27 Jun Brezac crowned 2009 Men’s Irish Open Champion
Charles-Antoine Brezac of France was crowned Men’s Irish Open Champion for 2009, with a straight sets victory over top seed Ryler Deheart at Fitzwilliam LTC today (27th June). The 23 year-old unseeded Frenchman recorded his very first pro tour singles title win as he comfortably overcame the world no. 228 by 6-2, 6-4. The young Frenchman will have enjoyed his time in Ireland as he had picked up the doubles title the previous week at the City of Dublin Championships in Brookfield. Brezac turned the form book on its head as he cruised past all of the top-three seeds in the draw to claim the prestigious Irish Open crown. No.2 seed Raven Klaasen of South Africa was the first to fall to Brezac’s good form going out 2-6,2-6 in the quarter-finals. Fellow Frenchman and No.3 seed Phillipe De Bonnevie was also dumped out in the semi-final by Brezac, again in straight sets 6-7(3), 4-6.
The eight Irish players in the main draw found the competition far tougher than the previous weeks action at the City of Dublin Championships. Wild Card James Cluskey was Ireland’s top performer of the week, the towering Dubliner came out on top against no.7 seed Colin O’Brien in a marathon second round match 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(3) to progress to the final eight at the Ballsbridge venue. Cluskey’s run came to an end in the quarter-final where Phillipe De Bonnevie proved too strong winning out 6-4,6-3. Colin O’Brien, James McGee and Barry King were the only other Irish players to progress past the first round of the draw with wins over Adam Hubble, Jakob Praibis and Vincent Stouff respectively.
The doubles draw proved just as frustrating for Irish interests, all five of the Irish duos were unable to progress past the first round of the doubles main draw. James Cluskey was once more the top Irish performer as he teamed up with Canadian Milan Pokrajac reaching the second round before going out to the Austrian no.2 seeds of Kaden Hensel and Adam Hubble 3-6, 6-7(3). An unseeded Swedish-American partnerships emerged as the doubles champions when Ashwin Kumar (USA) and Andreas Siljestrom (SWE) defeated City of Dublin Champiosnhips doubles winners Vincent Stouff and Charles-Antoine Brezac in straight sets 7-5, 7-6(5).
For more pictures from the Men’s Irish Open go to the Tennis Ireland Gallery
For a full rundown of all results from the 2009 Men’s Irish Open click here.