Day 20 Favorite Tennis Moments
Day 20: June 8, 1997: Gustavo Kuerten wins his first ATP title at the 1997 French Open.
Gustavo Kuerten vs. Sergi Bruguera
Gustavo Kuerten wins his first career tournament at the French Open in 1997 by defeating Spain's Sergi Bruguera 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. Kuerten became the first Brazilian ever to win a Grand Slam title. At the time, Kuerten was the second-lowest ranked player to win a Grand Slam ranked 66th in the World. Nicknamed "Guga," Kuerten's secret weapon during his shocking run to the title was inside his Head racquet -- Luxilon Original string. This powerful polyester allowed him to swing for pace, and at the same time create the topspin needed to keep the ball in the court. The shift to the polyester string was an evolutionary step in tennis equipment history.
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