Jurgen Melzer made an heroic turnaround from the verge of defeat on Sunday, beating compatriot Andreas Haider-Maurer 6-7 (10/12) 7-6 (7/4) 6-4 to win the Austria Tennis Trophy for a second straight year.
The top seed and world No. 12 needed almost an hour per set as he held off a ferocious series of charges from his 157th-ranked compatriot, finally ending on his first match point in a shade over two and three-quarter hours.
Haider-Maurer had served for the upset leading a set and 5-4 but fell victim to a foot fault and a pair of double-faults in the key game.
PHOTO: AFP
The underdog challenger also saved five break points in the seventh game of the hour-long first set, which he finally claimed on a fifth set point.
“Andi was the better player at the start but in the end, I deserved this victory,” Melzer said. “This title is coming at the end of a great season for me. It’s the best thing ever to win at home.”
The dramatic contest was the first all-Austrian final on the ATP since 1995 when Thomas Muster defeated Gilbert Schaller in Bucharest. It was the first all-Austrian final in Vienna in 22 years.
Melzer is the first player to repeat as champion in Vienna since Ivan Ljubicic in 2005-2006.
Haider-Maurer, set for a move inside the top 120, came out pleased with his surprise showing.
“It’s been a wonderful week, now my next goal is the 100. If I just keep working, I think it’s only a matter of time,” he said.
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