ATP

Alex de Minaur wins the Atlanta Open in straight sets

By Sports Desk July 31, 2022

Australia's Alex de Minaur defeated hometown hero Jenson Brooksby in the final of the Atlanta Open on Sunday, winning in straight sets 6-3 6-3.

It is the second time De Minaur has won the Atlanta Open – also getting the job done in 2019 when he met American Taylor Fritz in the final.

This time around, De Minaur feasted on Brooksby's second serve, winning 81 per cent (13-of-16) of those opportunities, compared to just 29 per cent when the American was able to land his first serve.

It was even more pronounced in the second set as the fast-finishing De Minaur continued to strangle the life out of Brooksby, as he was only able to win the point twice from 12 second serves.

Despite his relatively comfortable victory, it was De Minaur who had to face adversity first as he so often does before fighting back, facing the first two break points of the game, but he saved both before capitalising on his only break point opportunity in the opening set.

The Aussie threatened to run away with the match when he broke again in the opening game of the second frame, but Brooksby instantly snatched back a break of his own.

Ultimately, De Minaur was just better both on serve and in his return game, winning 59 per cent of his points on serve compared to 52 per cent for Brooksby.

He also saved four of Brooksby's five break point opportunities, while winning all four of his own.

It is the sixth ATP Tour title of De Minaur's career, and his first since the Eastbourne International in June 2021.

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    Gauff prevailed 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7-2) in Riyadh on Saturday to become the youngest WTA Finals champion since 2004.

    She was pushed all the way by Olympic champion Zheng, who led 5-3 at one stage in the decider and also clawed back four matchpoints before Gauff eventually got over the line.

    "Tired, it's been a hard season," Gauff told Sky Sports after her victory.

    "It was a really great match. Qinwen played some unbelievable tennis. I was just trying my best to hang in there and I never gave up.

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    "At the end of the match, when I, like, fell on the floor, I didn't think I was going to do that," said Gauff, who has secured the year-end world number three ranking.

    "I made a promise to myself that I will save that for grand slams. But honestly, to the way the match went, I was like, 'I'm just tired. I just want to lay on the ground.'

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    Data Debrief: It's a marathon, not a sprint

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