Hurkacz beats Paire for 1st ATP World Tour title

Posted August 24, 2019 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Hubert Hurkacz, of Poland, holds his trophy after winning the Winston-Salem Open tennis tournament over Benoit Paire, of France, in Winston-Salem, N.C., Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) The Associated Press

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) - Hubert Hurkacz claimed his first ATP World Tour title Saturday night, holding off top-seeded Benoit Paire for a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory.

The 22-year-old Hurkacz became the 14th first-time champion on the tour this year and the first Polish player to win a tour-level tournament since 1982, when Wojtek Fibak won in Chicago.

He broke serve five times in denying Paire, a 30-year-old Frenchman ranked 30th in the world and seeded 29th at the U.S. Open, his third tournament title of the year.

Hurkacz beat four straight seeded opponents in central North Carolina to earn 250 ATP ranking points and $96,505 in prize money. He began the tournament ranked 41st in the world - one spot below his career high set earlier this month - and is likely to surpass that level in the new rankings Monday.

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Hubert Hurkacz, of Poland, serves to Benoit Paire, of France, in the championship match of the Winston-Salem Open tennis tournament in Winston-Salem, N.C., Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019. Hurkacz won 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) The Associated Press

Hubert Hurkacz, of Poland, hits a forehand to Benoit Paire, of France, in the championship match of the Winston-Salem Open tennis tournament in Winston-Salem, N.C., Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019. Hurkacz won 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) The Associated Press

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