VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Former world top-10 Marcos Baghdatis has won the Odlum Brown VanOpen, a $100,000 USTA Pro Circuit event in Vancouver, Canada. Baghdatis defeated Belgium’s Xavier Malisse in the championship final on Sunday afternoon.
"It's been a long time since I won a tournament and had that feeling of winning something," Baghdatis said. "In the final, I played really good, so the tennis is coming back, and I'm really happy."
The victory is worth $14,400 for the 24-year-old, who has overcome back and knee injuries and is trying to regain the form that saw him reach the Australian Open final in 2006, the Wimbledon semifinals later that same year and hold a career-high ranking of eighth in the world.
Meanwhile, Stephanie Dubois became the first Canadian to win the Odlum Brown VanOpen women's singles title. The second-seed overcame a slow start to defeat top-seed Sania Mirza of India, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, in the championship match of the $75,000 USTA Pro Circuit event.
For her victory, Dubois, ranked 129th in the world and the second-highest ranked Canadian singles player, wins $11,400.
“It’s a big tournament, and it’s great to win in my country. The crowd was very nice, and I appreciate their support. It’s very fun to play here,” Dubois said. “I came back and the third set was so close, it could have been either way, but I think I finished strong.”
Dubois, 22, was a finalist at this event in 2007, falling that year to Britain's Anne Keothavong.
Odlum Brown VanOpen
Sunday August 9, 2009
At Hollyburn Country Club
West Vancouver, BC
Purse: $175,000
Surface: Hard-Outdoor
Women’s Singles Final
Stephanie Dubois (2), Canada d. Sania Mirza (1), India 1-6, 6-4, 6-4
Men’s Singles Final
Marcos Baghdatis (3), Cyprus d. Xavier Malisse, Belgium 6-4, 6-4
Men’s Doubles Final (played indoors due to rain)
Rik De Voest and Kevin Anderson, South Africa d. Ramon Delgado, Paraguay and Kaes Van’t Hof, United States 6-4, 6-4