Almagro wins 3rd Brazil Open tennis title

20 Feb 2012, 7:00 am   -   Source: AAP
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Spaniard Nicolas Alago wins his third Brazil Open tennis title, beating Italian Filippo Volandri 6-3 4-6 6-4 in the final.

Nicolas Almagro of Spain defeated Filippo Volandri of Italy 6-3 4-6 6-4 to retain his Brazil Open title on Sunday.

It was his third Brazil title, making him the most successful player at the ATP Tour 250 event in Latin America's biggest country.

Almagro broke Volandri late in the third set to clinch victory in just over two hours at Ibirapuera sporting complex in Sao Paulo, winning his 11th ATP tour title.

The 11th-ranked Almagro played the indoor clay-court tournament on a wild card because Davis Cup duties initially put his participation in doubt.

It was the eighth straight time a Spaniard had made it to the Brazil Open final, with the Spanish player winning six times.

Volandri broke Almagro in the second game of the match, but the Spaniard came back with three breaks to take control of the set despite making only 55 per cent of his first serves.

The 26-year-old Almagro continued to play well in the second set but Volandri saved all five break opportunities he faced, then converted one of two chances to extend the match into a third set. Almagro served nine of his 18 aces in the second set.

Almagro didn't allow a single break point to the 69th-ranked Volandri in the final set.

It was the seventh ATP final for the Italian, who was trying to win his third singles title and first since 2006.

Sao Paulo is hosting the event for the first time after 11 editions in the northeastern city of Costa do Sauipe. The tournament moved indoors because of the rainy weather in Sao Paulo at this time of the year.

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