Tabilo stuns Musetti for Chengdu title, Bublik wins in Hangzhou / Photo: STR - AFP
Tabilo stuns Musetti for Chengdu title, Bublik wins in Hangzhou
Qualifier Alejandro Tabilo saved two championship points in stunning top seed Lorenzo Musetti to win a nail-biting Chengdu Open final on Tuesday.
The Chilean won his first ATP Tour title of the year and third of his career with a gutsy 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7/5) victory in southwestern China.
The 112th-ranked Tabilo was staring defeat in the face but bravely saved two match points to force a final-set tie break.
He was then 1-4 down in the tie break before levelling at 4-4 and eventually pulling through for a surprise victory over the more fancied Italian.
"It was an amazing match," said the Canada-born 28-year-old, who has struggled with injuries and form this season.
"Just had to stay there mentally and physically.
"Just so happy... it's unbelievable."
It was the second year in a row that Musetti, ranked ninth in the world, had lost the final.
Also in China, Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan won his fourth title of a brilliant year with a similarly battling win over Valentin Royer.
Third seed Bublik defeated the stubborn French qualifier 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/4) in just under two hours in the final of the Hangzhou Open.
The men's and women's China Open begins this week in the capital Beijing.
I.Parker--CT
