Tennis: Juan Monaco in first success since 2007
Juan Monaco defeated Carlos Berlocq 6-3, 6-7 (1), 6-1 in an all-Argentina final at the Vina del Mar VTR Open late on Sunday for his fourth ATP title.
It was top-seeded Monaco’s first title since winning three in 2007. All have been on clay.
It was the first ATP final for Berlocq, who advanced after defeating second-seeded Juan Ignacio Chela, another Argentine.
The victory marked a breakthrough for the 27-year-old Monaco, who lost in the final of this tournament in 2008 and 2010.
“The third time is lucky they say, so this time it’s true,” he said.
Monaco started well and led 4-1 before going on to win the first set. He led 4-2 in the second and seemed headed for victory before Berlocq levelled and won the tie-break. Monaco returned to form in the third set and broke Berlocq twice. Berlocq had dropped only one set during the week. The Chilean tournament is the start of a month-long clay court swing across Latin America, with other events in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico.
Meanwhile, at the PTT Pattaya Open in Thailand yesterday, Great Britain’s Emily Webley-Smith bowed out of the doubles as she and Wen-Hsin Hsu lost to Shiho Akita and Nicole Rottmann 3-6, 6-2, 11-9.
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