American Tommy Paul wins 1st ATP title at Stockholm Open

STOCKHOLM (AP) - Tommy Paul won the first ATP Tour title of his career, beating Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 to capture the Stockholm Open on Saturday.

The American player concluded the week of his life as a professional - during which he beat Andy Murray and compatriots Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe - by closing into the net on the back of a big first serve and hitting a winner on his third championship point.

Paul - wearing his cap back to front - only won two of his 12 break points against the defending champion, the big one coming at 4-4 in the third set when, at 0-40, he stretched to send a backhand down the line that Shapovalov of Canada couldn't return at the net.

'œIt took my best tennis to beat Denis,'ť Paul said. 'œIt's the most fun I've had playing a tennis tournament.'ť

The No. 52-ranked Paul is assured of breaking into the world's top 50 after this week. He won the boys' singles title at the French Open in 2015.

'œIt was just a matter of time when he got a week like this,'ť said Shapovalov, who was defending the title he won in 2019.

The 2020 event was canceled because of the coronavirus outbreak.

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