Open Costa Del Sol: Varela Downs Walsh In Monster Final

Home favourite, and the tournament’s top seed, Hugo Varela, claimed the Open Costa Del Sol title on Saturday evening in Fuengirola, Spain, with a 110-minute victory over England’s Tom Walsh in the final.

The Spaniard, who sits just outside the world’s top 100 at World No.101, was the top seed for the Challenger 3 level tournament, which was regionally restricted due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

He came through his opening two contests without dropping a game, getting the better of Germany’s Fynn Schuck and England’s Jordan Warne to reach the semi-finals, winning both matches 3-0.

In the last four, he got the better of compatriot Augusto Ortigosa, the event’s No.4 seed, in a four-game battle, coming from behind after losing the first to win 3-1 and advance to Saturday’s final.

There, he took on the No.2 seed, England’s Tom Walsh, and the pair played for 110 minutes to decide a winner. Varela won the first but soon found himself 2-1 down, and he had to fight to level the match. He did, before then taking the deciding game 11-6 to claim his first title of the year, and the second of his career.

Results: Open Costa Del Sol
Final
[1] Hugo Varela (ESP) bt [2] Tom Walsh (ENG) 3-2: 11-9, 8-11, 3-11, 11-8, 11-6 (110m)

Semi-Finals
[1] Hugo Varela (ESP) bt [4] Augusto Ortigosa (ESP) 3-1: 6-11, 14-12, 11-8, 11-8 (65m)
[2] Tom Walsh (ENG) bt [3] Sergio Garcia Pollan (ESP) 3-1: 11-6, 9-11, 11-5, 11-3 (55m)

Quarter Finals
[1] Hugo Varela (ESP) bt [8] Jordan Warne (ENG) 3-0: 11-4, 11-7, 11-3 (32m)
[4] Augusto Ortigosa (ESP) bt [7] Rowan Damming (NED) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 (33m)
[3] Sergio Garcia Pollan (ESP) bt [5] Nilo Vidal (ESP) 3-0: 11-3, 11-7, 11-7 (45m)
[2] Tom Walsh (ENG) bt [6] Javier Martin (ESP) 3-0: 11-3, 11-6, 11-4 (21m)

Round One
[1] Hugo Varela (ESP) bt Fynn Schuck (GER) 3-0: 11-4, 11-4, 11-5 (28m)
[8] Jordan Warne (ENG) bt Pablo Dolz (ESP) 3-2: 10-12, 5-11, 11-2, 11-2, 11-2 (48m)
[7] Rowan Damming (NED) bt Tjeu Dubbeldam (NED) 3-2: 7-11, 11-7, 5-11, 11-6, 11-6 (51m)
[4] Augusto Ortigosa (ESP) bt [WC] Francisco Javier Guerrero (ESP) 3-1: 11-7, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9 (41m)
[3] Sergio Garcia Pollan (ESP) bt Alvaro Martin (ESP) 3-0: 11-4, 11-8, 11-9 (27m)
[5] Nilo Vidal (ESP) bt [WC] Neil Maccarron (ESP) 3-1: 3-11, 12-10, 11-3, 11-8 (43m)
[6] Javier Martin (ESP) bt Tess Jutte (NED) 11-8, 5-11, 12-10, 11-6 (46m)
[2] Tom Walsh (ENG) bt Pablo Quintana Estevez (ESP) 3-0: 11-4, 11-8, 11-4 (34m)