Boitan wins first pro title at Palm Coast Men's Open

The former Baylor University player defeated Ignacio Monzon in three sets in the final.

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Unseeded Gabi Adrian Boitan of Romania seemed to be on a roll with an easy first set victory in the singles final of the Palm Coast Men’s Open on Sunday, Feb. 12, at the Palm Coast Tennis Center.

Then third-seeded Ignacio Monzon of Argentina won the second set to tie the match, and Boitan needed a reset.

(I) tried to tell myself that regardless if I win or lose, I need to do it on my terms. So, I have to go for it and go take it, because he’s not going to give it to me. — Gabi Adrian Boitan

“I went to the bathroom and tried to tell myself that regardless if I win or lose, I need to do it on my terms,” Boitan, 23, said. “So, I have to go for it and go take it, because he’s not going to give it to me.”

Boitan became more aggressive and dominated the third set for a 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 victory. He won $2,160 of the $15,000 prize money. Tournament director George Henry, the Tennis Center’s supervisor, handed Boitan an oversized check.

Boitan might hold onto the display check for years to come as it represents his first professional tournament title.

“I’m happy I passed that threshold,” he said. “I’m excited.”

Boitan said he was more patient in the third set.

“I was using a lot of my dropshots and losing a lot of points in the second set,” he said. “The first set was good, but then I kind of over-used it, so I told myself, ‘I have to be a little more patient and just play to his backhand a little bit, because he’s not going to hurt me there.’ That just gave me more confidence and gave me more opportunity to get the points.”

Over 100 spectators braved a cold and windy afternoon to watch the final and were rewarded with an exciting match.

The tournament, which opened Feb. 6 at the Tennis Center, is a USTA Pro Circuit and ITF World Tennis Tour event. This is the 12th year of the tournament. Flagler County and the Tourist Development Council have partnered with Palm Coast in hosting the tourney, according to a city press release. 

Boitan turned pro just last month, although he had a year of eligibility remaining at Baylor University. He compiled a 60-16 singles record at Baylor, including a 16-1 mark last season. He had a college ranking as high as No. 9.

“I felt it was time for me to take the next step,” he said.

He entered the tournament with an Association of Tennis Professionals ranking of 746. He said the tournament was his first time playing on green clay, which is faster than the red clay he is used to in Romania.

Boitan beat American Mac Kiger in the semifinals, 6-3, 6-4, on Saturday, Feb. 11.

Kiger won the doubles title with George Goldhoff over Monzon and fellow Argentine, Francisco Comesana, 6-3, 6-4, on Feb. 10.

Monzon, 25, defeated sixth-seeded Gonzalo Bueno of Peru, 6-2, 6-2, in the other singles semifinal. Monzon, who has an ATP singles ranking of 528 and a doubles ranking of 255, was playing in his first tournament in the United States.

The highest-ranked player in the tournament was Comesana at 204.

On accepting the oversized check, Boitan complimented the venue, the tournament organization and the hotel accommodations.

“Hopefully, I’ll have a ranking that will allow me to play better tournaments,” he said. “But if not, I’ll for sure be back.”

 

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