TNT Sports
Mello wins maiden crown
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Published 19/09/2004 at 22:22 GMT+1
Brazilian Ricardo Mello won his first tour title on Sunday, when he overcame top-seeded American Vince Spadea 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 in the Delray Beach final. The 23-year-old won the first two games, but found himself 6-5 down in the first set before going on to
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Mello described his maiden victory as "the best thing that could happen to me" having cruised through the second set and closed out the final at 5-3, with his fourth match point.
The victory seals a fantastic week for Mello, who beat Olympic singles silver medallist Mardy Fish and Mario Ancic, this year's Wimbledon semi-finalist, to reach the final.
"It proves that I can play against the top players. That's the level that I always want to play," he added.
It was the third loss in four career finals for Spadea and the American admitted he was not at his best.
"I definitely wasn't serving well," he said.
"Nothing of mine really existed. Basically, I was just a flat tennis player. It's really disappointing."
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