THE home crowds rallied at the Sardegna and Marbella ATP 250 final events on Sunday, with an Italian and a Spaniard taking out the respective trophies following impressive three-set victories. Meanwhile, the Monte Carlo Masters event has begun in Monaco, with just two main draw encounters opening proceedings as the qualifiers were completed.

At Sardegna, it was third seed Italian Lorenzo Sonego who claimed the title with a 2-6 7-6 6-4 victory over Serbian Laslo Djere. The huge three hour encounter was fitting for a final, as the Serbian claimed the first set with relative ease before being forced into a second set tiebreaker wherein Sonego took the chocolates.

Sonego capitalised off Djere’s unforced error count and eight double faults to clinch victory, despite lacking intensity on serve. He was marginally more efficient on serve winning 70 per cent of first serve points off a 68 per cent clip, compared to Djere’s 71 per cent off a 57 per cent clip.

Sonego’s victory at Sardegna marks the first time an Italian has won an ATP Tour title on home soil in 15 years, with this title his second in as many days after clinching the doubles title alongside Andrea Vavassori a day prior.

“The match was long and I remained calm in the second-set tie-break,” Sonego said. “I knew the match wasn’t finished because I had always kept fighting. It’s wonderful to win the title with all my team here. Now, I am really tired, but I am very happy. I am happy to follow in [Filippo] Volandri’s footsteps and win a title on home soil.”

SARDEGNA OPEN FINAL RESULT:

[3] Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) defeated Laslo Djere (SRB) 2-6 7-6 6-4

At Marbella, Pablo Carreno Busta reigned supreme in an all-Spanish final, defeating Jaume Munar 6-1 2-6 6-4 to claim the AnyTech365 Andalucia title. While Munar served up six aces to Carreno Busta’s zero, the top seed Spaniard was much more efficient on serve, with his 78 per cent clip paying off while a clean and consistent first and second effort was evident.

This win marked Carreno Busta’s 200th tour-level victory in excellent circumstances on home soil, winning his first Spanish title in two hour and 21 minutes.

“I suffered like yesterday trying to continue fighting all the time… I needed to do it if I wanted to win this kind of match,” Carreno Busta said. “It’s a pleasure to win a title here in Spain, in Marbella. For me, it’s very special. It’s my fifth title, so I’m very, very happy for the victory.”

“I started really good, really focused, being very aggressive,” Carreno Busta said. “After that I missed a little bit and Jaume started to play better and at the end.”

ANYTECH365 ANDALUCIA OPEN FINAL RESULT:

[1] Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) defeated Jaume Munar (ESP) 6-1 2-6 6-4

Meanwhile, the Monte Carlo Masters ATP 1000 event has begun in Monaco, with just two matches played on the opening day as the qualifying rounds were complete. David Goffin and Jordan Thompson were the two winners of the day, both overcoming second set comebacks to claim respective victories in three sets.

Goffin was the cleaner player in his 6-4 3-6 6-0 victory over Marin Cilic to get the tournament started, claiming the early ascendancy before easing off in the second and blowing the Croatian away in the third set. The 11th seed Belgian was less efficient on serve but marginally more effective and consistent, hitting six aces for three double faults off a 47 per cent clip (34/73), compared to Cilic’s 10 and 10 off a 51 per cent clip (55/108).

Thompson would not be given an easy time by the higher ranked Frenchman in Benoit Paire, forced to fight for every inch of his 6-4 6-7 7-6, three hour and three minute victory. Despite dropping the second set tiebreaker 7-6(3), Thompson came out with a vengeance in the third and forced continuous errors on serve for the Frenchman, who served up 18 double faults for just eight aces. The Australian made the most of his service games against the hard-hitter, and both claimed and saved nine break points on his way to victory.

The qualifying rounds are done and dusted, seeing top seed German Dominik Koepfer, second seed Italian Stefano Travaglia, eighth seed Australian Alexei Popyrin and ninth seed Argentinian Federico Delbonis gain entry into the Monte Carlo main draw, joined by a trio of Italians.

MONTE CARLO MASTERS ROUND OF 64 RESULTS:

[11] David Goffin (BEL) defeated Marin CIlic (CRO) 6-4 3-6 6-0
Jordan Thompson (AUS) defeated Benoit Paire (FRA) 6-4 6-7 7-6