By Chris Oddo | Friday January 12, 2018
Roberto Bautista Agut snapped a three-match losing streak to Juan Martin del Potro and won his 7th career title at the ASB Classic.
Photo: Phil Walter/Getty
Roberto Bautista Agut won his seventh career title and second at the ASB Classic by defeating Juan Martin del Potro, 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 on Saturday.
The Spaniard snaps a three-match losing streak to Del Potro and improves to 7-6 in ATP finals, while Del Potro falls for the first time this season and drops to 20-10 lifetime in ATP finals.
Bautista Agut came out strong, breaking Del Potro in all three of his service games to run away with the opening set, but Argentina’s top star soon found his rhythm and quickly turned the match into a dogfight.
“I started the match very well. I knew it was going to be important, the beginning of the match. I wanted to play very aggressive. I wanted to be ready,” Bautista Agut said.
Neither player faced a break point until Del Potro struck quickly in the tenth game, breaking for the set when Bautista Agut netted a backhand at the end of a long rally.
Bautista Agut claimed the only break of a tight third set and held his nerve to serve out the championship despite facing a break point in the final game.
“It's been a fantastic week for me. I gave everything I have on the court this week,” Bautista Agut said.