Aslan Karatsev’s stunning start to 2021 continues as he wins in Dubai

Aslan Karatsev delighted

He has been one of the big talking points in tennis at the start of 2021 and now Aslan Karatsev has silverware to confirm his rise to prominence after he beat Lloyd Harris 6-3, 6-2 to claim his maiden ATP Tour title in Dubai.

The 27-year-old ripped 27 winners as he became the third Russian winner on the ATP Tour this season, following in the footsteps of Daniil Medvedev (Marseille) and Andrey Rublev (Rotterdam).

“I am super happy. It was a tight match. [I was] really nervous,” Karatsev said in an on-court interview. “I want to congratulate my opponent for the final. He did a great week… I am happy that I won.

“You never know when success is coming. I did a good job with my team, with my coach and it has happened now.”

Karatsev is the third wild card to win this ATP 500 event, joining Wayne Ferreira (1995) and Thomas Muster (1997) in the exclusive club.

The Australian Open semi-finalist will now rise to No.27 in the updated ATP rankings on Monday, but his form this year is better reflected in the ATP Race ranking as he sits in fifth place in that calculation.

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