¡El tricampeón levanta su título! @Vitiestrella80 @AllYouNeedisEC pic.twitter.com/GOp8bppVKf
— EcuadorOpen250 (@EcuadorOpen250) February 12, 2017
(February 12, 2017) Victor Estrella Burgos saved a match point to win his third straight Ecuador Open by beating the third seed, Italy’s Paolo Lorenzi 6-7(2), 7-5, 7-6(6) on the clay in Quito.
The Dominican tennis player, ranked at 156 in the world, becomes the lowest-ranked singles champion on the ATP World Tour since No. 192 Florian Mayer won in Halle last June.
Estrella Burgos knocked out top seed Ivo Karlovic and fourth seed Thomaz Bellucci to get to the final.
“It’s a great achievement for me to win three titles here,” Estrella Burgos said. “The recipe for my success here will be revealed when I retire [laughing], but for sure I’ll come back here next year. I’ll play in Quito every year until I retire.”
“Without any doubt, this final has been the toughest. Paolo doesn’t give away anything because he is a great fighter.”
“I love playing here and I’m sure I’ll be back next year,” said the losing finalist. I loved the crowd and how they welcomed and supported me during the whole week. I am thankful. I’m leaving with an ATP final and that’s very important to me.”
The 36-year-old Dominican becomes the first player in ATP World Tour history to win at least three titles at one event and none anywhere else. He also joins a select group of nine active players to have completed a “three-peat” at a tournament, which includes Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Davis Ferrer, Stan Wawrinka, Kei Nishikori, Milos Raonic, and John Isner.