Querrey hoists Delray Beach trophy

Sam Querrey has won an all-American battle to win the Delray Beach Open, his eighth career ATP title.

Querrey beat Rajeev Ram 6-4 7-6(6) in one hour and 25 minutes, closing out the match with a running forehand winner that just clipped the line.

“We were both a little nervous today, it wasn’t the cleanest match. I just battled through and happened to hit one great shot in the second set, and it was on match point,” Querrey said.

“Sometimes it feels better to win when you don’t play your best, because you know you have another gear. I had two finals last year, both close losses, so it feels good to be in the winner’s circle.”

What a shot! @SamQuerrey wins the 2016 #DelrayBeachOpen singles title 6-4, 7-6(6) over Rajeev Ram! pic.twitter.com/Ayp8NFUZRW

— Delray Beach Open (@DelrayBeachOpen) February 21, 2016

It was Querrey’s first ATP title since he won in Los Angeles in 2012; 11 of his 15 career finals have come on US soil.

Querrey has now beaten Ram in four of their five career meetings.

Yet the news wasn’t all bad for Ram, who enjoyed a stellar week at Delray Beach featuring two top 30 victories – he beat Bernard Tomic in round one before ousting Grigor Dimitrov in the semifinals.

“I played well on match point, I thought. He just came up with a great shot. People don’t give [Querrey] credit for how well he moves,” Ram said.

“It’s hard when you play someone you know so well in a final. I would’ve loved to hold my serve every time and win 6-4, 6-4, but that’s not how it works. What I was more disappointed about was not keeping the momentum I had in both sets. I thought I played well in the tiebreak, but he hit the outside of the line three times.”

In the doubles final, No.1 seeds Bob and Mike Bryan were stunned by Oliver Marach and Fabrice Martin.

The unseeded Austrian-French duo saved six match points to win 3-6 7-6(7) [13-11].

(photo credit: CameraSport)