Emotional Grigor Dimitrov after Brisbane International final victory over Holger Rune: “It’s been a while since I held one of these. I’m fairly tired and I’ll take a few days off but I’m really happy to be in Australia. I’ll keep on going and yeah, onto the next one.”
The best of the action from the Men’s Brisbane International final between Grigor Dimitrov and Holger Rune
Grigor Dimitrov beat Holger Rune 7-6 (5) 6-4 in a tightly-fought battle of the top seeds in the Brisbane International final which stretched over two hours and contained only one break of serve.
Dimitrov, ranked 14th in the world and second seed in Brisbane, claimed his ninth career title with victory and his first since the ATP finals in 2017.
The third game of the first set was indicative of the close struggle. Rune held serve in a game of nine deuces and seven game points, finally fending off a break point at 2-1, 30-40 in a rally of 33 shots.
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The 32-year-old Dimitrov finally broke Rune in the eighth game of the second set to lead 4-3. Rune saved two match points in the next game, in which he had a time violation and served an ace at 30-40.
Dimitrov falls to the floor against Rune but gets up to win the point in the Brisbane International final
Dimitrov then took the next game to love, serving his eighth ace of the match and finishing on his third match point. Rune had nine aces but also three double faults. The eighth-ranked 20-year-old was bidding for his fifth career title.
Dimitrov, winner in Brisbane six years ago, saved three break points in the match while Rune saved eight of nine.
“It’s been a while since I held one of these,” an emotional Dimitrov said after receiving the trophy for the second time after his 2017 Brisbane triumph.