Photo Source: TTV
Two superb athletes in search of a first ATP title locked horns on Saturday night in Acapulco, and it was 24-year-old Tomas Machac who came away with the hardware after producing a masterful performance.
Machac started strong and kept his level high all night as he defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-6(6), 6-2. He donned the traditional sombrero as he stood at the podium after his victory.
In a crisply played final it was the 22nd-ranked Czech who was able to lift his level when it mattered most and after an opening set that featured zero break point opportunities he came through a tight tiebreak, saving a set point at 5-6, to take the lead.
Both players acquired – and did not convert – break points early in the second set, then Machac pulled away, reeling off the final four games to leave Davidovich Fokina disappointed for a second straight event.
The 25-year-old Spaniard had two championship points in the Delray Beach final against Miomir Kecmanovic on February 17, but could not come away victorious. He drops to 0-3 lifetime in ATP finals.
Machac improves to 2-0 lifetime against Davidovich Fokina and he is assured of a Top-20 debut in Monday’s ATP rankings. He is the ninth Czech man to earn that distinction since ATP rankings began in 1973.
The Czech was the highest-ranked player to have never won a title on tour. That honor goes to American Alex Michelsen, who is currently ranked 32.