Basilashvili defends Hamburg Open crown

Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili has won the Hamburg European Open for a second consecutive year, beating Andrey Rublev 7-5 4-6 6-3 in the final.

Fourth seed Basilashvili won 81 per cent of his first-serve points and struck 26 forehand winners on Sunday to record his 12th straight win on Hamburg clay, which includes 10 main-draw victories.

The 27-year-old has now lifted three tour-level titles — all at ATP 500 level — with his other triumph coming in Beijing last year.

World No.16 Basilashvili, who saved two match points in his semifinal win over world No.5 Alexander Zverev, broke Rublev twice early in the final set and maintained the advantage to seal victory in just over two hours.

FEATURE: Progress report 2019 – the leading men

With the win, the Georgian became the first player since Roger Federer in 2005 to claim back-to-back Hamburg crowns.

“It looks like I am playing my best tennis here. Just to see my name next to (Roger) means a lot to me,” Basilashvili said. “I played my best tennis here and I will come back next year, for sure.”

Russian youngster Rublev failed to add to his maiden title triumph in 2017 in Umag but was pleased with his impressive run this week, which included a straight-sets win over top seed Dominic Thiem in the semifinals.

“It was a good week for me. For the moment, my best week,” said Rublev.

“Of course, it is always disappointing to lose in a final, but Nikoloz was playing really well and he deserves it. To win two years in a row here is amazing. It is really hard. It is really tough mentally and he did it. It is unbelievable.”

De Minaur wins in Atlanta for second title of 2019

AAP – Alex de Minaur has added the Atlanta Open to his Sydney International title win from earlier this year after a dominant victory over American Taylor Fritz.

De Minaur, 20, broke Fritz’s serve twice in the first set and dominated the second-set tiebreaker to seal his second ATP Tour trophy with a 6-3 7-6(2) win in Sunday’s final.

Dem-o-nation!

????????@alexdeminaur claims the @BBTatlantaopen ???? with a commanding 6-3 7-6(2) victory over Taylor Fritz. pic.twitter.com/7V6tdhZNVo

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 28, 2019

The youngest finalist in the decade-long history of the Atlanta Open, de Minaur will move up to world No.25 when the rankings are updated on Monday.

De Minaur went the entire tournament without facing a break point and he fittingly clinched victory with a deft serve-and-volley backhand winner.

The Australian, who arrived in Atlanta ranked 34th in the world, was set back by a groin injury after his maiden ATP title. He lost in the second round at both the French Open and Wimbledon, the latter in a tough five-setter against American Steve Johnson.

“It’s so good to see him back playing good tennis after struggling with injuries,” said a magnanimous Taylor, who made 20 unforced errors in the final.

Teichmann stuns Bertens for Palermo title

AP – Swiss eighth seed Jil Teichmann has beaten Dutch ace Kiki Bertens 7-6(3) 6-2 in the final of the Palermo Ladies Open.

The eighth seed’s triumph saw her clinch her second WTA Tour title on Sunday after winning the Prague Open in May. She is expected to crack the top 60 on Monday.

Swiss Stunner!@jilteichmann takes the @LadiesOpenPA title 7-6(3), 6-2 over Kiki Bertens in her first Top 10 win. pic.twitter.com/fPBgTcrmkL

— WTA (@WTA) July 28, 2019

Bertens was let down by her serve as the Dutch player double-faulted five times and won 55 per cent of her first-serve points compared to Teichmann’s 65 per cent.

The clay-court event is marking its return to the WTA tour after a five-year absence.

Sevastova triumphs at home event

REUTERS – Top seed Anastasija Sevastova rallied to defeat Polish qualifier Katarzyna Kawa and win the inaugural Baltic Open on home soil Sunday in Jurmala, Latvia.

The 29-year-old Latvian was a set and a break down before charging to a 3-6 7-5 6-4 victory in two hours, nine minutes. It was the fourth career title for Sevastova and her first since the 2018 Bucharest Open.

No place like home! ????????

Top seed Anastasija Sevastova claims the inaugural @balticopen2019 crown 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 over Katarzyna Kawa. pic.twitter.com/oZfUmjGmD0

— WTA (@WTA) July 28, 2019

Playing in her first WTA main draw and ranked No. 194 in the world, Kawa was up 5-4 in the second set before Sevastova seized momentum by winning the next five games.

Ramos-Vinolas victorious in Gstaad

REUTERS – Meanwhile, Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas eased past German Cedrik-Marcel Stebe 6-3 6-2 to win the second ATP title of his career at the Swiss Open after not dropping a set at the clay-court tournament all week.

The 31-year-old Ramos-Vinolas wrapped up his first triumph since winning in Bastad, Sweden, three years ago after both players’ patience was tested by a four-and-a-half hour delay to the start of the final because of persistent rain in Gstaad.

“It was not easy because everybody said it was raining all day,” Ramos-Vinolas said afterwards.

“I said to my coach and my wife I was thinking I have to be ready because if it stops, you uncover the court and in 30 minutes you are on court.

“All the time I was thinking I have to be ready and I was ready. So you have to be calm, but at the same time you have to be excited.”