Sport | Tennis

Beaten finalist Lopez hopes hard work will pay off

Dubai finalist Feliciano Lopez is confident the hard work put in during the past one week will start bearing fruits during the remainder of the season.

  • By Alaric Gomes, Senior Reporter
  • Published: 00:32 March 10, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • "When you win the first set, you think you can go the whole way and win the title," says Lopez.
  • Image Credit: Karl Jeffs/Gulf News

Dubai: Dubai finalist Feliciano Lopez is confident the hard work put in during the past one week will start bearing fruits during the remainder of the season.

"It's disappointing to lose, especially after coming so close in beating a player like him [Andy Roddick] in the final," Lopez told media at the post-match conference after going down to his American opponent in three sets late on Saturday.

Good attitude

"The two mistakes that I made [while being up 5-4 in the second set] cost me the final. In the third set I was tired," the 26-year Spaniard admitted.

"However, the good thing is that everything that I did here this week will help me out for the next season," said the 2004 finalist.

This was Lopez's second entry into the Dubai final, having lost to world number Roger Federer in three sets after winning the first easily.

"But I am happy with my performance and with the attitude I have shown here. When you win the first set, you think you can go the whole way and win the title," Lopez said.

But that was not the case for the lanky left-hander as he saw Roddick giving it his best push as the match progressed.

"My game plan was to play my game, and that is serve and volley. I never consider who my opponent is. I just go out there and play my own game, and that is what I am required to do," he said.

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