Photo: Nikolay Kondakov
Marcos just missed out in his bid to win a fifth career ATP World Tour title, finishing runner-up to Viktor Troicki 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the final of the Kremlin Cup on Sunday in Moscow.
After squandering an early break advantage, Marcos broke serve again to lead 4-2 and went on to close out a commanding one-set lead. However, Troicki came back strongly in the second set and was rewarded with aggressive play in the 10th game, when he broke Marcos’ serve to level the match.
Marcos was denied a chance to break in the third game of the final set as Troicki produced a clutch serve on break point, and it proved to be his last opportunity of the match. Troicki broke through in the fourth game to lead 3-1 and held a match point in the eighth game at 30/40 on Marcos’ serve. Great use of the angles on court by Marcos ensured he held serve to force Troicki to serve for victory, but the Serbian showed no sign of nerves as he clinched victory in one hour and 44 minutes.
“I lost a lot of matches in my career but it is frustrating to lose in a final like this. I thought I was in control of the first two sets,” said Marcos. “I still had a great week, played great tennis.”
Marcos will look to carry his strong form into the Bank Austria TennisTrophy next week, when he is the fourth seed at the ATP World Tour 250 indoor hard-court tournament in Vienna. He will open his campaign against either Bjorn Phau or Stockholm finalist Florian Mayer, following a bye through the first round.
Check out the full draw here.
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Go, Marcos!
