Umag, Croatia (SportsNetwork.com) - Pablo Cuevas has risen through the ranks in recent weeks. On Sunday, the Uruguayan qualifier upended second seed Tommy Robredo of Spain, 6-3, 6-4 to win the Vegeta Croatia Open.
The 28-year-old Cuevas finished 2013 ranked 220th in the world, due in part to a series of knee injuries. He entered the final Sunday ranked 60th, but Sunday's victory brought him his second career title, both this month. On July 13, he won the Swedish Open.
"I'm really happy. I never expected to win two tournaments in a row. This week was more difficult because I had to play (qualifying" and I played against very good players. During the two years I was out, I thought I would never be able to play again and especially at that level," Cuevas said.
Both competitors were forced to play two matches on Sunday after torrential rain postponed action on Saturday.
Cuevas topped defeated top-seeded and 2013 runner-up Fabio Fognini, 6-3, 6-4 in the morning semifinals, while Robredo, the 2013 champion, defeated No. 3 seed Marin Cilic, 7-6 (10-8), 6-3.
Cilic had his 15 consecutive match winning streak broken in his home country. Sunday marked his first loss in Croatia since falling to Alexandr Dolgopolov in the 2011 final. His run included titles in Umag (2012) and Zagreb (2013 and 2014).
Robredo was trying for his 13th career title.
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