Thomaz Bellucci won his second-career title. In an evening final, he battled Argentine Juan Monaco for the title in Santiago. The Brazilian outlasted Monaco 6-2 0-6 6-4 in a battle that lasted almost two hours.
Bellucci showed a lot of heart this week. He battled through Lapentti, Capedeville, Schwank and Gonzalez in mostly three-set victories, almost always coming from behind. The Brazilian played a lot of tennis and was on the court almost two hours more than Monaco. It was only a matter of time before the 22 year old lost his legs.
Bellucci instead jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the opening set. Monaco stopped the bleeding by breaking back in game six. The Brazilian broke back in the following game and successfully served for the opening set. Monaco then won the second set at love, and it looked like experience and legs would catch up to Bellucci. He held his own in the final set and secured a break for the win.
With the title victory, the 22 year old shoots up seven spots to world no. 28 this week. Eight months ago, the Brazilian was ranked 134. Now he is in the top 30.
Bellucci will head to Costa do Sauipe this week on his home turf. He lost in the final to Tommy Robredo last year. Should he win that tournament this year, the Brazilian fans will go wild. Brazilians have not had a lot to cheer about since Gustavo “Guga” Kuerten.
Championship Sunday
Singles Final
3 Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) def. 2 Juan Monaco (ARG) 6-2 0-6 6-4
(Image: Claudio Santana/AFP/Getty Images)
Lukasz Kubot and Oliver Marach captured their fourth-career title together. The Austro-Polish duo gave Potito Starace and Horacio Zeballos a 6-4 6-0 beating in the doubles final yesterday in Santiago. Kubot and Marach will play next week in Brazil on the second leg of the Latin American Swing.
(Image: Cèsar Pincheira/Movistar Open)
In the upset of the week, Thomaz Bellucci rallied to ouster Fernando Gonzalez 3-6 6-4 6-3. Gonzalez was playing in front of the hometown crowd and was defending the title for the second year in a row. The win is quite a coup for the Brazilian.
The 22 year old is growing as a player. He has broken into the top forty and is starting to beat the players he is supposed to beat. The world no. 35 now needs to start beating the top 25 players.
Tonight’s win is his largest scalp to date by taking out the world no. 11. His largest scalps were Stanislas Wawrinka and Igor Andreev in Gstaad last year when they were ranked 24 and 27 respectively. Bellucci went on to win that tournament, which is his only title. The Brazilian will meet Juan Monaco on Sunday.
Monaco had an easier time dismissing Brazilian qualifier Joao Souza in the first semifinal of the day. After his 6-1 6-4 victory, the Argentine booked another final visit at this tournament. His last visit was in 2008 when he pulled out of the final against Fernando Gonzalez.
Monaco and Bellucci have never played one another. This final should be an interesting one. I now have to see this match live. Damn you Tennis Channel!
Saturday’s Results
Singles Semifinals
1 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) vs. 3 Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) 3-6 6-4 6-3
2 Juan Monaco (ARG) def. Q Joao Souza (BRA) 6-1 6-4
Doubles Final
1 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) def. P. Starace (ITA)/H. Zeballos (ARG) 6-4 6-0
Sunday’s Order of Play
(Images: Cèsar Pincheira/Movistar Open)
On the brink of defeat last night, Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci rallied to beat Paul Capdeville 5-7 6-4 7-5 in front of the Chilean’s hometown crowd in just under three hours of play. Bellucci was able to follow up his big win last night with another win against Eduardo Schwank this evening in straight sets to book the third spot in the semifinals.
The 22 year old is showing a lot of maturity so far this year and is in the hunt for a second-career title after his first win in Gstaad last year. He now awaits the winner of the night match between Fernando Gonzalez and Marcel Granollers.
