Tommy Paul capped off a dominant week by beating Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets to win his second title at the BNP Paribas Nordic Open in Stockholm.
The fourth-seeded American, who had not dropped a set this week, beat Dimitrov 6-4 6-3 in 85 minutes for his third win of the year after the Dallas and Queen’s clubs. He also lifted the trophy at the 2021 ATP 250 event.
It was also a crucial win for Paul’s hopes of reaching the ATP Finals for the second time in his career. The 27-year-old beat Dimitrov in the race to take part in the season-ending tournament for the top eight players of the year, having never competed before.
Paul did not drop a set throughout the tournament.
It was expected to be a tight battle between the 4th and 3rd seeds, but Paul broke at love in the second game to quickly take a 4-1 lead. Dimitrov took two games in a row as he threatened to draw level, but Paul broke straight away and took the opening set after another quick break.
Paul finished the match with a crucial break in the second game of the second set, joining Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Matteo Berrettini as the only players with at least three wins on tour this season.
“This is a very special place for me,” Paul said. “This is where I won my first title a few years ago, and it was a dream to play the level of tennis I played this week. I felt like I got a little better with every game. Today, I played really great. “I was definitely satisfied with the performance.”
Bautista Agut star wins Antwerp title
Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut defeated Jiri Lehecka in the final of the European Open in Antwerp to win his 12th career title and first since 2022.
The world number 60 advanced to the final by defeating Luca Van Assche, Tomas Martin Etcheverry, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Hugo Gaston. There he beat Lehecka 7-5 6-1 to become the second-oldest winner on the ATP Tour. – Following Novak Djokovic – this season.
Lehecka got a masterclass from the Spaniard as he hit 17 winners against Bautista Agut’s five unforced errors in 75 minutes of play. Bautista Agut has won four straight against the Czech and now ranks in the top 50 of the PIF ATP Rankings.
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Highlights of the European Open final between Roberto Bautista Agut and Jiri Lehecka in Antwerp.
“This is very special,” said Bautista Agut. “I broke my foot last year and had to fight too hard this year. I came back to world 120 but I was still practicing with a smile on my face and trying to become a better player. I think my career is over.”
Elsewhere, Russia’s Karen Khachanov won her first indoor hardcourt title since 2018 after beating Gabriel Diallo 6-2 5-7 6-3 at the Almaty Open in Kazakhstan.
The third seed involved Diallo deep in several games, amassing 19 break point opportunities and capitalizing on six of them, before winning in two hours and 20 minutes to add to the title he won in Doha in February.
Kasatkina overcomes title battle to win Chinese title
Eastbourne champion Daria Kasatkina recorded her second win of the season, beating Russian compatriot Mirra Andreeva 6-0 4-6 6-4 in the final of the Ningbo Open in China on Sunday.
Kasatkina has lost four finals this year but sailed through the opening set against her teenage opponent. Her opponent looked nervous, but faltered in the second, allowing her close friend to draw and advance to a deciding set in the final.
Andreeva built a 3-0 lead in the third but allowed her opponent to re-enter the contest with a series of mistakes as Kasatkina clawed her way back and claimed a win that would put her back in the world’s top 10.
“Honestly, it was a very difficult week,” Kasatkina said after the win. “Every match was really tough. In the quarterfinals we came back from two points down, and today we were down 3-0 in the third set, almost 4-0 (down).
“This trophy means a lot to me as I’ve had a lot of challenges this week and I’m really proud of myself.”
What will happen to Sky Sports Tennis in October?
- Erste Bank Open, Vienna – ATP 500 (21-27 October)
- Swiss Indoor, Basel – ATP 500 (October 21-27)
- Guangzhou Open, China – WTA 250 (October 21-27)
- Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis, Tokyo – WTA 500 (October 21-27)
Sky Sports+ has officially launched and will be integrated into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app. This will give Sky Sports customers access to over 50% more live sport at no extra cost this year. Find out more here.
