Seyboth Wild: 'For me, Milan is what ATP Finals means to Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal'

The 19-year-old Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild entered the draw of the inaugural Santiago Open in Chile with a wild card, using it with both hands en route to his first ATP title. World no. 182 became the first player born in 2000 with an ATP title (Felix Auger-Aliassime lost all five finals) and the youngest to lift the crown at the Golden Swing since Rafael Nadal in 2005, becoming the 12th teenager with the trophy on the main level in the last 15 seasons. In the title match, Thiago defeated Buenos Aires champion Casper Ruud 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in two hours and 16 minutes, firing 17 aces and fending off eight out of 11 break chances to limit the damage in his games. Ruud got broken four times, falling behind early in the final set and taking only three points on the return to push the Brazilian over the top, failing to finish the Golden Swing with two titles under his belt.

The match kicked off with three straight breaks and Casper grabbed two of those for an early lead, wasting five more chances in game five before Thiago broke back in the next one to level the score at 3-3 with a backhand return winner. The Brazilian erased two break points in game seven with winners and the opener was in his hands when Ruud sprayed a forehand error in game 12 to hand it to his opponent 7-5. The Norwegian raised his level in set number two, dropping seven points in five service games and mounting the pressure on Seyboth Wild, waiting for a chance on the return patiently. It came at 4-4 when a teenager sent a forehand long, wrapping up the set with three winners in game ten that set up a decider.

There, Thiago was back at his best, dominating with his strong serve and groundstrokes and earning a break in game two following a costly forehand error from the Norwegian that sent him in front. Serving for the title at 5-3, Thiago landed three winners to seal the deal and pick up his first ATP trophy, the first out of many if he keeps improving his already rock-solid game. The youngster was thrilled with the way he performed in Santiago, hoping for more of the same in the rest of the season and targeting the Next Gen Finals in Milan, wanting to reach the U21 Masters as much as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal desires to play at the ATP Finals. 

"It's an incredible achievement, something I've always dreamed about," said Seyboth Wild. "I just needed to take the best from the week and keep the same pace in the rest of the season. As the matches went by, I was feeling myself on the court better and better, feeling like I could go step by step. When I got to the final, I needed to play it like it was just another encounter, in the way I had been playing the whole week and take my chances. I've improved along the season; I think I've done it pretty well and need to thank my team. For me, to qualify for the Next Gen Finals is the same as the ATP Finals for Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. I admire Nadal's passion on the court. The way he competes and keeps himself in every single point until the very last stroke. It would be great if I could accomplish 20% of what he has achieved in a career."

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/39tNzoM