Argentine tennis ended a record-breaking week on Sunday, as a trio of male players became the first to feature in the finals of three top-level tournaments played at the same time. 

Mariano Navone (world No. 60), Román Burruchaga (77) and Marco Trungelliti (117) played in the final of Bucharest, Houston and Marrakech, respectively, the three tournaments the professional men’s tennis governing body, ATP, had scheduled. 

It marked the first time there were three Argentine finalists in three tournaments in a single week, with the closest precedent set by Franco Squillari, Gastón Gaudio and Mariano Puerta in July 2000, when the first two matched up at Stuttgart, while the latter played the final at Umag.

Navone was undoubtedly the pick of the bunch. After losses in his two previous finals, the 25-year-old beat Spain’s Daniel Mérida Aguilar 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 (136). It was his first-ever title at the ATP Tour level, the highest echelon in men’s professional tennis.

“I’m really happy right now. It’s my first ATP title. I’m feeling a whole range of emotions,” he said after the win. “When I was a kid, I dreamed of winning these tournaments on the big stages. I’m so happy I’m speechless.”

The win will see Navone — who’s now won 11 out of his last 12 matches — shoot up the ranking to become 42nd in the world. 

It was the 240th title for an Argentine men’s tennis player, with Argentina sitting fifth in the standings below the US, Spain, Australia and Sweden.

Record-breaker Trungelliti fell at the last hurdle

Marco Trungelliti had already sealed an incredible weekend on Saturday. The 36-year-old beat Italian Luciano Darderi in the semis to become the oldest player to reach his first ATP Tour-level final, and the fourth-oldest to enter the top 100 for the first time.

He was stopped short of a dream week and a first-ever tour-level title, falling 6-3, 6-2 to 19-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar, ranked 89th in the world.

“I guess I was thrown out,” he joked after the final, adding he was “very grateful for all the warmth and kindness shown to [him] by the people of Marrakech”. He also thanked his wife and son, who “supported [him] from home.”

Trungelliti’s performance on the Moroccan clay courts saw him climb 41 spots in the ATP singles ranking to reach 76th place, his highest-ever ranking, and made him the 10th Argentine to reach the top 100.

It also means he will not have to play in the qualifying rounds at the next French Open.

Heartbreak for first-time finalist Burruchaga

Román Burruchaga nearly became the second crowned Argentine of the week, as he held three match points in the third set and later served for the title. It was to no avail as United States player Tommy Paul beat the Argentine 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 to deny him his first-ever top-level title.

“It’s not easy for me to speak right now,” said a visibly emotional Burruchaga. At 24, the son of 1986 World Cup winner Jorge ended his week with a bittersweet taste: the result sees him jump to 62nd in the ATP singles’ ranking, his highest ever position.

“I’m proud of myself for what I did this week. I hope to be able to try again every week that we get the chance,” he added.

© Buenos Aires Herald