Tsitsipas claims maiden ATP ‘title’ in Stockholm

Khachanov wins Kremlin Cup

STOCKHOLM, Oct 21, (Agencies): Greek 20-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas added another notch to a remarkable breakthrough season as he beat Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis 6-4, 6-4 to win the Stockholm Open and claim a maiden ATP title on Sunday.

Tsitsipas, who has rocketed up the rankings to 16th heading into Stockholm, made up for losing two finals this year by outplaying Gulbis in straight sets.

It was a clinical display by Tsitsipas who converted the two break points that came his way while offering precious little chance for Gulbis to threaten.

Tsitsipas began the year just inside the world’s top 100 with only four Tour-level wins to his name but has matured into a one of the sport’s most dangerous newcomers.

In August at the Rogers Cup in Toronto he became the youngest player to beat four top 10 opponents at a single event since the ATP World Tour began in 1990, eventually losing to Rafael Nadal in the final.

In Moscow, home favourite Karen Khachanov raced past Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-2, 6-2 to claim his Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas poses with his trophy after winning the ATP Stockholm Open tennis tournament men’s singles final against Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis at the Royal

Tennis Hall on Oct 21. (AFP)

Russia’s Karen Khachanov poses with the trophy as he celebrates his victory over France’s Adrian Mannarino during the Kremlin Cup tennis tournament men’s singles final match in Moscow on Oct 21. (AFP)

to this year’s tournament last week when Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens failed to reach the Moscow semifinals. Later, Bertens made the final eight when No. 1-ranked Simona Halep withdrew with a herniated disk in her back.

“It’s very nice to be back in Singapore and I’m very, very happy with the match tonight, with the performance tonight,” Svitolina told the crowd. “I had to stay focused and be strong mentally. I had to play quickly and keep moving my feet so I need a massage now.

“You have to play your best level because everybody is very strong playing here.”

Svitolina, who now holds a 1-0 record in the White Group, had only beaten Kvitova once before in their first match at the 2014 Cincinnati tournament. Sunday’s victory was Svitolina’s first against a top-10 opponent since May.