Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber won the ATP grasscourt tournament in Halle on Sunday after compatriot Philipp Petzschner was forced to retire hurt with a back injury while trailing 7-6(5), 2-0.
Petschner suffered the injury while hitting a shot at 5-5 in the first set.
He grimaced noticeably and although he laboured on, it was clear early in the second set that he could not continue.
Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi won the doubles title beating Milos Raonic and Robin Haase 7-6(8), 3-6, 11-9 in a nail-biting final. It took Bopanna and Qureshi one hour and 19 minutes to beat the Dutch-Canadian combination.
This was Bopanna's third career ATP World Tour doubles title, having triumphed in Johannesburg with Qureshi last year and with American Eric Butorac in 2008 in Los Angeles.
In Sunday's final, the Indo-Pak pair could not convert any of the four breakpoints, including three in the opening set, and also dropped its serve in the second set. However, the duo held its nerve in the super tie-break to clinch the issue.
Bopanna and Qureshi had defeated Christian Kas and singles champion Kohlschreiber 5-7, 6-3, 11-9 in the semifinals on Friday.
Fizzling out
Earlier, there were great expectations for the final between the two Davis Cup teammates, but in the end, Kohlschreiber had relatively little to do in order to pick up the winner's cheque.
“It is a pity that Phil could not play on. It is a shame for the fans but you could see he was really suffering,” said Kohlschreiber.
This was World No. 49 Kohlschreiber's third ATP title, and his first at Halle, where he had reached the final in 2008, only to run into Roger Federer.
“I am very satisfied with my performance throughout the tournament, but it is always a shame when you win because of an opponent's injury. I hope Phil will be fit again soon,” Kohlschreiber said.
“With the score at 5-5 in the first set, I felt a few pains in my back — then it got worse,” said Petzschner, ranked 71 in the world. He was treated by a physiotherapist after the first set but to no avail.
“The muscle just got tighter and tighter and it wasn't easy to move anymore. But I think that I will be fit again (for Wimbledon),” added the 27-year-old.
“I know that the whole week went absolutely super for me,” said Kohlschreiber, whose previous titles were won in Munich in 2007 and Auckland in 2008.
“This was one of the best weeks of the year, and of my career.
“I never really had that nervous feeling of match point because it was over so quick.
“So, for that winning feeling, this one was the worst of the three. But I worked hard all week and played well.”
Kohlschreiber is the fifth German champion in Halle, following Michael Stich (1994), Nicolas Kiefer (1999), David Prinosil (2000) and Tommy Haas (2009).
Wozniacki wins
Meanwhile, in Copenhagen, top seed Caroline Wozniacki emerged champion at her home-town event with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Lucie Safarova in the final on Sunday.
Postponed
Andy Murray's clash with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the Queen's Club final was postponed to Monday after heavy rain washed out play in west London on Sunday.
It will be the third time the final will be played on Monday and the first since 1987 when Boris Becker beat Jimmy Connors.
Murray will be hoping to win the Wimbledon warm-up event for the second time in three years while Tsonga will be bidding to become the first French winner of the event.
In the doubles final, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi will take on the top seeds, Mike and Bob Bryan.
The results (all finals):
In Halle (Gerry Weber Open): Philipp Kohlschreiber bt Philipp Petzschner 7-6(5), 2-0, retd.; Doubles: Rohan Bopanna & Aisam Qureshi bt Milos Raonic & Robin Haase 7-6(8), 3-6, 11-9.
In Copenhagen (Copenhagen Open): Caroline Wozniacki bt Lucie Safarova 6-1, 6-4.
