Nikoloz Basilashvili makes it back-to-back Hamburg titles with win over Andrey Rublev

Shahida Jacobs
Nikoloz Basilashvili

Nikoloz Basilashvili is now a three-time ATP Tour trophy winner after he successfully defended his Hamburg Open title against Andrey Rublev.

It has been an incredible journey for the Georgian as he is now 12 games unbeaten in the German tournament as he won last year’s event after coming through qualifying.

And this year’s final was no walkover as he overcame a second-set wobble to beat Rublev 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in just over two hours.

Rublev struck the first big blow as he broke in game three, but the fourth seed turned the tables as he hit back with breaks in games six and 12.

The Russian again had the ascendancy in the second set with a break in game seven and this time he didn’t relinquish the advantage as he levelled it at one set each.

The deciding set started with three breaks in four games with Basilashvili edging it 2-1 and he duly went on to serve it out.

“When you have achievements, people want more and expect more,” he said. “Everybody is writing to me, everybody is happy. I have a lot of support from home and it is a great feeling.”

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