Bucharest success for Montanes

Albert Montanes edged past third seed Juan Monaco 7-6 (7/2) 7-6 (8/6) to claim the BCR Open Romania title in Bucharest today.

The match was a tight affair but fifth seed Montanes dominated the tie-break after the first set went with serve.

It appeared as if the momentum had swung the other way in the second set as Monaco took a 3-0 lead, but the Argentinian picked up a leg injury when he was 5-2 up.

And Montanes took full advantage of his opponent’s struggles to come back into the match and lift the trophy at the second time of asking, having lost in the final in 2001.

It is the second title of the season for the Spaniard, who triumphed in Estoril in May, and sees Monaco’s final hoodoo continue.

The 25-year-old has now lost his last five finals on the trot.