Friday’s Results
Singles Quarterfinals
1 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) def. Marcel Granollers (ESP) 7-6(8) 7-6(9)
2 Juan Monaco (ARG)
def. Peter Luczak (AUS) 6-4 3-6 6-3
3 Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) def. Eduardo Schwank (ARG) 6-4 6-4
Q Joao Souza (BRA) def. Alberto Martin (ESP) 6-2 6-4
Doubles Semifinals
1 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) def. L. Friedl (CZE)/D. Skoch (CZE) 5-7 6-2 10-8
P. Starace (ITA)/H. Zeballos (ARG) def. L. Arnold Ker (ARG)/J. Monaco (ARG) 6-4 4-6 10-5
Saturday’s Order of Play
(Image: Cèsar Pincheira – Movistar Open)
Second-seed Juan Monaco defeated compatriot Juan Ignacio Chela 6-3 7-5 in just under 90 minutes of play. The Argentine draws Australian Peter Luczak in the quarterfinals. The two players have never played one another.
Thursday’s Results
Singles Second Round
2 Juan Monaco (ARG) def. Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) 6-3 7-5
3 Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) def. Paul Capdeville (CHI) 5-7 6-4 7-5
E. Schwank (ARG) def. 6 Jose Acasuso (ARG) 6-7(3) 6-2 RET. (left knee)
Peter Luczak (AUS) def. Q David Marrero (ESP) 6-3 7-6(4)
Doubles Quarterfinals
1 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) def. WC S. Gonzalez (MEX)/N. Massu (CHI) 4-6 6-3 10-6
L. Arnold Ker (ARG)/J. Monaco (ARG) def. 2. M Melo (BRA)/B. Soares (BRA) 6-4 6-3
L. Friedl (CZE)/D. Skoch (CZE) def. J. Acasuso (ARG)/S. Prieto (ARG) walkover (Acasuso - left knee)
P. Starace (ITA)/H. Zeballos (ARG) def. S. Greul (GER)/P. Luczak (AUS) 7-5 6-4
Friday’s Order of Play
(Image: Movistar Open/Cèsar Pincheira)
Wednesday's Result
Singles Second Round
1 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) def. Q Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) 6-4 6-3
Alberto Martin (ESP) def. Ricardo Mello (BRA) 6-3 6-4
Marcel Granollers (ESP) def. Lukasz Kubot (POL) 6-4 6-2
Q Joao Souza (BRA) def. Pere Riba (ESP) 6-4 6-4
Doubles First Round
2 M. Melo (BRA)/B. Soares (BRA) def. WC J. Aguilar (CHI)/H. Podlipnik-Castillo (CHI) 6-1 7-6(4)
P. Starace (ITA)/H. Zeballos (ARG) def. 3 P. Cuevas (URU)/M. Granollers (ESP) 6-2 6-2
WC S. Gonzalez (MEX)/N. Massu (CHI) def. B. Dabul (ARG)/P. Lorenzi (ITA) 6-1 6-4
L. Arnold Ker (ARG)/J. Monaco (ARG) def. O. Hernandez (ESP)/N. Lapentti (ECU) 6-3 6-2
L. Friedl (CZE)/D. Skoch (CZE) def. T. Bellucci (BRA)/M. Daniel (BRA) 6-4 7-6(4)
Thursday's Order of Play - TBD
Third-seed Thomaz Bellucci rallied to beat veteran Nicolas Lapentti in an extremely evil first-round matchup. After 1 hour and 46 minutes of play, Bellucci bested the veteran from Ecuador 3-6 6-1 6-1.
The top-ranked Brazilian is holding steady in the top 40 and is starting out the year well. The world no. 35 advanced to the quarterfinals in Brisbane where he lost to Tomas Berdych and then advanced to the second round of the Australian Open where he lost to Andy Roddick. The 22 year old is now beating the players he should beat, but now he needs to overcome the top 30 players.
Up next for the Brazilian is Chilean Paul Capdeville, who had a much easier time with a qualifier in his first-round matchup. The two players have never met in ATP action but did meet twice on the challenger circuit. Bellucci won both of those meetings by the way.
