QUALIFIER DARCIS WINS ATP DUTCH OPEN

No. 297-ranked Dutch qualifier Steve Darcis won the Dutch Open in Amersfoort Sunday, defeating unseeded Austrian Werner Eschauer 6-1, 7-6(1) to become the lowest-ranked player to win a tour title in three years.


Darcis was competing in only his third ATP career main draw.

"This was an unbelievable week for me," said the 23-year-old Darcis. "I still don't realize what I did -- it's a great feeling, almost like a dream. I was playing good and he was a little bit stressed in the beginning. In the second set he came very close and I'm glad that I made it to the tiebreak. This might be the best week of my life so far. Now my goal is to reach the Top 100 as soon as possible."

In the semifinals Darcis rallied from a set down to beat Russian Mikhail Youzhny 4-6, 6-0, 7-5.

Darcis was 0-2 in career ATP matches entering the event, and lost two straight first-round challenger matches entering the Dutch Open.

The 33-year-old Eschauer was also appearing in his first ATP final.

In the doubles final, the Argentine team of Brzezicki/Guzman beat Dutchmen Haase/Wassen 6-2, 6-0.