Canadian rising star Felix Auger-Aliassime’s wait for his first ATP title was extended on Sunday as the teenager was beaten by Italian Matteo Berrettini in the Stuttgart final.
The 18-year-old has risen to 21st in the world rankings this season, but fell to his third defeat from as many finals, as Berrettini won 6-4, 7-6 (13/11).
The victory in the grass-court Wimbledon warm-up was the 30th-ranked Berrettini’s third title, after triumphs on clay in Gstaad last year and Budapest in April.
He saw five set points come and go in the second-set tie-break, before the 23-year-old Berrettini – the first Italian grass-court finalist since Andreas Seppi at Eastbourne in 2011 – took his third match point.
France’s Adrian Mannarino ended his long wait for an ATP title by beating Jordan Thompson to win the grass-court event in ‘s-Hertogenbosch on Sunday.
The 30-year-old, who had lost in each of his six previous finals, claimed a 7-6 (9/7), 6-3 victory in the Netherlands.
In the WTA event at the same venue, Alison Riske saved five championship points in the second set before stunning top seed and home favorite Kiki Bertens 0-6, 7-6(3), 7-5 to win her second career singles title.
World No 44 Mannarino’s best results have come on grass – having twice reached the final in Antalya and made the second week of Wimbledon three times.
Australian Thompson, who reached the third round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in his career at the recent French Open, was playing in his maiden tour final.
Mannarino and Thompson had both won their semi-final matches earlier in the day after rain curtailed play on Saturday, beating Croatian second seed Borna Coric and Frenchman Richard Gasquet respectively.
France’s Caroline Garcia claimed her first title of 2019 by holding off Donna Vekic 2-6, 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/4) to win the Nottingham Open.
Garcia needed to polish off her semi-final against American Jennifer Brady on Sunday morning 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 after a rain caused havoc with the schedule over the past week in the Midlands.
The heavy load appeared to take its toll as Croatian Vekic romped through the opening set of the final.
However, Garcia composed herself to break back twice in the second set before closing it out on a tie-break.
The deciding set also went to a tie-break without a single break of serve, where again Garcia prevailed 7-4 to take her seventh career singles title.
With AFP Inputs
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!