Jannik Sinner earns his seventh career title

• Jannik Sinner defeated American Maxime Cressy.
• Sinner is the first player to have won a tour-level tournament this year.
• He has risen to No. 14 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings.

Jannik Sinner defeated American Maxime Cressy 7-6(3), 6-3 to win the Open Sud de France – Montpellier, earning his seven tour-level victory and first of the year.

In his two prior visits at the ATP 250 tournament, Sinner had failed to win a single match, but this time he changed that record.

After obtaining a walkover from Marton Fucsovics, he defeated Lorenzo Sonego, Arthur Fils, and Cressy to become the tournament’s first Italian winner.

“To be honest, the first key was to keep the serve in play. I knew he’d make a mistake in the tie-break. “I attempted to keep my serve, which I did, so I’m quite delighted with the first set,” Sinner stated in an on-court interview. “The second set was slightly different. I had a few excellent chances, but he then served quite well. “I’m glad I broke him here, and then I served extremely well at the end of the match.”

In such a tight final, the Italian soaked up Cressy’s thundering serving and tremendous hitting, turning the tables with clean striking during baseline exchanges. After one hour and 35 minutes, the second seed won 86% (32/37) of his first-serve points and was strong on return, finding the feet of the onrushing American to secure his victory.

When Cressy double faulted at the opening of the first-set tie-break, Sinner secured the decisive mini-break. After taking the first set, he stayed patient in the second, breaking in the eighth game when Cressy pushed a volley wide, before holding service to win the title.

Six of the 21-year-seven old’s tour-level victories have come on hard courts, and he just advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open. His other victory was on clay at Umag.

Since fellow countryman Lorenzo Musetti won the championship in Naples in October, Sinner is the first player to have won a tour-level tournament this year without dropping a set. Following his run in France, the 21-year-old has risen to No. 14 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings.

Aiming to capture his second ATP Tour championship, Cressy was taking part in his fourth final at the tour-level. The 25-year-old, who advanced to the championship match by defeating World No. 9 Holger Rune, has risen to No. 40 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings.

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