Ignacio Buse’s first ATP title is a 500-pointer, as the 22-year-old triumphed at the Hamburg Open with a 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-3 victory over Tommy Paul on Saturday.
Both Buse and Paul broke serve five times, but it was the Peruvian who pulled away with a hot start to the decider after dropping the second set. He failed to serve out the match at 5-1 in the third but clinched victory with ease on his second time of asking at 5-3.
“[I have put in this] effort for my whole life,” Buse reflected. “It’s fully emotional for my family — so many people involved that I cannot describe. This is for them. I feel extremely happy; it’s the best feeling in my entire life, for sure. I don’t know what to say. I’m also really proud of Peru. It’s the best country in the world, so I’m just so emotional now.”
The Geneva Open final was also a thriller, in which Learner Tien toppled Mariano Navone 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Tien, 20, became the youngest American to win an ATP title on European clay since Michael Chang — now Tien’s coach — won the French Open at 17 years old in 1989. The left-hander outlasted Navone after two hours and 29 minutes.
“I feel incredible,” Tien assured. “(It was a) super tough match today. It started out really tough; I think the first couple (of) games were longer than my first set yesterday — so a really tough match. (I’m) really happy to come through.”