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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, May 9, 2010

Tennis: Montanes successfully defends Estoril open title


Associated Press

OEIRAS, Portugal — Albert Montanes successfully defended his Estoril Open title with a 6-2, 6-7 (4), 7-5 victory over unseeded Frederico Gil of Portugal in Sunday's final.

The fourth-seeded Spaniard withstood a gallant effort from Gil, and needed a third set to win after blowing two match points when leading 5-3 in the second set.

The 120th-ranked Gil took the ensuing tiebreaker and then twice broke Montanes to open a 3-0 lead thanks to some inspired passing shots. But Gil tired as the set wore on, allowing Montanes to level at 4-4 before dropping serve in the 12th game.

Montanes eliminated No. 1 Roger Federer in two sets in Saturday's semifinals.