HAMBURG/STARNBERG, July 21, 2024
Arthur Fils has claimed the biggest title in his career by winning the 2024 Hamburg Open. The 20-year-old Frenchman outlasted defending champion and top seed Alexander Zverev 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(1) in a thrilling final on Sunday.
Fils withstood eight aces and saved 21 of the 22 break points he faced. He won six points more than the hometown hero to secure victory in three hours and 33 minutes.
WHAT. A. MATCH 🥵
The moment Arthur Fils defeated Zverev for the biggest win of his career and his FIRST ATP 500 title!#HamburgOpen pic.twitter.com/BjX3etT3Q5
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 21, 2024
“I knew from the start it was not going to be easy,” said Fils, who had to overcome cramps late in the match. “First set I was taking care of it, I think I had a little but of luck, but playing great. Then second set he managed to play better than me and to raise his level.
“Then we closed the roof and when we closed the roof I knew it was going to be just a fight, like a dogfight. You just have to fight until the last point, until the last ball. I think that I’m practising since a long time for this kind of moment so I’m really happy to win it.”
Fils claimed his second ATP Tour career title following his maiden triumph on home soil in Lyon last year. The World No. 28 collected €353,750 in prize money as well as 500 ATP Ranking points.
Krapuetz triumph in doubles again
Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz claimed the doubles title for the second straight year. The second-seeded Germans defeated the all-French combination of Fabien Reboul and Edouard Roger-Vasselin 7-6(8), 6-2.
“It was a little bit less stressful in the second set but was very tight in the first,” said Puetz after the match. “We had some chances that we didn’t take. I thought they had some chances that they didn’t take, and then in the end the tie-break was 10-8. It could have gone either way.
“It was very hot, very humid, it was tough on everyone and tough to play. Definitely happy to be champion here again. To defend the title here in Hamburg is absolutely amazing and it was a great atmosphere.”
With their first tour-level title of 2024, Krawietz and Puetz have climbed one spot to sixth in the ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings. They aim to maintain their strong performance at the upcoming Paris Olympics, where they will compete together representing Germany.
“I think we played a very good level here in Hamburg,” added Krawietz. “For the week before the Olympics, for us to go to the Olympics with this level, we hope we can continue like this. Of course in Paris we will start from zero, and go match by match, point by point.”
Tennium happy with first Hamburg Open
Earlier in the day, tournament director Enric Molina drew a positive conclusion for Hamburg’s new organizer Tennium.
“We are very happy with the overall spectator numbers. By the end of the final day, we will have welcomed 75,000 fans at the Rothenbaum Tennis Complex. This is an incredible number for us, especially in the first year,” Molina stated.
“The fans left the stands with big smiles. They had a great time on the court and at the venue. The feedback from the fans, the ATP, stakeholders, and the DTB was extremely positive.”
