Adrian Mannarino Ends Alex Michelsen’s Dream Run, Wins Newport Title | ATP Tour | Tennis

Adrian Mannarino is again within the winners’ circle.

The Frenchman ended the dream run of #NextGenATP American Alex Michelsen 6-2, 6-4 on Sunday to win the Infosys Hall of Fame Open. It’s the lefty’s first title of the season.

“It was a pleasure to play right here this week in Newport one other time,” Mannarino mentioned through the trophy ceremony. “I’ve been doing effectively this 12 months [in Newport]. The previous 9 years I wasn’t doing nice right here, however it was all the time a pleasure to be again and I all the time take pleasure in it.”

Early in his profession, Mannarino struggled in ATP Tour finals, dropping the primary six he performed. However the 35-year-old has received two of his previous three championship clashes and is now a three-time tour-level champion.

Eighteen-year-old Michelsen confirmed no concern of the large stage all through his second ATP Tour occasion, at which he upset two former Newport champions, Maxime Cressy and John Isner. However Mannarino well prevented the teenager from discovering any rhythm, particularly in longer rallies.

Michelsen received 31 per cent of his return factors in opposition to Isner, among the best servers in historical past. However he managed to say simply 27 per cent of his return factors in opposition to Mannarino, who used his lefty slice to maintain the ball out of the American’s strike zone.

After a one-sided first set, Michelsen battled onerous and instantly broke to take the lead within the second set. However Mannarino was too regular all through and finally lifted the trophy after one hour and 22 minutes.

“I’d wish to congratulate Alex for an amazing couple of weeks,” Mannarino mentioned. “He is enjoying very well and he has such a shiny future forward of him.”

Michelsen, who didn’t personal a tour-level win coming into the event, practically turned the youngest ATP Tour titlist this season and the fourth teen to say a crown. Final week he earned his first ATP Challenger Tour trophy in Chicago.

“You are among the best grass-court gamers on tour. I believe I noticed you remaining Mallorca and also you’re a extremely good participant, all the perfect sooner or later,” Michelsen mentioned to Mannarino through the trophy ceremony. “I wish to thank all of the sponsors. This week was most likely the perfect week of my life tennis-wise and also you guys all made it occur, so it was fairly cool, thanks.”

One 12 months in the past this week, Michelsen was tied for No. 1,081 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. Regardless of the loss, he’ll climb to World No. 139 on Monday.

“I bought a tonne of factors, I used to be right here alone making an attempt to determine it out, so I believe I did fairly effectively,” Michelsen mentioned. “It was an excellent week, a really constructive week. Not too many negatives for certain.”

Did You Know?
Mannarino additionally reached a grass-court remaining earlier this 12 months in Mallorca. Two of his three ATP Tour titles have come on the floor, having earned his first title 4 years in the past in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.