Verdasco wins men's Pilot Pen title

NEW HAVEN, Conn., Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Second-seeded Fernando Verdasco beat No. 6 Sam Querrey in straight sets Saturday to win the men's Pilot Pen Tennis Classic at rain-plagued New Haven, Conn.

The scores in the U.S. Open tune-up final were 6-4, 7-6 (8-6), giving Verdasco his first title this season and third in his career.

He beat the 6-foot-6 Querrey by winning 72 percent of his service points and escaping three set points in the tiebreaker.

Verdasco joined women's winner Caroline Wozniacki in the title column and earned a $94,000 champion's check.

"He has been playing well all summer," Verdasco had said about his opponent.

The much-improved Querry was playing in his fifth final this season. He won the Los Angeles Tennis Open earlier this month.