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SAO PAULO, Brazil -- Argentine Federico Delbonis won his first ATP title by defeating Paolo Lorenzi of Italy 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the Brazil Open final on Sunday. Wholesale Jerseys . Delbonis broke Lorenzis serve to start the decisive set and held on to close the match in 2 hours, 6 minutes after converting on his second match point. He jumped and punched the air after sending a winner down the line past the outstretched arms of Lorenzi. Delbonis celebrated a nearly perfect week in which he also reached the semifinals in the doubles tournament. "To tell you the truth, I have no words," Delbonis said. "I played well match after match. It was a great result in the end." The 23-year-old lefty was playing only in his second ATP final. He had lost to Fabio Fognini of Italy last July after upsetting Roger Federer in the semifinals in Hamburg. With the victory at the ATP 250 tournament in Sao Paulo, Delbonis will move to 45th in the ATP rankings, a career best. The 32-year-old Lorenzi, ranked 114th, had never advanced past the quarterfinals of an ATP singles tournament. He reached the Sao Paulo final by beating top-seeded German Tommy Hass, who retired in the semifinals because of a right shoulder injury while losing in the second set. "Its a shame I wasnt able to win," Lorenzi said. "But hopefully Ill be back next year to try again." The Italian won the first set on Sunday after breaking Delbonis serve at 3-3, but the hard-hitting Argentine started serving well and was never broken again, finishing with 12 aces and no double faults. Delbonis beat home-crowd favourite Thomaz Bellucci in the semifinals. He had defeated second-seeded Nicolas Almagro in the second round, a three-time winner at the Brazil Open. It was the first time since 2007 that the Brazil Open wasnt won by a Spanish player. Argentine Guillermo Canas lifted the trophy that year, and after that the tournament was won by Spaniards Almagro, Tommy Robredo, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Rafael Nadal. Nadal decided not to defend the clay-court title this week. He chose to play in the first Rio Open, which he won last week. In the doubles final on Sunday, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain and Philipp Oswald of Austria beat Juan Sebastian Cabal and Roberto Farah of Colombia 5-7, 6-4, 15-13. The Colombians, No. 5 in the world and second-seeded in Sao Paulo, won the Rio Open last week. Delbonis reached the semifinals of the doubles tournament playing with countryman Facundo Bagnis, losing to the eventual champions. Wholesale Jerseys China . -- A year ago, Flavia Pennetta was close to retiring from tennis. Wholesale Jerseys From China .The former Winnipeg Rifles receiver got to work out with the team last season and even dressed for a July game, then spent the rest of the season on the practice roster.B.J. Penn has never been one to take a loss lightly. In recent years, the former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion has appeared determined to avenge previous defeats. First he evened the score with Jens Pulver, dominating the inaugural UFC lightweight titleholder en route to a submission victory in 2007. Less than two years later he attempted a similar feat against Georges St-Pierre, but suffered a late TKO loss after his corner threw in the towel. In 2010 he then snagged the rubber match with Matt Hughes, dispatching the UFC Hall of Fame inductee with a rapid-fire knockout. Though Penn has always made a point of returning the favour against fighters who have bested him in the past, he said he isnt necessarily obsessed with vengeance. "I dont know about fixated, but I believe everyone out there would want to have another shot at somebody who beat them," Penn told reporters on a recent media call. "I just think thats part of life. I just think thats human nature — bottom line." Penn now has his sight locked on the man who took his UFC lightweight championship when he once again locks horns with Frankie Edgar in the headliner of The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale in Las Vegas Sunday. The bout will also mark the Hawaiians first at featherweight. Penn admitted that while batting around ideas for his return to the Octagon, he lobbied UFC president Dana White for another crack at Edgar. As a result, the two were paired up as opposing coaches on the most recent season of TUF. "I talked to Dana and said (I wanted to) get back in and avenge a couple of my losses," Penn said. "Frankies name came up and everything got put together. "This is the first time I asked to fight Frankie. When I first had to fight Frankie, I was like, Really, Frankie, who