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Ecuador Open: defending champion wins opener in Quito

By Harry Floyd

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 15: Victor Estrella Burgos of Dominican Republic plays a forehand during his first round match against Rafael Nadal of Spain on day one of the 2018 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 15, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 15: Victor Estrella Burgos of Dominican Republic plays a forehand during his first round match against Rafael Nadal of Spain on day one of the 2018 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 15, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) /
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Action at the Ecuador Open is underway for the fourth year of the ATP World Tour event. Only Victor Estrella Burgos has ever won the tournament.

Victor Estrella Burgos is a three-time champion at the Ecuador Open. The tournament in Quito, Ecuador has only been held three times. In its fourth year, Estrella Burgos is off to yet another hot start at the ATP World Tour event.

Winning his opener in three sets, Estrella Burgos defeats Brazilian tennis player Thomaz Bellucci 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. Bellucci is the tournament’s runner-up from 2016. This week in Quito, the defending champion comes in as the No. 6 seed.

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Estrella Burgos is the current world No. 86 in men’s singles tennis. He is 37-years-old and all of his ATP singles titles have come at the event in Quito. He is without a doubt the favorite at the tournament, no matter the seedings. There is something about the Ecuador Open that brings out the best in the Dominican tennis veteran.

At Melbourne Park last month, the Ecuador Open champion met top seed and world No. 1 Rafael Nadal in his opener. Nadal took their meeting in straight sets. While his play at the Australian Open was a disappointment, Estrella Burgos had action in Quito to look forward to. His performance at the event over the past three years is somewhat unprecedented.

Victor Estrella Burgos is to the Ecuador Open what Rafael Nadal is to the French Open.

Also in play this week is French tennis star Gael Monfils. The French veteran is the third seed at the ATP World Tour 250 series event. Top seeded Pablo Carreno Busta is considered the favorite for the title. As the current world No. 10 in men’s singles tennis, the Spanish tennis star looks to dethrone the tournament’s sole champion.

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Estrella Burgos, similar to Roger Federer, continues to prove that age is just a number. The Dominican tennis veteran may not be taking home Grand Slam titles like the Swiss great, but he holds his own on the ATP World Tour. He is undoubtedly a player to watch this week in Quito. Stay tuned to see if Carreno Busta, Monfils, and others can dethrone the sole champion at the ATP’s Ecuador Open.

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