Hamburg Open: Nikoloz Basilashvili Beats Andrey Rublev To Defend Title For Second Consecutive Time

Nikoloz Basilashvili has completed his second successful campaign for the title at Hamburg Open, thrashing Andrey Rublev in three sets 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 to lift the trophy for the second time in a row.

Andrey, who routed top-seeded player Dominic Thiem to reach the semi-finals, saved 11 break points against the defending champion, who won 81 per cent of his first-serve hitting 26 forehand winners to outclass him.

Nikoloz improved 2-0 against the Russian as he won his career third ATP tour-level title and making history at the tournament as the second player in 14 years to emerge as the winner in two straight seasons. 

"It looks like I am playing my best tennis here," Basilashvili said. "Just to see my name next to [Roger and Andrei Medvedev who also won the title back-to-back] means a lot to me."

The Greek player was fantastic by the way he eliminated home favourite Alexander Zverev, saving two match points in a rally from 3-5 at the third set, and despite the German taking an early break in the tie-break, he broke back to win that match in three sets 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(5).

"It was a good week for me," says Andrey who will receive €178,220 in prize money and 300 ATP ranking points "For the moment, my best week. Of course, it is always disappointing to lose in a final, but Nikoloz was playing really well and deserves it."