Juan Monaco outmuscles Carlos Berlocq in the title-round – VTR Open 2012
In an all-Argentina duel, top seed Juan Monaco overpowered the seventh seed, Carlos Berlocq, in a three set thriller at the VTR Open 2012 on Sunday. He manifested a 6-3, 6-7(1), 6-1 success against his fellow citizen, eventually ending his five year title draught at this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour 250 series event taking place on the clay courts in Vina del Mar, Chile.
World number 23 Monaco required two hours and 46 minutes to conquer his compatriot at this first clay court tournament of the season. After pocketing this match, Monaco extended lead in the FedEx ATP Head2Head series by 4-0 against the 29-year-old and grabbed his fourth ATP career title.
"Third time is lucky they say, so this time it’s true," joked the top seed after his victory. "I’m very happy to be champion again. I lost the last seven finals, so this is a very special moment for me. I’m very happy because I fought a lot, I practised a lot and I was thinking a lot about winning a tournament again. [It gives me] confidence and motivation."
Monaco made quick in-roads at this first all-Argentinean final showdown in four years and took a 4-1 lead with a break of serve. He held remaining serves and clinched the opener with a 6-3 score line.
Ranked 44th at the South African Airways ATP World Rankings, Berlocq carried his drastic ways in the second set and trailed at 2-4 after losing an early serve. However, he got back in action after this and not only snatched his break back but dominated in the tie-breaker to equalise the set scores.
The higher ranked Argentinean went berserk in the final set. He kept entire serves after warding off all seven breakpoints he encountered and cashed in two out of three break chances to bag the breadstick.
The 29-year-old Berlocq on the other hand lost a single set en route to his first ATP World Tour final. He upset the second seed, Juan Ignacio Chela, in the semi-finals to set-up this final battle.
"I felt very good," said Berlocq of the final. "I was very calm and I enjoyed it a lot. I think I did things well and played the match very well tactically.”
The lower seed clobbered almost an equal first serve share of 71 percent and sought nine break chances. However, he capitalised on one of them and coughed several unforced errors, ultimately failing to shelf his maiden ATP title.
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