(FILA Global) - Diego Schwartzman defeated Fernando Verdasco at the FILA sponsored Rio Open in Brazil, while Alison Van Uytvanck defeated Dominka Cibulkova at the Hungarian Ladies Open in Budapest. Both players captured their second career singles titles.
Schwartzman, who has been playing well in 2018, rises to career-high ranking of No.18 in the world with his victory. En route to his first ATP World Tour 500 level crown, the dynamic Argentine did not lose a set the entire event.
"I never thought before the week that I [was] going to be here with the trophy," said Schwartzman according the ATPWorldTour.com. "It's an amazing week for me. Everything was perfect; every match, every set was perfect for me, playing my best tennis.”
At the women’s event in Europe, Van Uytvanck had to battle through three closely contested sets in order to triumph 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, in a match that lasted more than two hours.
“I had two tough service games in the third, and I was able to manage to get through that, and it was getting better and better," Van Uytvanck concluded according to WTATennis.com. "I was getting a little bit more confident, and I just kept fighting. I’m so happy with the win."
The Belgian captured her first WTA level title last fall in Quebec City. She has catapulted more than 30 ranking spots and now is No. 50 in the world, closing in on her career high of No. 41.