Opelka doubles up, tops Nishioka to win Delray Beach Open
RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 24, (AP): Third-seeded Cristian Garín beat Italian qualifier Gianluca Mager 7-6 (3), 7-5 in rain-hit final to win the Rio Open.
It was Garin’s second title this year after winning the Cordoba Open in Argentina earlier in February. The 25th-ranked Chilean is projected to make the top 20 when the updated rankings are published Monday.
The fourth-seeded Opelka worked overtime and won two matches, topping Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-2 to take the Delray Beach Open championship.
Opelka won his second career ATP title. He defeated second-seeded Milos Raonic of Canada 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-3 in a semifinal delayed a day by rain, then returned to the court a few hours later for the final.
“It was tough because Yoshi is a nightmare and especially with coming in with three sets already on me,” Opelka said. “He’s not the kind of guy you want to play when you’re already tired and fatigued.”
Opelka said his knee bothered him throughout the match with Raonic. Opelka spent much of the time between matches icing. Opelka almost had time to rest up at his own house. He lives in Delray Beach.
“I love playing at home,” Opelka said. “I’m based about 10 minutes away and have been around here the last 10 years. I’m very comfortable here and I plan on staying in South Florida.”
Opelka is the fourth American in the past five years to take home the Delray Beach winner’s trophy.
The 6-foot-11 Opelka served 46 aces on Sunday: 19 against Raonic and 27 against the 5-7 Nishioka. for a top seed in both the Pac-12 and the NCAA tournaments. Melgoza drove the lane again and again, getting battered by UCLA’s post players with little help from the referees until the end when she was knocked to the floor on a drive, and answered with two free throws. She added two more with 3.4 seconds left to seal the victory.
Alabama 66, Miss St 64 In Starkville, Mississippi, Megan Abrams’ tip-in at the buzzer lifted Alabama to a victory over Mississippi State.
The Crimson Tide had the ball in a tied game with five seconds left when Jordan Lewis’ floater from the side slid off the side of the rim and into the fingertips of Abrams, who put it in before time expired. Alabama (16-11, 6-8 SEC) stayed in the ball game most of the
Louisville’s Elizabeth Dixon (left), can’t get off a shot with Pittsburgh’s Jahsyni Knight (0) defending during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Pittsburgh, on
Feb 23. (AP)