SOFIA, February 12, 2018

Mirza Basic overcame the seismic serving of Marius Copil to lift his first ATP World Tour trophy and break into the Top 100 of the ATP Rankings. In Sunday’s final of the DIEMA XTRA Sofia Open, Basic fired 19 aces, winning 81 per cent of his first service points to secure a 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 victory in two hours and 19 minutes.

The ATP 250 event in Bulgaria was a breakthrough tournament for Basic, who also scored a surprising victory over Stan Wawrinka in the semi-finals – his first Top 20 win. The 26-year-old becomes the second player from Bosnia & Herzegovina to win a tour-level title, following compatriot Damir Dzumhur, a two-time titlist last season.

“I’m very happy about everything this week. It’s the first title for me and the first final. Also, I’m very happy for breaking through after the match yesterday… After this week I will finally get in the Top 100. [After] this win, Sofia will always be my special place,” Basic told.

Copil was also bidding for his maiden ATP World Tour title in his first final.

“I am very happy to reach my first final. Being here in the last match is something big for me and it motivates me to have more weeks like this. I was a bit tight and had some emotions. I started well, but then I was pushing and wasn’t as aggressive as in the matches before,” Copil said.

Dutch Duo Triumph

In doubles, Dutchmen Robin Haase and Matwe Middelkoop earned their second title of the year, having also emerged victorious in Pune. They rallied past Nikola Mektic of Croatia and Alexander Peya from Austria 5-7, 6-4, 10-4 in the final.

“Of course it doesn’t happen often that you win titles, especially in the same city. Sofia is a special one and I feel comfortable and at home here. My partner played amazing,” Middelkoop commented after his sixth doubles crown.

“We’re happy, that’s for sure. We started this year with a title and already in four tournaments we have another. I hope we continue like this. I’m happy that we won,” Haase added, who clinched his fourth doubles titel.