Andreas Seppi claimed his first ATP Tour title when Janko Tipsarevic retired from the AEGON International final in Eastbourne.
Italian sees off Tipsarevic in Eastbourne final
Andreas Seppi claimed his first ATP Tour title when Janko Tipsarevic retired while trailing 6-7 6-3 3-5 in the AEGON International final in Eastbourne.
Seppi had looked in good touch as he battled to claim the opener on a tie-breaker but Tipsarevic hit back in the second, claiming two breaks to Seppi's one to force the decider.
Seppi stepped it up in the third, racing into a 4-0 lead before a rain interruption forced the players off for 20 minutes.
The break briefly galvanised world number 30 Tipsarevic, who got the set back on serve by winning three games in succession after the resumption.
But in the ninth game Tipsarevic, who had been complaining to officials about the poor light, slipped on the baseline while attempting to reach the ball and a 10-minute delay followed as an apparent groin injury was treated.
Tipsarevic was subsequently broken to fall 3-5 behind, and at that point his body cried enough and he withdrew after two hours and 35 minutes on court.
Seppi's win came in his first final appearance since 2007, while Tipsarevic, whose injury makes him a major doubt for Wimbledon, remains winless on the ATP Tour having now lost all four finals he has contested.
