HAMBURG, Germany — Italy’s Flavio Cobolli gained the most important title of his profession when he upset third seed Andrey Rublev 6-2, 6-4 to win the Hamburg Open on Saturday.
Ranked No. 35 on the planet, Cobolli had just one ATP 250 title to his identify, having gained the Romanian Open final month, however the 23-year-old now has two clay-court titles after beating Rublev within the closing of the ATP 500 occasion.
He’s simply the third participant to win a number of titles on the ATP Tour this 12 months, together with Carlos Alcaraz (3) and Felix Auger-Aliassime (2), whereas the victory will see him rise to a career-high twenty sixth within the rankings.
“I feel it’s the finest second and match of my life for positive. I’ve to make an apology to Andrey as a result of as we speak I performed unbelievable. I’m so completely satisfied and happy with myself,” Cobolli stated. “I can see my household, mates, brother and girlfriend right here, and it’s a shock. I’m actually completely satisfied. I handed many battles this 12 months, and this type of day is sweet on your thoughts. I’m so completely satisfied. I simply wish to [lift] the trophy.”
After Cobolli convincingly took the opening set, Rublev went 3-2 up within the second, however the momentum shifted after a 31-shot rally the place the Russian tried to make Cobolli run for many factors.
Cobolli turned the tables when he fired a scorching forehand winner to get the purpose, and because the Italian put his hand to his ear to get the gang roaring, a spent Rublev bent over in exhaustion.
Rublev by no means recovered, and though he had seven break factors within the contest, Cobolli saved six of them.
The Italian transformed all 4 of his break-point possibilities to wrap up the match in 1 hour, 28 minutes.
He may have no time to relaxation, nonetheless, as he seems forward to a match in opposition to previous Grand Slam champion Marin Cilic within the first spherical of the French Open, which begins Sunday.