MARBELLA, March 31, 2019
Pablo Andújar is the champion of the €46,600 Casino Admiral Trophy in Marbella. The No. 2 seed from Spain fought past top favourite Benoit Paire of France in a topsy-tury singles final on Sunday afternoon at the Puente Romano Tenis Club.
Andújar withstood nine aces, breaking his opponent’s serve four times. The World No. 88 saved one match point in the second set to secure a 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-4 victory in two hours and 25 minutes.
CAMPEÓN 🏆
What a comeback! @AndujarPablo rallies from 4-6, 2-5 down, saving 1 MP to defeat Paire for the Marbella title @casinoadmiralt. pic.twitter.com/StUJVQu57y
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) 31. März 2019
Pablo Andújar and Benoit Paire (photo: Casino Admiral Trophy)
By lifting his ninth ATP Challenger career trophy, his first of the season, Andújar earns €6,190 in prize money as well as 80 ATP-Ranking points.
The 33-year-old Cuenca will stay in Spain to defend his title at the second edition of the Ferrero Challenger Open to be held at the Equelite Sport Academy in Villena next week. Andújar will be the top seed of the €46,600 clay-court event and awaits either Alexey Vatutin of Russia or Italian Riccardo Bonaido after a first-round bye.
“Even I do not know how I did it, without a doubt, we must also congratulate Benoit because he played a great match,” Andújar said.
Paire was seeking his first title since lifting the ATP Challenger trophy in Mouilleron-Le-Captif four years ago. He will next play on home soil at the Mouratoglou Open in Sophia Antipolis.
