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Felix Auger-Aliassime ends run of final defeats to claim maiden ATP Tour title in Rotterdam

Auger-Aliassime after ending run of final losses by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in Rotterdam for a long-awaited victory: "I've had sleepless nights thinking about this title and why I can't overcome this feat"

Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada celebrates winning against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in two sets, 6-4, 6-2, in their final men's singles match of the ABN AMRO world tennis tournament at Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Image: Felix Auger-Aliassime secured his maiden ATP Tour title in Rotterdam

Felix Auger-Aliassime finally claimed his first ATP Tour title after eight previous final defeats with victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas in Rotterdam.

Third seed Auger-Aliassime, who saw off British duo Andy Murray and Cameron Norrie earlier in the tournament, needed just 78 minutes to complete a 6-4 6-2 win in the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament on Sunday.

"I played my first ATP main draw here a couple of years ago, so it is right I won my first title here," Auger-Aliassime said.

"I have a lot of good memories playing here in front of you, so thank you for making it a special week for me that I will remember for the rest of my life. It is the happiest day of my career and hopefully it is the first of many to come.

"I can't explain the weight off my shoulder right now. I got a little bit emotional with my family, you know, towards the end after the match. It's crazy, I've had sleepless nights thinking about this title and why I can't overcome this feat. I didn't have a clear reason.

"I think this year I just wanted to be to overcome that. I wanted to be a better player overall, more consistent, more solid in my mind. And I think today I showed that and this week I showed it against the best players in the world. So incredibly happy just to get this first title under my belt and now I can play more freely, almost."

Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada clenches his fist after winning the first set against Cameron Norrie of Britain in their quarterfinal men's singles match of the ABN AMRO world tennis tournament at Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Image: Auger-Aliassime defeated Norrie in straight sets during Friday's quarter-finals

Auger-Aliassime, who reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open earlier this year, broke top seed Tsitsipas in the first game of the match and held serve throughout the opening set before racing into a 5-1 lead in the second.

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Tsitsipas held serve to keep the match alive but was unable to forge a single break point against Auger-Aliassime, who served out confidently for the title.

Kontaveit continues winning run in Russia

Image: Anett Kontaveit's victory extends her indoor winning streak

Anett Kontaveit overcame Maria Sakkari 5-7 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 in the final of the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy on Sunday for her fourth straight WTA indoor title.

The second-seeded Kontaveit needed nearly three hours to beat top-seeded Sakkari, recovering from being a break down in the second and third sets to claim her sixth singles title overall.

It was the Estonian's 20th consecutive indoor win, which includes her runs to titles at Ostrava, Moscow and Cluj-Napoca at the end of last season.

Kontaveit becomes just the sixth player with at least 20 consecutive indoor wins since 1989 and the first since Justine Henin won 22 indoor matches in a row between Stuttgart 2007 and Stuttgart 2010.

'Perfect start' for Ruud with title victory at Argentina Open

Casper Ruud of Norway holds the trophy after winning Argentina Open tennis singles final to Diego Schartzman, at Guillermo Vilas Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
Image: Casper Ruud collected his seventh ATP tour title at the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires

Norway's Casper Ruud said he made the "perfect start" to the 2022 season after winning his seventh ATP tour title at the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires on Sunday.

Ruud bounced back from a shaky start to defeat local favourite Diego Schwartzman 5-7 6-2 6-3 and win the tournament for the second time after his triumph in 2020.

"It means a lot," Ruud said. "I think this is the perfect start and it will give me confidence for the rest of the season and also for the next weeks when I am here in South America."

Ruud did not play at the tournament last year and the 23-year-old came into the event this year following an ankle injury that forced his late withdrawal from the Australian Open.

"Coming into the week, I was here to try to defend the title not from last year but 2020 if I didn't defend it, I would have lost points in the rankings," Ruud added.

"I was a bit nervous and it was the first time I had to do this in my career. I was successful so it feels very good and it's good to have the trophy in my hands like I had two years ago."

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