Skip to main content

Lucky loser Andrey Rublev of Russia wins Croatia Open

  • Author:
  • Publish date:

UMAG, Croatia (AP) Lucky loser Andrey Rublev of Russia defeated fourth-seeded Paolo Lorenzi of Italy 6-4, 6-2 to win the Croatia Open on Sunday.

The 19-year-old Rublev broke the 35-year-old Italian twice for a decisive 5-2 lead in the second set before serving the match out to claim his first ATP title.

The 74th-ranked Russian became the first lucky loser to win an ATP title since Rajeev Ram of the United States won in Newport in 2009, according to the ATP world tour web site.

Rublev jumped to a commanding 4-1 lead in the opening set and held on, despite dropping a service game.

He cruised through the tournament, losing just one set to defending champion Fabio Fognini in his quarterfinal 6-7 (5), 6-2, 7-6 (2) victory over the Italian.

© 2024 ABG-SI LLC. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC. - All Rights Reserved. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators’ opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. Gambling content intended for 21+. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.