Marc-Andrea Huesler broke new ground at the Sofia Open on Sunday when he overcame #NextGenATP Dane Holger Rune 6-4, 7-6(8) to capture his maiden tour-level title.
Competing in his first tour-level final, the Swiss lefty outmanoeuvred Rune with his touch and variety from all angles to seal the biggest win of his career after one hour and 42 minutes. The 26-year-old closed the net effectively throughout and saved two set points in the second-set tie-break to secure victory. Huesler is up to No. 64 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings following his standout run.
"I played a great, great match for sure," Huesler said in his on-court interview. "I am completely taken aback. I am lost for words. it was a great match. I just tried to stay focused, stayed calm and I am just really happy I was able to make it."
Everyday he's Hueslin' 🕺
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 2, 2022
The moment Marc-Andrea Huesler won his first ATP title! pic.twitter.com/FVLTz3jMIJ
In a dream week at the ATP 250 event in Sofia, Huesler battled past Geoffrey Blancaneaux, Kamil Majchrzak and #NextGenATP Italian Lorenzo Musetti, while he earned the first Top 20 win of his season against Pablo Carreno Busta.
“This whole week has been a complete fairy tale for me,” added Huesler at the trophy ceremony. “I would have been happy to pass a couple of rounds and I’m holding the trophy here.”
Huesler is the first Swiss player to win an ATP Tour title since Roger Federer won at Basel in 2019. He is also the eighth champion to have saved match points en route to triumphing at a tour-level event this season, having saved two match points against Majchrzak in the quarter-finals.
“I would definitely say the conditions here suit me" said Huesler after the match. "I already felt that two years ago here, when I played a good level of tennis, beating [Nikoloz] Basilashvili before losing to [Jannik] Sinner.
"I’m feeling good here… My game is based on my serve a lot and I think that indoor here, I am really able to put a lot of pressure on the opponent that way, and the way I was volleying this week, I surprised myself as well.”
The 19-year-old Rune was aiming to win his second tour-level title of the season, after triumphing in Munich. Earlier this week, the Dane qualified for the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals for the second consecutive year.
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