. 14) when the new list is released on Monday.
However, Bautista Agut — who won his first title for the season at the ATP Auckland Open — a week before the Australian Open was firm on the hard work he has been putting in each day to be where he is. “I’m working a lot. I’m doing the right things and trying to be a better player every day,” he added.
“There is no better way to get a good preparation for Indian Wells and Miami than playing tough matches with a lot of difficulties, like here in Dubai. I now have time to get fit to play good tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami. I certainly hope something better is coming up,” Bautista Agut smiled.
