On the verge of elimination, Navone gained strength to score a new final in Bucharest

“First you have to know how to suffer…” is the opening verse of the famous Argentine tango “Naranjo en flor”. And it can be tattooed on the skin of Mariano Navone, finalist of the ATP 250 in Bucharest.

He saved two match points in the second set and battled for three and a half minutes of play for the final 5-7, 7-6 (3) and 7-5 to Botic Van de Zandschulp.

“It was a match with many ups and downs. Botic is a very good player. The third set was a physical battle. I was close to losing but I kept fighting. You never know how everything is going to end but it is very special for me to be in the final again,” he said in the post-match note from the field of play.

He will return to the Top 50 in the world ranking (he is already 46th) and will look for his first trophy in his third ATP definition (Rio de Janeiro and Bucharest 2024). He arrives with a title under his arm but from the Punta Cana Challenger along with Alberto Mancini, his recent coach, and ten successes in the last 11 games.

His rival will be the rookie Dani Mérida defeated Fabian Marozsan 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-1. The Spaniard, coming from the qualifying phase, has won his first ATP circuit matches of his career this week.

The 21-year-old from Madrid is enjoying the best week of his life. Located in 136th place although it can become top 100 if it wins the competition.

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