Former US Open champion Marin Cilic won the turf tournament in Stuttgart. The 32-year-old Croat defeated third-placed Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in the final 7:6 (7:2), 6:3.
For Cilic, this is the 19th title of his tennis career and the first since his victory on grass at London’s Queen’s Club in 2018. Meanwhile, Auger-Aliassime also lost his eighth World Cup final on the Pro Tour. He has already reached the final in Stuttgart in 2019.
In the first sentence, a duel at eye level
In front of about 350 spectators, both finalists showed uncertainty about their service games. The 1.98m Cilic was closer to gaining an advantage, but only converted his ninth-breaking chance to the first lead and 6:5. However, the strong 2014 US Open winner and Wimbledon runner-up from 2017 only took the first set in the tiebreak, Because he also lost his serve for the first time. The first movement alone lasted 74 minutes.
The initial decision in favor of former top ten player Cilic then dropped with his break to 5:3 in the second set. All five German participants were eliminated in the first round or in the round of 16 of the tournament, which was awarded €618,735. For his success, Cilic was awarded a prize money of 53,280 euros and a car. From Monday, Germany’s top-level turf tournament will continue in Halle, Westphalia.