By Chris Oddo | Sunday February 7, 2016
Victor Estrella Burgos repeated as champion in Quito, taking down Thomaz Bellucci in three sets.
Photo Source: Tennis TV
In 2015 Victor Estrella Burgos knocked out Thomaz Bellucci in the semifinals at Quito en route to his first career title. This year, he ousted the Brazilian again, one round later. Estrella Burgos’ comeback 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2 triumph improves the 35-year-old’s record in finals to 2-0.
More ATP/Fed Cup: Gasquet Shines in Montpellier | Bencic/Hingis Lead Swiss to Victory
Bellucci, playing in his seventh career final, was dominant on serve in the first two sets. He broke for a 5-4 lead in set one, and saved a break point to close out the opener in 28 minutes.
But Estrella Burgos saved a trio of break points to get to a tiebreaker in set two, and when Bellucci missed an easy forehand that would have given him a 4-2 lead in the breaker, Estrella Burgos seized his opportunity.
After dropping five of the final six points to claim the middle set, Bellucci’s level dropped further in the decider. Estrella Burgos broke twice on seven opportunities to cruise to victory without facing a break point in the set.
Last year in Quito Estrella Burgos became the ATP’s oldest first-time titlist and the first player from the Dominican Republic to claim a title. This year he is the fifth player to repeat as a title winner, joining Viktor Troicki (Sydney), Stan Wawrinka (Chennai), Novak Djokovic (Australia) and Richard Gasquet (Montpellier).