MEXICO CITY, Mexico – Former Pilot tennis player Roman Borvanov recorded his first professional title on Sunday, defeating Rahim Esmail 7-5, 6-0 in the championship match. Borvanov, who had earned the No. 8 seed in the event, won five consecutive matches without dropping a single set during the tournament.
Borvanov was assigned the No. 8 seed entering the $10,000 event, which featured 32 players in the main draw. His first match was against Amadeus Fulford-Jones of Great Britain, which he won by a 6-1, 6-1 score. He then squared off against Italy’s Federico Ciarrochi in the Round of 16, handily winning the match by a 6-1, 6-2 count.
In the quarterfinals, Borvanov was faced with the task of playing Mexico’s Victor Romero, holder of the tournament’s No. 2 seed and ranked No. 448 in the world. Borvanov made quick work of Romero, polishing off his opponent by a 6-4, 6-1 score.
Borvanov then matched up with 19-year-old American Michael Johnson, Jr. in the semifinals. Two of Johnson’s first three matches had gone to three sets and the other had seen a long tiebreaker. He was able to give Borvanov a test, but Borvanov prevailed 7-5, 6-4.
Esmail and Borvanov were familiar with each other heading into the final, as the two were partners in the doubles portion of the same tournament. Borvanov and Esmail lost in the Round of 16 in doubles. Esmail had to win six consecutive singles matches to make it to the finals, but Borvanov ended the streak to win the tournament.
The win gives Borvanov 12 ATP computer points, which brings his current total up to 23. He will likely be among the top 700 in the world when the next rankings come out on Monday.
