TENNIS: Victor Estrella Burgos Sets New Record As He Wins Ecuador Open

Victor Estrella Burgos became the oldest first-time ATP title winner when he beat top seed Feliciano Lopez in the final of the inaugural Ecuador Open. The 34-year-old from the Dominican Republic claimed a 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-5) victory over the Spanish world number 14 at the clay-court tournament.

Estrella Burgos was the first Dominican to reach a top-level ATP final. Seeded eight and ranked 73, Estrella Burgos defeated Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci in Saturday's semi-final.


"The truth is that Quito has become a very special city for me," Burgos said. "Today has been a very tough day for me where I was a set up, and later I lost the tie-break. In the third set I was up a break, and I didn't manage the nerves well.

"I got a little bit nervous, but thanks to God, I relaxed a bit in the tie-break, and I was able to win the mini-break and win the match."

During the final Lopez became only the ninth player in history to reach 7,000 career aces.
But he admitted Burgos "practically dominated the whole match".

"In the tie-break I was ahead, and then I had a very easy backhand shot that I missed and that killed me," said Lopez. "It would have put me at 5-4 with two serves. That would have been a good opportunity, but tennis is like this."