Kitzbuhel, Austria - Fifth-seeded Argentine Juan Monaco came back to best 10th-seeded Italian Potito Starace in Sunday’s final of the $1.079 million Austrian Open.
Graffiti Wall reports that Monaco, who upset top-seed and world No. 7 Tommy Robredo in the quarterfinals, dropped the first set but rebounded to outlast Starace, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, in a match that lasted nearly 2 1/2 hours.
The pair had met just two times previously with both bouts taking place in Buenos Aires. Starace won the first meeting last year, but Monaco avenged that defeat at the same tournament in February 2007 en route to his maiden ATP title.
This was the third career title for Monaco, who also won in May at Portschach.
The Argentine star took home $150,000 for his efforts.
