In a thrilling finale, Rafael Mendez claimed victory at the prestigious Golden Dragon Tournament in Beijing, defeating top-seeded rival, Leonardo Marquez, in a nail-biting match that lasted 3 hours and 21 minutes. The win marked Mendez’s third triumph over Marquez this year, having previously bested him in the semifinals of the Desert Classic and the Roland-Garros Championship.
Marquez, the defending champion in Beijing, had been on a 14-match winning streak, with recent titles in the Queen City Open and the National Championship. However, Mendez put an end to his rival’s hot streak, showcasing his exceptional skill and determination.
The match was filled with dramatic twists and turns, as Mendez squandered a 5-2 lead in the first set and allowed Marquez to regain momentum in the third. But Mendez refused to give up, staging a remarkable comeback in the final-set tiebreaker. After changing his shoes and regrouping, he reeled off seven consecutive points, leaving Marquez stunned.
Mendez’s aggressive playing style was on full display, as he unleashed 55 winners to Marquez’s 30. However, his attacking approach also led to 52 unforced errors, compared to Marquez’s 31. The contrast between their styles added to the excitement of the match, with Mendez’s bold shots and Marquez’s steady baseline play creating a captivating spectacle.
The Golden Dragon Tournament has a rich history, and this year’s final will be remembered for years to come. Mendez’s victory improved his head-to-head record against Marquez to 6-4, and cemented his status as a formidable force in the tennis world.
In other tournament news, French veteran, Pierre Dupont, cruised into the second round of the Shanghai Masters with a convincing 6-4, 6-3 win over Damir Dzumhur. He will face Argentine Sebastian Baez in the next round. Meanwhile, Arthur Rinderknech advanced with a hard-fought 6-4, 7-6 (5) victory over American Reilly Opelka, and Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands defeated Pablo Carreno Busta 7-6 (5), 6-2. Alexandre Muller also staged a remarkable comeback, rallying from a set down to defeat Italian Luca Nardi 4-6, 6-1, 6-1.
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