Cuevas Beats Tommy Robredo to Win the Croatia Open and Claim His Second ATP Title

It’s turning out to be a memorable month for Pablo Cuevas

The 28-year-old Uruguayan tennis player beat defending champion Tommy Robredo of Spain 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday to win the Croatia Open final and claim his second ATP title in July.

Pablo Cuevas

Cuevas’ victory comes hours after he ousted top-seeded Fabio Fognini in the semifinals after heavy rain on Saturday caused the delay of their their match.

The second-seeded Robredo had two break points at 1-1 in the first set, but it was Cuevas who first broke in the sixth game for a 4-2 lead.

Cuevas went ahead 2-0 in the second set and broke the 32-year-old Robredo’s serve once more in the fifth game. Robredo had a break point to level to 4-4.

Robredo hit 36 winners compared to Cuevas’ 26, but had 36 unforced errors against 19 for Cuevas.

Cuevas won his maiden ATP title earlier this month at the Swedish Open in Bastad. He’s the second qualifier to win an ATP World Tour tournament this year after Slovakia’s Martin Klizan at Munich in May.

“I was happy to win the first title, now two in a row make me even happier,” Cuevas said. “And this one was tougher to win, because I had to play in qualifying as well. I was very focused during the week, now I am really tired.”

In his past two attempts in Umag, Cuevas had never gone beyond the second round.

“Pablo played a great match, he made no mistake,” Robredo said. “There were some balls that might have changed the match, but it did not go my way. He was better than me in the first set from the baseline, so I had to change tactics, to be more aggressive.”

Robredo reached the final by defeating third-seeded Marin Cilic of Croatia 7-6 (10), 6-3 earlier Sunday, while Cuevas upset Fognini 6-3, 6-4.

Robredo Defeats Pablo Carreno Busta to Reach Croatia Open Semifinals

Tommy Robredo is two matches away from defending his title at the Croatia Open

The 32-year-old Spanish tennis player, who defeated Fabio Fognini in the finals last year, advanced to the semifinals after beating fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta 6-1, 6-4.

Tommy Robredo

The 18th-ranked Robredo next faces third-seeded Marin Cilic, who eased past Czech Lukas Rosol 6-0, 6-2.

Robredo won the first set in only 23 minutes. Carreno Busta was twice a break up in the second set before Robredo responded to win the last three games of the match.

Meanwhile, Fognini, the tournament’s top seed this year, rallied to defeat Borna Coric of Croatia 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-3 in the quarterfinals.

Also, Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay beat Teymuraz Gabashvili of Russia 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 to become the first qualifier in the event’s semifinals since Viktor Troicki in 2007.

Cuevas hit 12 aces for his sixth straight win in Umag, including three qualifying rounds.

He’ll next play Fognini, who was one set and a break down before he managed to turn the match around.

del Potro Leads Argentina into Davis Cup Semifinals

He’s one of Argentina’s all-time greatest tennis stars… And, now Juan Martin del Potro is leading his country back to the Davis Cup semifinals…

The 23-year-old tenista, who is currently ranked No. 10 in the world, put Argentina into its third straight Davis Cup semifinal with his three-set victory over Croatia’s Marin Cilic.

Juan Martin del Potro

Del Potro won 6-1, 6-2, 6-1, to give Argentina an insurmountable 3-1 lead in the best-of-five quarterfinal.

Meanwhile, del Potro’s countryman Juan Monaco defeated Antonio Veic 6-1, 6-1 to wrap up the 4-1 victory.

Argentina will now face the Czech Republic in Buenos Aires in the semifinal on September 14-16.

Argentina, which lost last year’s final against Spain, and has been in the Davis Cup finals four times without winning.