FRENCHMAN Arthur Fils has ground out a memorable second ATP Tour title with a three-set win over Alexander Zverev in the Hamburg Open final overnight. The Next Gen prospect was incredible at saving break points – he saved 21 of 22 – and managed to skirt away in a decisive tiebreaker to win, 6-3 3-6 7-6 in Germany.

Zverev went into the match with a home crowd advantage and as the top seed expected to triumph at the ATP 500 event. However Fils, with nothing to lose and playing as aggressively as he could, came out and won the first set 6-3.

Zverev would capitalise in the second with the only break point he would win for the match to level the scores, but after three and a half hours, Fils was able to hold on through some strong serving to take out the match and deny the defending champion a second straight Hamburg title.

“I knew from the start it was not going to be easy,” Fils said post-match. “First set I was taking care of it, I think I had a little but of luck, but playing great. Then second set he managed to play better than me and to raise his level.

“Then we closed the roof and when we closed the roof I knew it was going to be just a fight, like a dogfight. You just have to fight until the last point, until the last ball. I think that I’m practising since a long time for this kind of moment so I’m really happy to win it.”

Fils only had four break point opportunities for the match, but broke once, while saving the 21 break points against him. He managed to win a higher percentage of first serve return points (34 to 31 per cent), and while Zverev was greater off the second serve return (54 to 46 per cent), his eight aces to nil would not be enough to lift his second straight trophy.

The Frenchman added Hamburg to his second ATP Tour title from Lyon in 2023, and now enters the Top 20 for the first time in his career. He also increased his Top 10 record to 4-6 after his triumph over Zverev.

AROUND THE COURTS

In Bastad, 27-year-old Portugese player Nuno Borges won his first ATP Tour title by defeating 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal in the Nordea Open final. Nadal had played some of his best tennis for the year the past week ahead of the Olympics, but his time on court essentially caught up with him, as the Portugese player won 6-3 6-2 in an hour and 27 minutes.

“I don’t know what to say. I think I was wishing for this moment for a while already,” Borges said post-match. “It’s crazy, in tennis it doesn’t happen when you expect it sometimes. I know we all wanted Rafa to win, a part of me wished that too, but something even bigger inside of me really pushed through today. Through all the emotions, through all the ups and downs.

“it wasn’t about playing my best tennis, it was just coming up in the big moments where I wanted, and I couldn’t have played better. I’m just really happy overall. I really don’t know what to say, I’m very emotional.”

Over in Gstaad, Italian former Top 10 talent Matteo Berrettini has returned to the Top 50 after his second title in 2024. His return to the Tour following injury has been a tough road, but the sixth seed destroyed Frenchman Quentin Halys in Switzerland 6-3 6-1 in just 59 minutes. He won eight of the last night games following a 30-minute rain delay.

“It feels unbelievable. It feels like it was yesterday that I won my first title here six years ago, but a lot of matches and a lot of things happened,” said Berrettini in his post-match interview. “I’m just so glad that I can keep playing and enjoying, and I think I found the energy of six years ago during this week. This place is special for me. I’m just so happy.”

While Borges winning his maiden title was special, he was not the oldest maiden title winner of the weekend. American 30-year-old Marcos Giron won a tight contest in three sets over compatriot Alex Michelsen in Newport. Giron needed two hours and 37 minutes before finally triumphing 6-7 6-3 7-5 to life the Hall of Fame Open trophy.