Opelka, Garin continue fine form with second ATP Tour titles

After rain held up his semi-final, Reilly Opelka utilised his huge serve to win two matches at the Delray Beach Open on Sunday.

Published : Feb 24, 2020 09:22 IST

Reilly Opelka beat Milos Raonic 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 in the Delray Beach Open final.
Reilly Opelka beat Milos Raonic 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 in the Delray Beach Open final.
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Reilly Opelka beat Milos Raonic 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 in the Delray Beach Open final.

Reilly Opelka overcame both Milos Raonic and Yoshihito Nishioka on Sunday to triumph at the Delray Beach Open.

With Saturday's play affected by rain, the big-serving American had only hours to prepare for the final after an impressive defeat of Raonic in 127 hard-hitting minutes.

Opelka edged the ace count 19 to 16 and also saved a match point against the Canadian in their semi-final, eventually coming out on top 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-3.

The world number 54 broke Raonic for the first time at 3-3 in the final set and then again to love to book his place in the final, where he showed no signs of tiredness when seizing the initiative by claiming the third of three set points to forge ahead against Nishioka.

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However, Nishioka's return game began to click into gear and he levelled the match when Opelka sent a forehand long to lose a tense tie-break.

An immediate break put Opelka in charge of the decider, though, and he moved 5-2 up when a furious Nishioka sent a backhand wide having previously saved three break points.

Opelka secured his second ATP Tour title with a 27th ace, once again prevailing in a three-set tussle.

 

Garin continues fine run at Rio Open

Cristian Garin continued his tremendous form on Sunday, winning the Rio Open final against Gianluca Mager.

The Chilean third seed proved too good for qualifier Mager in the decider, winning 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 after one hour, 34 minutes on the clay in Brazil.

The title win was the fourth of Garin's career and second this month, adding to his Cordoba Open success.

But it was his first at ATP 500 level, having earlier beaten fifth seed Borna Coric in the semi-finals.

Mager, who needed almost three hours to win his semi over Attila Balazs, recovered from a break down in the first set before being edged in a tie-break.

The Italian started the second set well, going a break up and appearing set to force a decider.

But Garin came from 5-3 down, winning 16 of the last 20 points and four straight games to clinch the title.

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