Estrella Burgos Finding Challenger Balance In Cali
Estrella Burgos Finding Challenger Balance In Cali
The top seed looks for his sixth career ATP Challenger Tour title
It’s not often that a player returns to Challengers mere months of winning an ATP World Tour event, but it’s all part of the plan for Victor Estrella Burgos.
Less than five months after defending his title the ATP World Tour event in Quito, the Dominican superstar is the top seed at this week’s ATP Challenger Tour event in Cali, Colombia. He’s been in top form all week, not dropping a set and losing an average of five games per match en route to the final.
Despite being ranked well inside the Top 100 of the Emirates ATP Rankings at No. 77, the 35 year old said the ranking points on offer at Challengers are still extremely valuable to him.
“If you look at my ranking now, it’s important that I came to Cali with a positive attitude and the will to win the tournament,” said Estrella Burgos. Winning 90 points is like reaching the semi-finals of an [ATP World Tour] 250 event or quarter-finals of an [ATP World Tour] 500 event, which is really good. It’s important for players like me to play some Challengers and know how to combine them with the bigger tournaments.
Estrella Burgos’ story of breaking ground for tennis in the Dominican Republic by becoming the first player from his country to succeed on the ATP World Tour is well-documented. But perhaps what’s just as inspiring is that despite turning 36 next month, he’s still playing his best tennis at an age when most of his peers have long since retired.
“I see tennis more simply now. Maturity has helped a lot because I started on tour long ago and now I feel very different on and off the court,” said Estrella Burgos. “I had been trying for a long time, but suddenly moved up the rankings very fast and now I intend on staying here.”
The veteran has excelled in Colombia throughout his career, with three of his five career ATP Challenger Tour singles titles coming in the country. And after his run of inspired form this week in Cali, he assured that this visit wont ‘t his last.
“One of the things I regret from last year was not coming to Colombia. I like playing here because I feel positive and have a great time. It’s fascinating to visit,” said Estrella Burgos. “The tournament in Cali is phenomenal and the location is really beautiful. Coming here makes me feel at home.”