SANTIAGO/STARNBERG, February 28, 2022
Pedro Martinez from Spain clinched his maiden title on the ATP Tour by lifting the trophy of the Chile Dove Men + Care Open held in the Chilean capital of Santiago. On Center Court of Club Deportivo Universidad Catolica, the No. 4 seed of the ATP 250 clay-court tournament outlasted seventh favourite Sebastian Baez of Argentina 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in Sunday’s singles final.
Martinez, a winner of three Challenger Tour titles, capitalized on five of his 15 break-point chances to prevail after two hours and 48 minutes.
First time feelz 😁
The moment @PedroMPortero locked up his first ATP title at Santiago. #ChileDoveMenCareOpen pic.twitter.com/vuQi0V8Jb8
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 28, 2022
“I am very happy,” Martinez said in his on-court interview. “It was a big battle. He has played unbelievably well in the past year. I played very well at the end and am really happy. I always fight until the end and that can give you opportunities.”
After a first-round bye, the World No. 72 had reached his second championship match on the ATP Tour with wins over his compatriot Jaume Munar, Yannick Hanfmann of Germany and local wild card entry Alejandro Tabilo.
Martinez pocketed $51,045 in prize money as well as 250 ATP Ranking points. The 24-year-old from Valencia is the fourth Spaniard to win a tour-level trophy this year, joining Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal and Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
Matos/Meligeni Rodrigues Alves triumph in doubles
On Saturday, Rafael Matos and Felipe Meligeni Rodrigues Alves claimed the doubles title. The unseeded Brazilians battled past No. 3 seeds Andre Goransson of Sweden and Nathaniel Lammons from the United States 7-6(8), 7-6(3). The encounter lasted one hour and 52 minutes.
Nuevos campeones de dobles 🏆🏆
La dupla Rafael Matos 🇧🇷 y Felipe Meligeni 🇧🇷 son los campeones del Chile Dove Men Care Open 2022🙌🏼🙌🏼👊🏼#ChileDoveMenCareOpen pic.twitter.com/71oofidX2c
— Chile Open (@chile_open) February 26, 2022
Following their triumph on tour-level debut at the Cordoba Open in Argentina last year, Matos and Meligeni Rodrigues Alves earned their second ATP Tour title and split $18,100 in prize money as well as 250 ATP Doubles Ranking points.
“It was a very good week,” Matos said. “I’m very happy with this second title playing with Felipe, he’s a good friend of mine, I always enjoy playing with him and the time outside the court too. I’m just happy.”
