Hometown Heroes and Fabio Fognini

The ATP resumed normal proceedings this week after the Australian Open and Davis Cup ties with a trio of 250-level tournaments in Chile, France, and Croatia - two indoors and one on clay.  Local boys making good was a theme, at least in the European tournaments, as was comeback stories.  Gael Monfils, who often seems to be on the comeback trail, won his first title since late 2011 with a win in Montpellier, where 5 French reached the quarters.  Marin Cilic continues his bounce back from his drug-related suspension by winning his local tournament in Zagreb.  And in Chile, the local boys underperformed after a losing flight back from Barbados, Fabio Fognini won the title with his toughest match a 3rd set tiebreak win over Almagro in the semis, who made his 2014 debut after being injured recently.

ATP 250: Montpellier, France
5) Gael Monfils (FRA) def. 1) Richard Gasquet (FRA) 6-4 6-4
-Monfils wins 5th career title, last '11 Stockholm (2.5-yr drought)
-It is his 2nd win in Montpellier ('10)
-Americans: none
-There were 14 Frenchmen in the main draw and two 22-yr-olds didn't disappoint.  Olivetti reached his 2nd career quarterfinal ('12 Marseille) and Herbert won his 2nd career main draw match.
-Andres Artunedo Martinavarro (ESP), a 20-yr-old, qualified for his first ATP main draw, losing to Herbert
-Simon crashed out in R1
-Gasquet was the defending champion, but lost to Monfils in the final

ATP 250: Zagreb, Croatia
5) Marin Cilic (CRO) def. 1) Tommy Haas (GER) 6-3 6-4
-Cilic wins 10th career title, last '13 Zagreb
-It is his 4th win in Zagreb, and he has now won titles in each of the last 7 years
-Americans: none
-There were a number of milestones reached in this tournament
-Brit Dan Evans, 23-yr-old lucky loser, reach his first ATP quarterfinal and semifinal, including a win over Kohlschreiber
-Phau has been to the semis before, but now he reaches one as a 34-yr-old qualifier ranked no. 358.  He has never an ATP final.
-Andrey Kuznetsov and Sela also made the quarters, ending long droughts for them.
-Karlovic hit 44 aces in a first round win over Brands, that ties a record for aces in 3-set match
-There were a crazy FIVE third set tiebreaks: Becker def. Huta Galung (R1 8-6), Golubev def. Hanescu (R1 7-5), Karlovic def. Brands (R1 7-3), Kuznetsov def. Sijsling (R2 7-5), Evans def. Berrer (R2 7-4)
-Cilic successfully defended his title

ATP 250: Viña del Mar, Chile
1) Fabio Fognini (ITA) vs. Leonardo Mayer (ARG) 6-2 6-4
-Fognini wins 3rd career title, last '13 Hamburg
-Americans: none
-The surprise of the tournament was 21-yr-old Japanese qualifier Taro Daniel.  He reached his first ATP main draw then made the quarters.  He beat Bellucci and Delbonis.  The latter win went 1-6 7-6(5) 7-6(7)
-Mayer reached his first ATP final at age 26.  He had to save match points against 2nd-seed Robredo in the second round.
-Zeballos defeated Nadal in last year's final but his defense ended in the second round in '14 to Gimeno-Traver.