STUTTGART, June 18, 2017
Lucas Pouille captured his first grass court title, winning Sunday’s final of the MercedesCup in Stuttgart 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 over Feliciano López from Spain.
On another hot and sunny day as well as in front of a packed centre court at the Tennis Club Weissenhof, the fourth seeded Frenchman, who entered the main draw with a wild card, fired 29 aces and gained the decisive break in the fifth game of the final set when a López forehand went too long. The 23-year-old won one point more than his opponent to secure victory in two hours and five minutes.
Feliciano López
“It was a very close match but Lucas was very aggressive and deserved to win,” said López.
Pouille opened his Stuttgart campaign with a win over Jan-Lennard Struff, saving one match point and followed with a three sets victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber and a 7-5, 7-6 win against Benoit Paire.
“It’s never easy to start a tournament like this, but after the first match I think that I played some great tennis this week,” Pouille told afterwards.
“The mental part was very important in the match today. We both served pretty well. The tie-break was very important and I didn’t lose a point on my serve. I needed to stay focused, in particular when I had the opportunity to break in the third set.”
He takes away €112,460 in prize money, 250 ATP ranking points as well as a brand new Mercedes Benz.
“It’s been my first time to win a tournament with a car plus the money. I am very happy and I am sure it is a great car,” the World No. 16 was pleased and will next play at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, where he will open against Struff again.
Murray/Soares Clinch Doubles Crown
Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares
Earlier in the day, Great Britain’s Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares of Brazil captured their fifth team title, winning the doubles final 6-7, 7-5, 10-5 over Oliver Marach from Austria and Croatian Mate Pavic. The encounter lasted one hour and 44 miutes.
“We had great three matches this week. Conditions were not so easy but we gained a lot of confidence for Queens next week.
“My dad told me to bring a great present for Father’s Day, my grand parents asked for a present for their wedding anniversary and my wife told that I should return from the tournament with the trophy. So they gonna have a fight for it,” Murray told afterwards.
“It was an amazing tournament for us. It was also nice to play in front of a pretty packed court,” Soares added.
