Sonego and carreno busta lift atp titles

Lorenzo Sonego has become the first Italian for 15 years to capture an ATP tour clay-court title on home soil after fighting back to beat the Serbian holder Laslo Djere and win the Sardinia

Open. With the European clay court season beginning to get into full swing, Spanish stalwart Pablo Carreno Busta also landed his first tournament triumph on home soil on Sunday - after

edging compatriot Jaume Munar to win the Andalucia Open in Marbella. Third-seeded Sonego had to dig deep in the second set in Cagliari before prevailing 2-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in a final lasting

just over three hours to win his second ATP title. "The match was long and I remained calm in the second-set tiebreaker," Sonego said. "I knew the match wasn't finished

because I had always kept fighting. "Now, I am really tired, but I am very happy. I am happy to follow in (Filippo) Volandri's footsteps and win a title on home soil." It was

Sonego's second trophy in as many days after he partnered Andrea Vavassori to the Cagliari doubles title on Saturday, and his second singles trophy overall. Volandri was the last

Italian to lift a tour-level trophy on home soil at Palermo in October 2006. Djere, who won the first edition of the tournament at Forte Village in October, got off to the best possible

start as he broke serve in the first game. He went on to save three break points in his first service game and broke again with a superb backhand winner for a 5-2 advantage, before wrapping

up the set. The 25-year-old Sonego recovered to take a 4-1 lead in the second set but Djere struck back to win three straight games. Sonego, though, went on to clinch the tiebreaker with a

forehand volley. In Marbella, the 29-year-old top seed and world number 15 Carreno Busta was pushed to the limit by his inexperienced opponent before coming through 6-1 2-6 6-4 in two hours

and 21 minutes. Carreno Busta swept through the first set but Munar responded to set up a decider in which both players found top form. In the end, the favourite's nerve held and he

converted his seventh break point opportunity at 4-4 in the decider to set himself up to serve out for the title. In an on-court interview, Carreno Busta said: "It's a pleasure to

win a title here in Spain. It's my fifth title and it's very special." GET THE LATEST NEWS FROM THEWEST.COM.AU IN YOUR INBOX. Sign up for our emails