Tuesday’s Results
Singles First Round
1 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) def. Oscar Hernandez (ESP) 6-2 6-1
3 Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) def. Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) 3-6 6-1 6-1
Ricardo Mello (BRA) def. 4 Pablo Cuevas (URU) 7-6(5) 6-3
Lukasz Kubot (POL) def. 5 Horacio Zeballos (ARG) 3-6 7-5 6-3
6 Jose Acasuso (ARG) def. WC Hans Podlipnik-Castillo (CHI) 6-1 6-1
Q Joao Souza (BRA) def. 7 Simon Greul (GER) 3-6 6-4 7-6(5)
Eduardo Schwank (ARG) def. Paolo Lorenzi (ITA) 4-6 7-6(3) 6-3
Pere Riba (ESP) def. Santiago Ventura (ESP) 6-3 7-5
Paul Capdeville (CHI) def. WC Cristobal Saavedra-Corvalan (CHI) 4-6 6-2 6-1
Q David Marrero (ESP) def. Q Juan-Martin Aranguren (ARG) 7-6(4) 2-6 7-6(2)
Q Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) def. Victor Crivoi (ROU) 6-4 6-2
Doubles First Round
1 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) def. J. Chela (ARG)/S. Ventura (ESP) 6-3 7-6(7)
S. Greul (GER)/P. Luczak (AUS) def. R. Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP)/E. Schwank (ARG) 7-6(3) 6-4
B. Dabul (ARG)/P. Lorenzi (ITA) vs WC S. Gonzalez (MEX)/N. Massu (CHI) – TBD
Wednesday's Order of Play
(Image: El Mercurio)
Name: Movistar Open
City: Santiago, Chile
Surface: Outdoor Clay
Championship Points: 250
2009 Singles Champion: Fernando Gonzalez
2009 Doubles Champions: Pablo Cuevas and Brian Dabul
Featured Players: Fernando Gonzalez, Juan Monaco, Thomaz Bellucci, Pablo Cuevas and Jose Acasuso
Monday’s Results
Singles First Round
2 Juan Monaco (ARG) def. Nicolas Massu (CHI) 6-3 6-4
Peter Luczak (AUS) def. 8 Potito Starace (ITA) 7-6(3) 6-4
Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) def. WC Jorge Aguilar (CHI) 7-5 6-2
Marcel Granollers (ESP) def. Martin Vassallo Arguello (ARG) 4-6 6-3 RET. (left ankle)
Albert Martin (ESP) def. Marcos Daniel (BRA) 6-7(5) 7-5 6-4
Doubles First Round
Jose Acasuso (ARG)/S. Prieto (ARG) def. 4 A Sa (BRA)/H. Tecau (ROU) 6-1 6-2
Tuesday’s Order of Play
Fernando Gonzalez took no time, 55 minutes, making his way to a fourth Movistar Open title in his native Chile. This is now his 11th ATP career title and his first title of the year.
Singles Championship
Fernando Gonzalez def. Jose Acasuso 6-1 6-3
César Pincheira
Argentine Jose Acasuso upset Tommy Robredo in a three set match. After losing the first set, Acasuso manage to turn it around to overcome the Spaniard in a two hour and 12 minute match. In the other semifinal, Fernando Gonzalez of Chile cruised to beat Pable Cuevas of Uruguay in a one hour and 6 minute match. This sets up an all South American final, where the Chilean leads the head-to-head 7-2.
All was not lost for Cuevas though. He and his doubles partner, Brian Dabul of Argentina went upset top seeds Cermak/Merinak in the doubles final.
Singles Semifinals:
1 Fernando Gonzalez def. Q Pablo Cuevas 6-3 6-2
4 Jose Acasuso def. 2 Tommy Robredo 5-7 6-2 6-4
Doubles Championship:
3 P. Cuevas /B. Dabul def. 1 F. Cermak /M. Mertinak 6-3 6-3
César Pincheira
Spaniard Tommy Robredo overcame losing the first set to eventually beat Juan Ignacio Chela in a two hours and 8 minute match. He will face Jose Acasuso of Argentina. Robredo currently leads Acasuso 3-2 head to head match ups.
