ATP New York: Reilly Opelka hits 43 aces to edge Schnur and win title
In what was the first ATP final for both players, Reilly Opelka took down a qualifier Brayden Schnur 6-1, 6-7, 7-6 in two hours and one minute for his maiden ATP trophy in front of the home fans. The giant server blasted 86 aces in the last two matches, saving six match points against John Isner in the semis and converting the sixth match point against the Canadian in the title match to emerge as the champion. Reilly faced no break points and he stayed calm after wasting match points in the second set, bringing the encounter home in the deciding tie break to become the fourth first-time champion this season after Alex de Minaur, Tennys Sandgren and Juan Ignacio Londero.
A former collegiate star, Schnur had no ATP wins before this week and he stood two points away from the title twice in that third set tie break, overcoming a terrible opening set to stay on the level terms with Opelka in the rest of the encounter and push him to the limits. The American lost just three points on serve in the opening set and Brayden was nowhere near those numbers, losing serve in games two for an early setback and finding himself 5-1 down when Reilly broke him at love in game six. Serving for the set, Opelka landed four service winners for a 6-1 in swift 18 minutes, hoping for more of the same in the rest of the match.
The Canadian saved all four break points he faced in set number two to somehow reach the tie break where they both held in the first 12 points for a 6-6. Reilly scored a mini-break for a 7-6 and the second match point but he hit a double fault that could have cost him the title in the end. Schnur secured a mini-break at 8-7, closing it with a service winner for a huge boost and the deciding set after being on the verge of defeat a few times. Furious at himself after wasted chances, Reilly managed to leave the last set behind him and start all over in the third, serving well and creating three break points in game four that were pretty much the match opportunities for him.
Unwilling to surrender, Schnur saved them all and those were the last chances for the returners before the deciding tie break where Opelka forged a 6-4 lead for more match points. Brayden saved them as well and another one at 6-7 before hitting a crucial double fault in the 15th point, allowing Reilly to seal the deal with the 43rd ace of the match and celebrate his first crown on the Tour.
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2IiiNpS
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