SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS, April 7, 2019
Dustin Brown is the champion of the Mouratoglou Open in Sophia Antipolis, clinching his first singles title since Manchester 2016. The 34-year-old German defeated No. 5 seed Filip Krajinovic of Serbia 6-3, 7-5 in Sunday’s final of the €69,280 ATP Challenger clay-court event.
Brown fired 10 aces, winning 69 per cent of his first service points to prevail after one hour and 31 minutes.
CHAMPION! Welcome back to the winners’ circle, @DreddyTennis.
First title in three years for the 🇩🇪, prevailing at the @MouratoglouAcad in Sophia Antipolis. pic.twitter.com/B7CvXuTQu0
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) 7. April 2019
“Dreddy” only dropped one set en route to the title match with wins over Frenchman Baptiste Crepatte, No. 2 seed Robin Haase from the Netherlands, Kimmer Coppejans of Belgium, Italian Matteo Donati and German teenager Rudolf Molleker.
“I really played well all week,” Brown said. “I had to withdraw from the Saint-Brieuc Challenger, so I’m very happy to win here.”
By hoisting his eighth ATP Challenger trophy, Brown collects €9,200 in prize money as well as 90 ATP-Ranking points, climbing 52 positions to World No. 167 on Monday.
Earlier in the day, Thiemo de Bakker and Robin Haase captured the doubles title. The unseeded Dutchmen beat French wild card entries Enzo Couacaud and Tristan Lamasine 6-4, 6-4. The encounter lasted one hour and five minutes.
