DELRAY BEACH, Florida: Latvian qualifier Ernests Gulbis won his third career ATP title yesterday by defeating France’s Edouard Roger-Vasselin 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 at the Delray Beach International Championships.
Gulbis, ranked four spots below his opponent at 109 in the world, saved a set point in the 10th game of the match with a backhand winner and broke back on his way to taking his second Delray Beach crown in four years.
“I’m really happy,” Gulbis said.
“I worked hard. These last nine days were tough. I had a match almost every day, except one day it rained, so I’m exhausted now.”
Gulbis won his first career title at Delray Beach in 2010 and his only other ATP crown came in 2011 at Los Angeles, an event that is ending after this year.
“It’s my favorite tournament. It’s the only tournament in the world I am winning,” Gulbis said. After congratulating Roger-Vasselin for reaching his first ATP final, Gulbis said he hoped the victory would help launch him into the world’s top 50. AFP
