Montanes beats Darcis to clinch first title

Albert Montanes rallied to down Steve Darcis of Belgium and win the Dutch Open title.

Montanes was blitzed in the first set by the third-seeded Darcis, the defending champion, but settled down and came back to take his first ATP singles title in three sets, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Darcis captured his first-ever ATP singles title last year at this event and was trying to become the first player to successfully defend the Dutch Open crown since Balazs Taroczy, who won five straight from 1978-82.

But Montanes, seeded fifth, was dominant all week. He had not dropped a set until falling to Darcis in the opening frame.

Montanes, seeded fifth, is the first Spaniard to win this event Alex Corretja in 2001. Montanes' best previous result had been reaching last year's final in Casablanca.


(source The Canadian Press, photo/RICK NEDERSTIGT/AFP/Getty Images)