Singles Quarterfinals:
1 Fernando Gonzalez def. 5 Juan Monaco 6-0 6-2 2
Tommy Robredo def. wc Juan Ignacio Chela 0-6 6-3 6-4 4
Jose Acasuso def. LL Sebastian Decoud 6-4 6-2
Q Pablo Cuevas def. wc Paul Capdeville 7-5 7-5
Singles Round of 16: 4 Jose Acasuso def. Thomaz Bellucci 7-6(3) 6-3
Doubles Semifinals:
1 F. Cermak /M. Mertinak def. 4 A. Martin /T. Robredo 6-2 7-6(5)
3 P. Cuevas /B. Dabul def O. Hernandez /A. Montanes 7-5 6-3
Jim Rydell
Singles:
2 Tommy Robredo def. Brian Dabul 6-3 7-6(5)
4 Jose Acasuso def. Thomaz Bellucci 7-6(3) 6-3
LL Sebastian Decoud def 7 Agustin Calleri 7-6(3) 7-5
wc Juan Ignacio Chela def. Martin Vassallo Arguello 6-4 -6(4)
Doubles:
1 F. Cermak /M. Mertinak def. A. Calleri /P. Starace 6-3 6-2
O. Hernandez /A. Montanes def. 2 L. Arnold /J. Monaco 7-5 7-6(2)
3 P. Cuevas /B. Dabul def. wc P. Capdeville /A. Garcia 6-2 6-3
4 A. Martin /T. Robredo def. P. Andujar /D. Gimeno-Traver 6-4 7-6(4)
Jim Rydell
Singles:
Fernando Gonzalez def. Maximo Gonzalez 7-5 7-6(7)
Pablo Cuevas def. Albert Montanes 7-6(2) 6-4
Juan Monaco def. Potito Starace 6-3 6-3
Agustin Calleri def. Nicolas Massu 7-6(4) 6-1
Paul Capdeville def. Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-4 6-3
Doubles:
P. Cuevas /B. Dabul def. T. Bellucci /M. V. Arguello 6-3 3-6 10-6
Jim Rydell
Poor Nicolas Lapentti lost today to Pablo Cuevas of Uraguay.
Singles:
Maximo GONZALEZ def. Bosris PASHANSKI 6-3 6-2
Pablo CUEVAS def. Nicolas LAPENTTI 6-3 3-6 7-5
Sebastian DECOUD def. Fabio FOGNINI 6-3 7-5
Thomaz BELLUCCI def. Juan Pablo BRZEZICKI 6-2 6-3
Brian DABUL def. Diego JUNQUEIRA 6-2 6-7(2) 6-1
Doubles:
F. CERMAK/M. MERTINAK def. N. DEVILDER/O. MARACH 6-3 6-2
A. MARTIN/T. ROBREDO def. J. BRUNSTROM/J. ROJER 7-6(1) 7-6(2)
O. HERNANDEZ/A. MONTANES def. J. GUZMAN/D. MUNO-DE LA NAVA 6-3 6-3
L. ARNOLD KERR/J. MONACO def. J. ACASUSO/S. PRIETO 6-1 7-6(1)
Singles:
Juan Ignacio CHELA (ARG) def. Pablo ANDUJAR (ESP) 6-0 3-6 6-1
Daniel GIMENO-TRAVER (ESP) def. Alberto MARTIN (ESP) 6-3 6-7(2) 6-6 Ret'd
Potito STARACE (ITA) def. Marcos DANIEL (BRA) 6-4 6-4
Juan MONACO (ARG) def. Nicolas DEVILDER (FRA) 6-2 6-4
Martin VASSALLO ARGUELLO (ARG) def.Oscar HERNANDEZ (ESP) 6-3 7-6(1)
Paul CAPDEVILLE (CHI) def. Eduardo SCHWANK (ARG) 6-3 6-4
Doubles:
ANDUJAR (ESP)/GIMENO-TRAVER (ESP) def. GONZALEZ (CHI)/PODLIPNIK-CASTILLO (CHI) 7-6(2) 7-5
CALLERI (ARG) /STARACE (ITA) def. GONZALEZ (ARG)/LAPENTTI (ECU) 6-3 3-6 10-7
Posts