is this? Let me check it out. Then Frankie comes out and proves himself. Frankie now is one of the best of all time in the UFC. Its definitely a fight Im looking forward to." Penn and Edgar originally met in the co-main event of UFC 112 on April 10, 2010. A sizable underdog going into the bout, Edgar pulled off a stunning upset to win the 155-pound title via unanimous decision. He then dominated Penn in the rematch to earned the judges nod four months later. Edgar admitted his second victory over Penn remains one of the most memorable of his career. "I think they were both rewarding in their own right," Edgar said. "I guess the second time was a little more reassuring just because everyone thought the first time was a fluke and I was able to get it done the second time. Maybe that one stuck out a little more for me." Though hes next on Penns hit list, Edgar can relate to the Hilo native. During his run as UFC lightweight champion he delivered a stunning knockout against Gray Maynard, who had previously handed him a decision loss in 2008. Edgar said he understands Penns motivations. "Yeah, absolutely, Ive been there before," Edgar said. "Its just competitive nature. Id think all fighters would want a chance at redemption." Though Edgar already holds two victories over Penn, hes hardly in a lose-lose situation. On top of the bout being yet another high-profile encounter against one of mixed martial arts trrue legends, he could also become the only fighter to go 3-0 against Penn. Jerseys Wholesale. However, Edgar admitted he was surprised when the opportunity came across his plate. "I was definitely not expecting B.J. to be the guy I was coaching against," Edgar said. "(Dana and I) were throwing around the idea of me coaching the show. I thought I was going to miss the opportunity just because we couldnt get someone. Then he threw out the name B.J. to me. Im pretty easy going and I just jumped at it." For Penn, not only does does a victory over Edgar allow him to earn a measure of retribution, it proves hes still relevant in the ever-evolving sport of MMA. Conversely, White recently stated a loss would result in a talk about retirement. Though there is a lot at stake for him, Penn said part of his decision to return is that he simply loves to compete. "This is what I do, this is what Ive done my whole life and this is all I know," Penn said. "It just comes down to having fun and doing what I love." ----- B.J. PENN TIMELINE UFC 31 (May 4, 2001): A Brazilian Jiu Jitsu standout, Penn makes his MMA debut, picking up a first-round TKO win over Joey Gilbert. UFC 35 (Jan. 11, 2002): Penn fails to capture the UFC lightweight title, losing a majority decision to Jens Pulver. UFC 41 (Feb. 28, 2003): Penn comes up short again in his bid for the 155-pound belt, going to a controversial split draw with Caol Uno. UFC 46 (Jan. 31, 2004): Penn shocks the MMA world by moving up to welterweight and dethroning champion Matt Hughes via first-round submission. He would later be stripped of the belt after signing with K-1. K-1: Heros 1 (March 26, 2005): Penn loses a hard-fought unanimous decision to future UFC light-heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida. The Hawaiian weighed in at 191 pounds, while Machida tipped the scales at 225 pounds. UFC 58 (March 4, 2006): Penn returns to the UFC, losing a close split decision to Georges St-Pierre. UFC 63 (Sept. 23, 2006): Then-welterweight champ Hughes evens the score, handing Penn his first TKO loss . TUF 5 Finale (June 23, 2007): Penn returns to lightweight and avenges a previous defeat to Pulver via second-round submission. UFC 80 (Jan. 19, 2008): Penn bloodies and submits Joe Stevenson to win the vacant UFC lightweight championship. UFC 84 (May 24, 2008): Penn dismantles heated rival and former 155-pound titleholder Sean Sherk. UFC 94 (Jan. 31, 2009): Penn fails to avenge his earlier loss to welterweight kingpin St. Pierre, suffering the second TKO defeat of his career. UFC 112 (April 10, 2010): Following three successful title defences, Penn loses his lightweight championship to underdog Frankie Edgar via close unanimous decision. UFC 118 (Aug. 28, 2010): Edgar dominates Penn en route to a unanimous decision to prove their first encounter wasnt a fluke. UFC 123 (Nov. 20, 2010): Penn returns to welterweight and scores a blistering knockout victory over Hughes to win the rubber match. UFC on FOX 5 (Dec. 8, 2012): Penn loses a one-sided unanimous decision to current top welterweight Rory MacDonald. Speculation the MMA legend may retire begins to swirl. TUF 19 Finale (July 6, 2014): Penn will make his featherweight debut and look for redemption against Edgar. cheap nfl jerseyscheap jerseys ' ' ' |
