ITALIAN teenager Jannik Sinner has broken through for his maiden ATP Tour title after defeating Canadian Vasek Pospisil in three sets at the Sofia Open. Sinner won 6-4 3-6 7-6 in the final today to secure the title in two hours and 15 minutes.

Pospisil served 14 aces and won 79 per cent of his first serve points off a 63 per cent clip, but Sinner was just as efficient, winning 75 per cent off a 65 per cent efficiency. His serving was not as good as it has been in past games though, producing five double faults from only four aces. Both players broke twice in what was a nail-biting contest the entire way.

“It is always special when you win tournaments,” Sinner said post-match. “I felt well this week. It is special. Playing finals like this, 7-6 in the third… is always tough. But when you win, it is an even better win than winning 6-1 6-1… I am happy about the match, how I tried to stay there every point and I think it is a very special week for me.”

The Italian became the youngest player in more than 12 years to lift an ATP Tour trophy, with Japan’s Kei Nishikori achieving that feat way back at the Delray Beach Open as an 18-year-old. Sinner, who won the ATP Next Gen Finals last year in a stunning performance from ranked 95th in the world, became the sixth ATP Tour maiden winner in 2020. In the final open Tour tournament for the year, Sinner joined Ugo Humbert, Casper Ruud, Thiago Seyboth Wild, Miomir Kecmanovic and John Millman as first-time victors this season.

“It was a very difficult match today… It is a nice feeling to win the first title like last year [at the Next Gen ATP Finals] in the same week. It is good,” Sinner said. “I felt well the whole week here. It is beautiful playing here. The crowd was amazing and it is a nice achievement.”

After winning the Next Gen Finals last year, Sinner started 2020 in rough style, losing four of his first five games in 2020, before claiming a massive scalp in world number 10, David Goffin. It would be the first of three Top 10 victories for the year, though he would not begin his run of form until the clay court season. The Italian had a 4-5 record on Tour prior to the break, then lost in first round matches at Cincinnati and the US Open. From there, Sinner won 16-5 and was one of the most in-form players, only losing to players in the top 10 since Roland Garros.

Picture: Liubomir Asenov