Third-seeded Dennis Novikov, a 24-year-old San Jose product, defeated Christian Garin of Chile 6-4, 6-3 today to win the $50,000 Morelos (Mexico) Open.
The 6-foot-4 (1.93-meter), 200-pound (91-kilogram) Novikov, now based in Los Angeles, pounded 11 aces and saved nine of 10 break points against him.
Novikov jumped 45 places to No. 165 with his third career Challenger singles title and first since he won Cary (N.C.) and Columbus (Ohio) back-to-back in 2015. He reached a career-high No. 119 in August 2016.
Garin, 21, won the French Open boys singles title five years ago, beating Alexander Zverev in the final. Zverev is now ranked fifth and Garin 242nd.
Veteran journalist Paul Bauman, based in Sacramento, covers Northern California professional, collegiate and junior tennis. Contact him at norcaltennisczar@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @norcaltenczar.
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