Garin Glorious: Chilean Continues Breakthrough Season With Munich Title

Chilean Cristian Garin began the season with just one ATP Tour match win. After defeating Italian Matteo Berrettini 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(1) on Sunday to triumph at the BMW Open by FWU, the 22-year-old leaves Munich with his second title, and it’s only the first weekend of May.

It has been a remarkable breakout year for Garin, who with his 19th clay-court win of 2019 is now tied with Guido Pella for the ATP Tour-lead on the surface. The unseeded victor also lifted the trophy in Houston and reached the final in Sao Paulo, where he lost to Pella.

Just two days ago, it appeared Garin may not make it out of the quarter-finals. But he saved two match points against two-time defending Munich champion and top seed Alexander Zverev, defeating the German 6-4, 5-7, 7-5. He has not looked back since, and on Monday, he is projected to climb to a career-high No. 33 in the ATP Rankings. Just more than two months ago, he was 92nd.

It was a tough final as Berrettini not only won his rain-delayed semi-final against Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut on Sunday, but last week's Budapest champion also carried a nine-match winning streak into his battle with Garin. The Chilean got off to a quick start in the championship match, though, breaking Berrettini's serve twice and frustrating the Italian with his consistency in the first set, leading to plenty of unforced errors.

In the second set, however, Berrettini began to find the range off his forehand wing. And as it drizzled onto the clay, Garin began to lose his rhythm, especially on the backhand side. Despite missing out on his first two chances in the game by failing to put a return in the court, Berrettini finally broke the Chilean before serving out the set to love.

The decider was mostly dominated by serve. But back-to-back breaks from 4-3 allowed Garin to serve for the match, and then Berrettini to retake the momentum by getting back on serve. But Garin played his very best tennis in the tie-break, controlling the court with his positioning on the baseline and showing sensational shotmaking when he was put in tough positions to triumph after two hours and nine minutes.

Did You Know?
Garin has been clutch in tight matches this year, winning eight of his nine deciding sets, including all three of his final-set tie-breaks.

from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://bit.ly/2Lp7hdM