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Monfils withdraws, Montanes wins Stuttgart
STUTTGART, Germany, Alberto Montanes of Spain claimed the Mercedes Cup Sunday after France's Gael Monfils pulled out of the Stuttgart, Germany, final with an ankle injury.
Monfils retired in the second set, handing Montanes a 6-2, 1-2 triumph -- the Spaniard's second ATP singles title of the year and fifth in his career. Montanes also won the Estoril event in May after downing Roger Federer in the semifinals.
He had little trouble in the first set, dispatching Monfils in only 33 minutes. The Frenchman injured his ankle in the final game of the set but went on after the trainer taped it up.
Monfils threw in the towel, however, after the second set's third game.
Montanes became the sixth Spaniard to win the Stuttgart event, joining Rafael Nadal (2005 and 2007), David Ferrer (2006), Alex Corretja (1997), Alberto Berasategui (1994) and Jose Higueras (1983).
STUTTGART, Germany, Alberto Montanes of Spain claimed the Mercedes Cup Sunday after France's Gael Monfils pulled out of the Stuttgart, Germany, final with an ankle injury.
Monfils retired in the second set, handing Montanes a 6-2, 1-2 triumph -- the Spaniard's second ATP singles title of the year and fifth in his career. Montanes also won the Estoril event in May after downing Roger Federer in the semifinals.
He had little trouble in the first set, dispatching Monfils in only 33 minutes. The Frenchman injured his ankle in the final game of the set but went on after the trainer taped it up.
Monfils threw in the towel, however, after the second set's third game.
Montanes became the sixth Spaniard to win the Stuttgart event, joining Rafael Nadal (2005 and 2007), David Ferrer (2006), Alex Corretja (1997), Alberto Berasategui (1994) and Jose Higueras (1983).
