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Lars Hamer

France’s Alexandre Muller hailed an “amazing” tournament after winning the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open by beating Kei Nishikori of Japan in an enthralling three-set battle on Sunday.
Muller has been the comeback king for the past week at Victoria Park Tennis Stadium, and duly recovered from losing the first set for a fifth match in a row to land his maiden ATP tour title.
He fought back valiantly to prevail 2-6, 6-1, 6-3, dropping to his knees when Nishikori hit the ball into the net on match point.
Having just earned himself US$103,445 in prize money plus a rankings boost from 67 to a career-high 56, the 27-year-old Muller was almost speechless when interviewed courtside.

“I don’t really know what to say, thank you everyone,” he told the crowd. “I want to thank Kei, too, he’s an amazing player.”
Muller became only the third man since the Open era began in 1968 to win an ATP title having lost the opening set in every match, following Arthur Ashe at the 1975 WCT Finals and Alexander Bublik in Montpellier last year. It amounted to what Muller called “a long and tough week”.
“Everybody knows I lost the first set in all my matches, [but I’m] very happy about my first title,” he said. “The tournament is just amazing, so thank you to the organisers.”
There would be little time to celebrate. “I’m not the type of guy who goes to nightclubs and stuff like this. I’m just going to have a good dinner with my team. Maybe some alcohol, but not too much. I have my flight tomorrow to Auckland. That’s the tennis life.”
Nishikori, who will rise to No 74 from 106 when the rankings update on Monday, admitted his challenge had fallen away.
“I started really well … then I kind of backed up little bit,” he said. “I don’t think I was terrible, but compared with the first set, I think I was too defensive.
“I got nervous and I got tired, too … he kept fighting until the end.”
A nearly full Centre Court had been bubbling with anticipation, with a slight majority in crowd support for Nishikori – who reached the showpiece when Chinese teen Jerry Shang Juncheng retired from their semi-final.
The pair traded blows like heavyweight boxers early on, with only three of eight games in the first set not going to deuce. The difference came from 12-time ATP title winner Nishikori being able to convert two of his five break points, while Muller could force only one, which he failed to win as he went down 6-2.
Muller was left having to come back yet again, and he did just that. The second went with serve for the first two games before the Frenchman hit the gas, winning five games in a row to take it 6-1.

A pivotal moment in the deciding third set came with the scores at 3-3, when Muller broke, returning serve right on the sideline and sending Nishikori sprawling. He then held his service game to love before breaking once more to clinch victory.
Earlier, the event’s highest-ranked player, last year’s champion Andrey Rublev, still had a final to play despite his second-round singles exit.
He and fellow Russian Karen Khachanov contested the doubles final, but were beaten 7-5, 4-6, 10-7 by Sander Arends of the Netherlands and Britain’s Luke Johnson.


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Rublev will give Djokovic positive Hong Kong Open message, but Russian unsure over return

Hong Kong Tennis Open winner tells city’s No 1 Coleman Wong where to focus for success

Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open

Comeback king Alexandre Muller beats Kei Nishikori to win Hong Kong Tennis Open

Alexandre Muller holds the trophy after winning the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open at Victoria Park. Photo: Dickson Lee

Alexandre Muller is elated as he wins the Hong Kong Open at Victoria Park. Photo: Dickson Lee

Members of the public try Pickleball in the fan zone at Victoria Park. Photo: Dickson Lee

China’s Shang Juncheng retires ill during Hong Kong Tennis Open semi-final, crowd stunned

Jerry Shang before his retirement from his semi-final against Kei Nishikori of Japan. Photo: Dickson Lee

Jerry Shang waves to the crowd as he departs after retiring in his semi-final at Victoria Park. Photo: Dickson Lee

Kei Nishikori plays a shot against Jerry Shang before their semi-final was halted. Photo: Dickson Lee

Alexandre Muller in action against Jaume Munar in the first semi-final. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong Tennis Open: home hope Coleman Wong says event helped him in top-100 push

Coleman Wong in men’s doubles action at the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Wong has set his sights on the top 100 and qualifying for a grand slam event. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Jerry Shang Juncheng is in the world’s top 50 at the age of 19. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open: Shang ‘mentally stronger’ this year – but Rublev out

Shang Juncheng celebrates a point against Pedro Martinez at Victoria Park Tennis Centre on Thursday. Photo: Elson Li

Shang Juncheng hits an overhead shot during his win over Spain’s Pedro Martinez. Photo: Elson Li

Lorenzo Musetti plays a shot at the net during his win over Gabriel Diallo. Photo: Elson Li

Sport

Hong Kong

Tennis

Frenchman edges Japanese veteran in thrilling final at Victoria Park, after Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov earlier lose doubles decider


Frenchman edges Japanese veteran in thrilling final at Victoria Park, after Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov earlier lose doubles decider.


ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals)