Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar and Argentine Mariano Navone enjoyed a dream weekend on tour, capturing their first ATP titles in Marrakech and Bucharest on Sunday.
World No. 89 Rafael Jodar, 19, delivered a dominant performance to outlast Argentine qualifier Marco Trungelliti with a 6-3, 6-2 win in just 69 minutes, becoming the brand new champion at the Grand Prix Hassan II staged in Marrakech, Morocco on Sunday.
In his on-court interview, the Madrid native commented: “I’m super happy that I could get the title here in Marrakech. It was my first time in Marrakech and Morocco. I loved the crowd, everyone who came to support me and watch the final.”
All in all, he hit 21 winners to 14 unforced errors, converted four of nine break points, and won 86 percent of the points on his first serve.
On his way to his maiden championship match, Jodar stunned fourth seed Tomas Machac in straight sets.
On Monday, the first teenager to ever win the ATP 250 tournament will achieve a career-high No. 57 since turning pro last December.
Meanwhile, in Bucharest, world No. 60 Mariano Navone clinched the first title of his career at tour level by prevailing over Spanish qualifier Daniel Merida Aguilar 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 at the Tiriac Open presented by UniCredit Bank.
“There are a lot of emotions right now. When I was a kid, I dreamed of winning these tournaments on the big stages. I’m very happy," he said courtside.
Navone, 25, rallied past the spirited Merida in a gruelling two-hour, 17-minute final.
The 21-year-old Spanish player, who won his first match on tour in Bucharest, pushed his opponent, stealing the second set to force a decider.
With the wind in his sails, the world No. 136 rushed to open a 3-1 advantage in the final set.
From there, the two-time ATP runner-up came back firing, converting a crucial break in the sixth game to square the scoreline.
The seventh seed would extend his lead with a hold to love and a double break in the eighth game, inching closer to the win. However, a double fault on his first match point added drama to the contest.
With nothing to lose and all to gain, Merida broke straight back as his adversary failed to serve for the match and held to level up 5-5.
Nonetheless, Navone used his experience to hold his ground before taking a clinical break in the 12th game, closing out 7-5 to accomplish a career milestone that had eluded him until then.
“Daniel is such a good player, he hits the ball so well,” remarked the Argentine after the final. “It was such a difficult match. 1-3 in the third set. Two match points, double fault. But in the end, I came back, so I have very good feelings.”
On Monday, the Argentine player will return to the Top 50 in the Rankings, while Merida will knock on the Top 100.