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Schwartzman beats Verdasco to win Rio Open

Argentina's Diego Schwartzman celebrates with the trophy after beating Spain's Fernando Verdasco during their ATP World Tour Rio Open singles final tennis match at the Jockey Club in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. — AFP
RIO DE JANEIRO — Argentina's Diego Schwartzman ended a two-year wait for his second ATP tour title as he overpowered an exhausted Fernando Verdasco to win the Rio Open 6-2, 6-3 on Sunday. The world No. 23 was in commanding form against an opponent who appeared to run out of puff after reaching both the singles and doubles finals in Rio. I was very patient, solid, intense, I knew he was very tired as he had played both singles and doubles, Schwartzman said of his opponent who won the doubles final on Saturday. It’s been two years since I’ve won a tournament so I am very happy. It was a perfect week for me. Schwartzman broke serve three times in the first set as Verdasco produced a string of unforced errors. Once the Spaniard squandered four break points at 2-2 in the second set, he appeared to wilt under pressure and Schwartzman ran away with the match. Schwartzman is up five places to 18th in the latest ATP world rankings released on Monday after claiming the clay-court title in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday for the biggest win of his career. Roger Federer remains on top, as Kevin Anderson and Juan Martin del Potro the only movers in the top 10. Anderson and Del Potro each climb a place with Jack Sock dropping two spots to 10th. Frances the first: Tiafoe stops Gojowczyk Wild card Frances Tiafoe captured his first ATP Tour title Sunday, defeating Peter Gojowczyk in the Delray Beach Open final to become the youngest American to win a ATP Tour title in 15 years. The 20-year-old Tiafoe toppled the German in straight sets, winning 6-1, 6-4 as he continued his successful start to the 2018 season, which has seen him beat the likes of Martin Del Potro, Chung Hyeon and Denis Shapovalov. I can't believe it, said Tiafoe. If you had asked me 10 years ago if I could win a title at 20 I would have laughed. It's unbelievable. His win marks the youngest by an American since Andy Roddick won the 2002 Houston tournament at age 19. I got a lot of love this week. I am really happy I got over that line, he said. It is going to be a good night. The next couple of days I am going to enjoy this. Gojowczyk has been a thorn in the side of the Americans on the ATP Tour for some time. Going into Sunday's final, he held an eight match win streak over US opponents. He reached the Florida final by beating John Isner, Steve Johnson and Reilly Opelka as his maiden title capped off the best two weeks of his young career. He beat all the Americans so I am happy I stopped that, said Tiafoe. Tiafoe hammered 13 aces, won 89 percent of his first-serve points in the 61-minute match. Gojowczyk, 28, had his serve broken four times and earned just nine points (39 percent) on his second serve. This was the first meeting on the ATP Tour between the two. They played twice previously on the lower level circuits in 2016 with each winning once. Tiafoe reached the final by beating Shapovalov in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4. He upset world No. 10 and second seed Del Potro in the second round 6-2, 6-4. Del Potro was my idol growing up, said Tiafoe. It was tough day conditions with the wind today. With all the rain delays this week it was driving me nuts. Tiafoe needed just 25 minutes to take the first set when Gojowczyk sailed a forehand return long. Tiafoe kept the pressure on in the second set, dropping to the court in joy following a second serve ace on match point. — Agencies