Sports News

Montanes wins Dutch Open

Published: July 20, 2008 at 3:00 PM

AMERSFOORT, Netherlands, July 20 (UPI) -- Spain's Albert Montanes rallied from a dismal first set Sunday to beat Belgian Steve Darcis and win the Dutch Open tennis tournament in Amersfoort, Netherlands.

The scores were 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Montanes is the seventh player this season to record his first tournament victory on the ATP Tour.

"I've always (dreamed) about winning an ATP title and this moment is very special for me," he said. "In the first set Steve played really well and didn't give me many chances. Then I think his level dropped in the beginning of the second set and I was able to take advantage of that and started playing my game."

The fifth-seeded Montanes, 27, recovered to cap a strong performance, dropping just one set in the event.

His victory was worth $86,000.

Darcis, 24, was trying to the first player to successfully defend the Dutch Open crown since Balazs Taroczy won it five straight times from 1978-82.

© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
UPI NewsTrack Quirks in the News (4 min)
U.S. healthcare most expensive, not best (13 min)
Grain futures mixed Thursday (34 min)
Report: Russian swimmers set relay record (35 min)
Report: Canada paper producers in trouble (36 min)
First transgenic prairie vole developed (39 min)
Judge declares Samueli innocent (43 min)
fark
Lions, and Tigers and Bears, oh, my
No matter what you've been told, you can't make up your own promissary notes to pay back loans....
Ric Romero calls out Farkers, dares them to help him with a Christmas toy drive
Photoshop theme: Do not disturb
'The most disturbing video you'll see all week' featuring a lady living in a guys apartment without...
Despite massive personal risks, North Koreans are starting to openly protest, criticize their government...