Spanish tennis star Nicolas Almagro has ended a four-year title draught with a win at the Millennium Estoril Open, beating fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta in a tough, final on Sunday (May 1) which almost ran three hours.
Almargo, ranked 71st in the world, had to fight back after losing the first set in a tie-break – 6-7(6), 7-6(5), 6-3 . He now suceeds Richard Gasquet as the Estoril Open winner.
“Every event is tough with Roland Garros coming up, things are really tight,” the victor told ATP website.
“It’s great to win a title after so long. It was a battle today with Pablo, who was playing really well. I’ve improved during the week; I’ve been losing a lot of matches that I should have won. I’m looking for my tennis again. But I’m gaining more confidence with my game.”
Almagro caused upset for Portuguese fans in the second leg of the tournament when he beat João Sousa, Portugal’s top-ranking player (35th).
Speaking after the final, tournament director João Zilhão said he was happy with the event’s growing success.
“This year we had nearly 38,000 spectators, after last year’s 32,000,” he told reporters.
“For this tournament, we had set the target at 35,000 and we’re very happy to have surpassed it,” Zilhão said, adding that he received “an email from the ATP chairman” congratulating organisers on their “good work” in Estoril.
