THIEM WINS STUTTGART, MAHUT TRIUMPHS IN S-HERTOGENBOSCH BEFORE FACING MURRAY AT QUEEN’S TENNIS BY RICKY DIMON FOR 10SBALLS

Written by: Staff on 14th June 2016

Ricoh Open tennis tournament in Rosmalen

THIEM WINS STUTTGART, MAHUT TRIUMPHS IN S-HERTOGENBOSCH BEFORE FACING MURRAY AT QUEEN'S TENNIS BY RICKY DIMON FOR 10SBALLS

epa05361939 France's Nicolas Mahut (L) holds the winner's trophy after beating Gilles Muller (R) of Luxembourg in the final match of the Ricoh Open tennis tournament in Rosmalen, Netherlands, 13 June 2016. EPA/ANDRE DE HEUS |

Dominic Thiem secured the seventh ATP title of his career and his first on grass by defeating doubles partner Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-7(2), 6-4, 6-4 at the Mercedes Cup on Monday. Rain in Stuttgart delayed the final from Sunday into the next week, interrupting it with Kohlschreiber leading 3-2 in the first-set tiebreaker. The German eventually got the job done in the opener, but Thiem recovered to triumph in two hours and 11 minutes.

“It feels absolutely unreal because I came here without any expectations basically, and I’m pretty sure that it’s the most special title for me,” the 22-year-old Austrian commented. “I didn’t play that well on grass over the past two years, and this tournament was so strong…. I really cannot believe it.”

“It’s sad to lose the final, but I think it was a very good final,” Kohlschreiber reflected. “It was a tough situation because of the rain, but overall it was a great finish for the tournament and for Dominic. I’m happy with the performance. The loss is a little bit annoying, but I am happy with the week.”

Dominic Thiem of Austria poses with the trophy after winning the final against Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany during the ATP tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, 13 June 2016. EPA/MARIJAN MURAT

While Thiem prevailed on his least favorite surface, Nicolas Mahut was up to his old tricks on the grass courts of ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Three of Mahut’s four ATP titles have now come at the Ricoh Open, which he won by holding off Gilles Muller 6-4, 6-4 on Monday. That showdown also got postponed by rain, as play was cancelled on Sunday after Mahut took the first set.

“Playing a final is always special, but this was different (because of the rain),” Mahut explained. “Getting the trophy is the most important thing. Winning the tournament as the world No. 1 in doubles is really special. I started the match really well and tried to relax. I know winning a title doesn’t happen every week.

“Yesterday, I had to change my flights (from ‘s-Hertongenbosch to London). I will now go to the airport for the earliest flight to London. I have to be ready to play Andy Murray tomorrow.”

Mahut will be playing on a second straight day when he gets right back in action on Tuesday at Queen’s Club for the AEGON Championships. The 34-year-old Frenchman almost triumphed at this Queen’s Club tournament in 2007 but ended up falling to Andy Roddick 4-6, 7-6(7), 7-6(2) in a thrilling final.

Up next for the world No. 51 is a sixth career encounter with Murray, who will be taking the court for the first time since falling to Novak Djokovic in the French Open championship match. The top-seeded Scot is leading the head-to-head series 4-1, but his lone loss to Mahut came at this event in 2012 (6-3, 6-7(4), 7-6(1) in the round of 32). Murray avenged that setback one season later at Queen’s Club in the form of a 6-3, 7-6(4) win.

The world No. 2 is 25-5 lifetime at Queen’s Club and has lifted the winner’s trophy four times.