By Alberto Amalfi | Saturday, August 8, 2015

 

Philipp Kohlschreiber roared back for a 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Paul-Henri Mathieu to become the first German in the Open Era to claim the Kitzbühel crown.

Photo credit: Generali Open Kitzbühel

Philipp Kohlschreiber was untouchable on first serve in the last set to capture the Kitzbühel title.

Kohlschreiber roared back for a 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Paul-Henri Mathieu in today's final to become the first German man in the Open Era to claim the Kitzbühel championship. Kohlschreiber, who lives in Kitzbühel and rode his bike to the tournament site, showed more than pedal power in raising his record to 23-18 on the season.

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A day after he defeated top seeded Dominic Thiem,  6-0, 7-6 (6) in the semifinals, the 31-year-old German denied the 33-year-old Mathieu's quest to make history as the first qualifier in the Open Era to win the Generali Open.

It is Kohlschreiber's first title of the season and his sixth career title. The sixth seed earned his first championship since defeating Ivo Karlovic in the 2014 Dusseldorf final.

Mathieu started strong, breaking in the sixth and eighth games to win the opening set in 31 minutes.

Kohlschreiber, who was runner-up to Robin Haase in the 2012 final, broke to open the second set then broke again in the fifth game, eventually forcing the decider.

The 5-foot-10 German serves bigger than his size suggests. Kohlschreiber won all 11 points played on his first serve in the last set and broke twice taking the title in one hour, 41 minutes.

Playing his first final since losing to Nikolay Davydenko in the 2009 Hamburg title match, Mathieu said fatigue was a factor in the final set today.

"It is always difficult to lose, especially in the final," said Mathieu. "I ran out of gas for sure, but I gave my best and I am happy with my week. This week me confidence for others tournaments. I know I can reach a final again."