Kei Nishikori of Japan beat Colombia’s Santiago Giraldo 6-2, 6-2 to win the Barcelona Open on Sunday for his first career title on clay. Giraldo started well with an early break but an argument with the chair umpire about a line call seemed to rattle the unseeded player. Shortly afterward, Giraldo failed to reach Nishikori’s drop shot before hitting a costly double-fault to cede back his serve. The fourth-seeded Nishikori went on to win eight straight games to claim the first set and take control of the match. He ended up converting five of seven break chances while Giraldo committed five double faults. Nishikori said he hopes his maiden win on clay will carry over to the French Open. “This title and (my showing in) Miami helped my confidence, especially this week on clay,’’ said Nishikori. “There are three big tournaments coming up in Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros so I hope I can do well.’’ It was Nishikori’s fifth career title on all surfaces and his second of the year. This is the first time a non-Spaniard has won the tournament since 1996. Rafael Nadalwon the tournament eight times during that period. Maria’s German hat-trick Maria Sharapova claimed three successive Stuttgart titles on Sunday after coming from behind to win a three-set battle royal with Ana Ivanovic in Sunday’s final. Having won the 2012 and 2013 titles here, the 27-year-old Sharapova was made to work hard for her 13th consecutive win on Stuttgart’s clay-courts for the 30th final win of her career before over-powering Ivanovic to claim a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory. (Agencies)
