First win for Dolgopolov in Umag

Written by: Global Chick on 1st August 2011

Italian Open Tennis WTA Tournament in Rome

First win for Dolgopolov in Umag

Ukrainian tennis player Alexander Dolgopolov returns the ball to Italian tennis player Potito Starace in their first round match at the Italian Open Tennis WTA Tournament , in the Central Stadium at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy, 09 May 2010. EPA/CLAUDIO ONORATI |

Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov claimed his first ATP Tour title at the ATP Studena Croatia Open in Umag yesterday. He stopped Marin Cilic’s dream of being the first Croatian to win the Umag tournament.

The second seed came through in three sets 6-4 3-6 6-3. This was Dolgopolov’s second ATP World Tour final appearance. He reached the final in Costa Do Sauipe earlier this year but he lost to Spain’s Nicolas Almagro.

This win earned Dolgopolov €72 600 and 250 ATP World Tour Ranking points. On his way to the final “The Dog” overcame former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero in the semi-final.

“I was first in the rankings in the Ukraine but I hadn’t won a title and everyone was talking about that a bit. So, I’m really happy that I eventually did win it because I was playing pretty well for a year but still I couldn’t manage to win a title. It’s a good moment. I’ll keep working and try and get higher and higher in the rankings,” Dolgopolov said.

Marin Cilic was hoping to win the Umag title this week. Cilic has not won a title since February last year when he defeated Berrer in Zagreb.

Cilic said, “I’m really pleased with the way things went this week. We haven’t had a Croatian in the final here for 21 years and it was a relief I think for the tournament organisers and also for me to reach the final and be playing well at home.”

The unseeded Italian team of Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini took out local favourites Marin Cilic and Lovro Zovko in the Umag doubles final 6-3 5-7 10-7. En route to the final the Italian Champions overcame the second seeds Daniele Bracciali and Santiago Gonzales in the semi-final. The winners will share €22 000 and receive 250 ATP World Tour ranking points each.