Stuttgart (Germany): Austrian tennis player Dominic Thiem came from behind to beat Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 in the rain-delayed Stuttgart Open final here on Monday.
Third seeded Thiem reaped his fourth ATP title of the year after edging seventh seeded Kohlschreiber in two hours and 11 minutes. The final had to be suspended due to rain on Sunday with Kohlschreiber leading the first tiebreak 3-2, reports Xinhua.
After the rain interruption, the German was able to put the first set beyond doubt as he sealed the tiebreak 7-2.
Nevertheless, Thiem, who flabbergasted Roger Federer in the last four, turned up in the second set to break Kohlschreiber’s serve before levelling in sets.
The 22-year-old Austrian kept it bowling and worked out another break in the decider to become the eighth active player, and the 29th in the Open Era, who won three titles on three different surfaces in the same year.
With the result, Thiem wrapped up his seventh career title, while Kohlschreiber missed the chance to lift his sixth title in a German tournament.
Meanwhile, Nicolas Mahut warmed up for Wimbledon by winning his third ‘s-Hertogenbosch title after dominating a rain-delayed final on Monday.
After taking the opening set 6-4 against Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller on the Dutch grass court on Sunday, Mahut wrapped up victory by claiming the second set by the same scoreline.
It was his third title win in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the 34-year-old eighth-seeded wild card having previously won the Dutch event in 2013 and 2015. It was his fourth career title having also won on grass in Newport in 2013.
“It was very moving to win my first title here in 2013. Last year, I wasn’t expecting to win. It’s almost too much to win it a third time,” said Mahut, who admitted that he had forgotten to sign up for the tournament.
“I promise not to forget next year!” said the Frenchman who has now won 18 of 20 matches played in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.
