Dominic Thiem capped a sublime month of February with his fifth career ATP World Tour title and first at the 500 level, turning aside Bernard Tomic 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-3 at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco. Thiem finishes with a 13-1 record in February, having prevailed in Buenos Aires and reaching the semifinals in Rio de Janeiro. The 22 year old, who will rise to a career-high World No. 14 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, is the first Austrian to emerge victorious at the tournament since Thomas Muster completed a four-peat in 1996. Moreover, it was Thiem's first ATP World Tour hard-court title, following four straight triumphs on clay. "It was unbelievable," said Thiem. "These three weeks have been amazing. Winning my first 500 title and first hard-court title, it was just perfect. It was how a final should be, between two young and up-and-coming players. I hope we're going to play many more finals together. Both of us wanted to win so badly and I'm happy I was the one today." A battle between two of the nine players born in the 1990s to win an ATP World Tour title, the youth movement was on full display as play commenced under the lights at the Hotel Princess Mundo Imperial. Thiem had been dominant on Latin American soil throughout the month of February, unleashing his firepower with an aggressive game off the ground. Thiem, who fired 22 aces, takes home 500 Emirates ATP Rankings points and $321,625 in prize money. His 18 match wins in 2016 lead the ATP World Tour, moving two ahead of Roberto Bautista Agut. Tomic, meanwhile, earns 300 points and $151,050 for his efforts. He was bidding to win a fourth ATP World Tour title in his fifth final. The Australian had lifted a trophy in each of the previous three seasons. "It's not easy, I'd love to win," said Tomic. "It could have been huge if I won, but I had my chances. That's the biggest disappointment, having the chance to win. I'm frustrated with myself... I was leading in the first set and then I lost it and I was up a break in the third and gave away my serve straight away. "But he was playing very well and he's an amazing competitor. Every point he's competing. He was feeling good on court and has been playing well all week. In the final of big tournaments, you have to take your chances in the big moments. I didn't take it." On the women's side, second seed Stephens outlasted 2014 Acapulco winner Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5). "I got a little bit better today because of her and I wouldn't want to have this memory with anyone else," Stephens said after the longest WTA final of the year. Former World No. 1 Max Mirnyi pulled to within two match wins from joining the ‘700 Club' after capturing the doubles title with Treat Huey. Fourth seeds Huey and Mirnyi defeated third seeds Alexander Peya and Philipp Petzschner 7-6(5), 6-3 in one hour and 26 minutes. The Belarusian-Filipino duo saved seven of eight break points, claiming victory in their first final together. Cuevas vs. Carreno Busta final Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay will defend the Brazil Open title in the final against Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain Sunday. Cuevas beat Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals Saturday to reach his second final in two weeks. Last weekend, he lifted the Rio Open trophy. Carreno Busta won against countryman Inigo Cervantes 6-1, 6-1 for the second time this month.
