HOUSTON (AP) — Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina won his first tournament in over three years with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 victory against American Sam Querrey at the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships Sunday.
The unseeded Argentine turned aggressive in the second set and pulled away from the hard-serving Querrey for his fifth tour championship and his first since beating Carlos Moya in Acapulco in March 2007.
Chela stayed steady on his favorite surface and wrapped up the title at the first match point when Querrey returned a serve out of bounds. Chela earned $79,900 and Querrey took home $42,000.
Querrey, ranked No. 25, hit 19 winners to two for Chela in the first set. By the end of the second set, Chela was matching Querrey winner for winner.
