By Bill Scott Jul 13, 2008, 13:16 GMT
Gstaad, Switzerland - Romanian Victor Hanescu handed Igor Andreev a second defeat in a final at the Allianz Suisse Open on Sunday 6-3, 6-4 to earn a first career trophy.
Andreev, the seventh-seeded Russian, was caught out by rainy weather on Saturday and forced to return to the clay on Sunday morning to finish off a semi-final over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 7-6 (7-5).
But just a few hours of rest was not enough for 2004 finalist Andreev as the number 34 went down in 70 minutes to Hanescu. The Russian was beaten in the title match four years ago by Roger Federer.
The 26-year-old Hanescu became the first Romanian to win Gstaad since Ilie Nastase in 1973.
'I'm so happy, this is like a dream come true,' said the number 80 who had not won back-to-back matches before this breakthrough this week in the Alps.
'It's so great to win my first title here, this is something I will surely never forget,' said the champion.
Hanescu was competing in his second career final after losing at home in Bucharest last September to Frenchman Gilles Simon.
But now that he's solved back problems which dropped his ranking over the past two seasons, the former French Open quarter-finalist is ready to continue rebuilding.
'I just want to stay healthy, that is the key for me,' said Hanescu.
The Romanian swept the first set in 28 minutes and once he broke in a long opening game of the second set, his momentum was unstoppable.
'Viktor was unbeatable today,' said Andreev who will celebrate his 25th birthday on Monday. 'I've been unlucky here twice.
'I wasn't so tired from playing twice, but Victor was just too good.'
Hanescu finished off his career-defining week with the trophy after knocking out Swiss favourite Stanislas Wawrinka in the semi- finals, his third career win over Top 10 player.
The winner improved to 6-1 at Gstaad and 10-14 on the season.
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