BASEL, Switzerland, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- David Nalbandian of Argentina became the first player from Latin American to win the Swiss Indoors in 24 years Sunday with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Chile's Fernando Gonzalez.
In the first all-South American final in the tournament's history, the six-seeded Nalbandian claimed his second title of the year with a one-hour, 37-minute triumph over the seventh-seeded Gonzalez.
Nalbandian is the first Latin American winner since countryman Guillermo Vilas captured the crown in 1978 with a win over John McEnroe in the final. He also is the youngest to claim the title since Jim Courier defeated Stefan Edberg in 1989.
The 20-year-old Argentine earned $133,000 for his third win over Gonzalez in as many meetings.
This is the second career title for Nalbandian, who took his first crown at Estoril in April and was the surprise runner-up at Wimbledon to world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt in July. He started the year 70th in the rankings, but secured his place in the top 20 for the year with his victory Sunday.
Nalbandian definitely earned the Basel crown, having eliminated top seed and defending champion Tim Henman in the quarterfinals and third seed Roger Federer, the hometown favorite, in the semifinals.
Gonzalez was looking for his first hardcourt tournament win. He won at Vina del Mar and Palermo this year after capturing his first career title two years ago in Orlando.
