Ace Ventura

ByReuters

Published 23/05/2004 at 10:48 GMT

Spanish qualifier Santiago Ventura won the first ATP tournament he entered on Saturday, upsetting hot favourite Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia 6-3 1-6 6-4 in the final of the Grand Prix Hassan II. Ventura, ranked a modest 316th in the world, said his victory,

Eurosport

Image credit: Eurosport

The more experienced Hrbaty, the number one seed and ranked 32 in the world, looked to have regained control of the match after easily winning the second set 6-1.

But he tensed and committed too many unforced errors in the final set as a tiring but gutsy Ventura alternated lobs and drop shots in an attempt to slow the game.

"I expected nothing from this tournament, this is amazing," said a beaming but apparently exhausted Ventura, who had played only in futures events on the professional circuit before entering the Moroccan claycourt tournament.

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