Granollers beats Monaco to win Valencia Open

Marcel Granollers defeated Juan Monaco 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (3) in the Valencia Open final on Sunday for his third career title.

The 25-year-old Granollers dominated the first set between the two unseeded players with his serve-and-volley game.

Monaco found his baseline stroke and rallied to win the second set before saving three championship points in the decider to force a tiebreaker.

Granollers claimed his second title of the year when the Argentine hit wide to end the three-hour final.

"It was a great final that came down to a pair of shots," Monaco said. "At the start, I was a little uncomfortable with his game. Then until 3-1 in the third set I was in control, but he was able to turn the match around coming to the net and making some incredible drop shots."

Granollers, ranked 34th, had already beaten sixth-seeded Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in the semifinals and third-seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils in the quarterfinals.

Last year, Granollers beat Monaco on his way to an all-Spanish final, where he lost to David Ferrer.