The seemingly invincible Victor Estrella Burgos have suffered his first ever defeat at the Ecuador Open after crashing out 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, to Austria’s Gerald Melzer in the second round.
Since the birth of the tournament in 2015, Estrella Burgos have dominated the event. Winning the title three consecutive times to create a 16-match winning run in Quito. An extraordinary achievement for the 37-year-old, who has never reached the final of an ATP tournament anywhere else during his career.
The flawless record came to an end on Thursday against world No.98 Melzer, who will now play in his first ATP Tour quarterfinal since July. During his clash against Estrella Burgos, Melzer was only broken once as he produced 10 aces and won 81% of the points behind his first serve.
“I want to congratulate my opponent, he played a good match… He attacked well with his crosscourt forehand,” Estrella Burgos said. “I have won three times here. I would be arrogant saying I’m sad today. How many players would like to have three ATP titles? I hope to be back next year.”
¡Habrá nuevo campeón! @GeraldMelzer 🇦🇹 sorprende en el #TenisLatitudCero al vencer por 6-4 1-6 y 6-4 al defensor del título @Vitiestrella80 🇩🇴. / Big surprise at the #EcuadorOpen250! @GeraldMelzer beats defending champion @Vitiestrella80 6-4, 1-6 and 6-4. pic.twitter.com/PhfZI8fjUC
— #TenisLatitudCero (@EcuadorOpen250) 8 February 2018
Melzer, who ended 2017 winning back-to-back Challenger titles on the clay, will next take on either second seed Albert Ramos Vinolas or Roberto Quiroz.
Elsewhere at the tournament, Spanish qualifier Roberto Carballés Baena continued his dream run at the event. The world No.107 stunned fourth seed Paolo Lorenzi 7-6(4), 7-5, successfully fending off a set point he faced during the closing stages of the opening set.
Carballés Baena’s run to the last eight of the tournament emulates that of 12 months ago where he also reached the quarter-final in Quito as a qualifier. It is only the fourth time the 24-year-old has managed to reach the last eight of a ATP tour event. He will next take on eighth seed Nicolas Jarry. Jarry defeated Italy’s Stefano Travaglia 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-3.
