By Tennis Now | Sunday, July 29, 2018
Qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili dethroned defending champion Leonardo Mayer, 6-4, 0-6, 7-5, to win his first ATP title in Hamburg.
Photo credit: German Open Tennis Championships am Hamburger Rothenbaum
Nikoloz Basilashvili earned a week's worth of wins to climb a career peak.
Qualifier Basilashvili survived a seven-game slide dethroning defending champion Leonardo Mayer, 6-4, 0-6, 7-5, to claim his first ATP title in Hamburg.
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"What an unbelievable match. I'm extremely tired—I played seven matches," the 26-year-old Basilashvili said. "I literally gave every match my heart. I worked so hard for this. It's an unbelievable moment for me."
The 81st-ranked Basilashvili turned struggle to success.
It's a remarkable reversal of fortune for Basilashvili, who endured a sore shoulder and seven-match losing streak earlier this season.
He scored seven wins this week in Hamburg, including knocking off former French Open semifinalist Jurgen Melzer in the semifinals before beating back clay-court veterans Philipp Kohlschreiber, Pablo Cuevas and third-seeded Pablo Carreno Busta en route to his title breakthrough.
Contesting his third career final, the bearded Basilashvili showed stubborn strength on serve throughout the opening set. Basilashvili dodged a break point in his opening service game and twice came back from love-30 down to hold.
Attacking the champion's one-handed backhand, Basilashvili elicited a backhand wide to break for 2-1. He backed up the break at 30.
The twisting topspin forehand crosscourt was an effective weapon for Basilashvili in building the first set lead.
Serving for a one-set lead, Basilashvili ran into complications. Mayer lashed a one-handed backhand winner down the line for break point. Basilashvili saved it then drew an errant backhand for set point.
When Mayer floated a forehand long, Basilashvili was one set from his title after 49 minutes despite serving just 35 percent in the opening set.
Muttering to himself between points, Mayer turned frustration to action.
The lanky Argentinian dug in and denied break point clawing through a tough hold to start the second set.
Basilashvili's low serve percentage caught up with him as he double faulted to gift the break and a 2-0 second-set lead to the Argentinian.
Hitting with more depth and exuding more intensity, Mayer broke again extending his lead to 4-0.
A horrific shut-out set ended on a Basilashvili double fault. Mayer won seven straight games before Basilashvili finally stopped his slide.
Deadlocked at 5-all in the decider, the defending champion blinked.
Mayer missed a forehand long to face double break point. On his second break point, Basilashvili drove the ball deep crosscourt coaxing another error to break for 6-5.
Serving for his first title, Basilashvili missed a backhand to face break point. Then it was Mayer's turn to tighten up as the two-time champion drew a mid-court ball, but gagged on a backhand sending the shot long.
A sailed forehand gave Basilashvili championship point.
Tension ratcheted when Mayer's crosscourt backhand was incorrectly called wide forcing a replay of the point. Mayer sent a forehand wide as Basilashvili, showing little celebration other than a fist pump toward his box, wrapped up an impressive performance in two hours, 12 minutes.