ATP Hamburg: Andrey Rublev edges Stefanos Tsitsipas to celebrate the title

The 22-year-old Russian Andrey Rublev went one step further than 12 months ago in Hamburg, beating Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 in two hours and 19 minutes. It is the fifth career trophy for Rublev and the third of the season, following Novak Djokovic who holds four and becoming the second player of the season with 25 ATP triumphs after world no. 1. Their previous two matches went down to the wire and it was the case with Hamburg too, with both chasing the first ATP 500 trophy and a boost ahead of Roland Garros that started today. Andrey won six points more than Stefanos, defending nine out of 13 break chances and securing five breaks from ten opportunities, enough to propel him over the top following a massive turnaround in the decider. Tsitsipas led 5-3 and served for the triumph in game ten, losing ground to lose four straight games and hand the trophy to Rublev, who lost in the final here a year ago.

Stefanos fired 49 winners but at the cost of 36 unforced mistakes, with Andrey taming his strokes nicely to fire 30 winners and reduce the number of errors to 16, delivering his best tennis when it mattered the most. The Greek got his name on the scoreboard with a forehand winner, followed by the Russian who landed a service winner for a hold at love and 1-1. Tsitsipas netted a forehand in the third game to suffer a break, pulling it back with a forehand down the line winner to bring the result back on serve at 2-2. Staying calm, Rublev provided the second straight break with a backhand down the line winner, saved a break point and held in game six to cement the lead and open a 4-2 gap. Serving for the opener at 5-4, Andrey painted a forehand down the line winner to seal it in style and move closer to the title. With no room for errors, Stefanos sailed through his service games in set number two, forcing Andrey to repeat those numbers if he wanted to stay in contention.

Andrey Rublev trailed 5-3 in the decider against Stefanos Tsitsipas, prevailing 7-5.

The Russian netted a forehand in the fourth game to fall 3-1 behind, reaching two deuces on the return in game seven but not making the next push and allowing Stefanos to open a 5-2 gap. Serving for the set at 5-3, Tsitsipas landed an ace for a hold at love and the second part of the encounter, gathering boost ahead of the decider. They traded breaks in marathon games three and four that saw six deuces, with Tsitsipas earning another one after a forehand mistake from Rublev that sent him 3-2 ahead. Moving closer to the finish line, the Greek produced commanding holds in games six and eight, serving for the title at 5-4. Rublev bounced back after that break he suffered, holding with ease in games seven and nine and hoping for one last chance on the return. The Russian created three break chance with a forehand crosscourt winner, converting the second to level the score at 5-5 and survive. Andrey brought the 11th game home at love, sending the pressure to the other side of the net and earning a break at 15 following a double fault from Stefanos to rattle off four straight games and lift the trophy. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3cCn1nO