Garin fights back to overcome Schwartzman

CRISTIAN Garin has caused a boilover at Cordoba, defeating Argentinian first seed, Diego Schwartzman in a come-from-behind win in the final a few hours ago. Garin triumphed in two hours and four minutes, trailing by a set and on-serve to win the last seven games of the match and run out a 2-6 6-4 6-0 winner.

The 23-year-old Chilean was simply sensational after the first set, leading by as much as 5-2 in the second having dropped the first. Schwartzman broke back to get on serve at 4-5, only for Garin to break once again and level the match at a set apiece. Despite the crowd being behind the diminutive Argentinian, Garin built on the momentum created in the second set to run away with the contest 6-0 in the final set. His first serve points success rate of 67 per cent was far superior to an out-of-sorts Schwartzman who won just half of his points off his first serve. While Garin’s second serve could be improved (33 per cent points won), he broke six times to four, including three in the final set. Overall he won 48 per cent of his return points, while maintaining a 55 per cent success rate off serve.

Cordoba was Garin’s third title after wins in Munich and Houston last year. All three have come on clay for the 23-year-old who moves into number 26 – the first time he has bolted into the top 30. Schwartzman’s finish was enough to remain in 14th, though he missed out on rising up to 11th had he triumphed in the final. Both players do not have long to wait for their next tournament, with the pair both taking part in the Argentina Open at Buenos Aires, just four hours away from where they battled it out on centre court.

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