It was finals day at the Garanti Koza Sofia Open on Day Seven, with two singles players and two doubles pairings looking to become the first ever ATP champions in Sofia. The doubles was first up on the Centre Court, with the singles finale bringing the first edition of the event to a close.

Bautista Agut Clinches His Second Title Of 2016

Bautista Agut was on his way to another title in 2016 (Photo: Garanti Koza Sofia Open)
Bautista Agut was on his way to another title in 2016 (Photo: Garanti Koza Sofia Open)

The singles final was played out between the two top seeds, as Roberto Bautista Agut and Viktor Troicki were aiming to win their second titles of the year. Both players had been in strong form all week with Bautista-Agut not needing a third set at all, whilst Troicki only dropped the one set before the final.

The match started in quiet fashion, as each player held for a 4-3 lead to the Spaniard Bautista Agut. He was the man threatening to break for the first time, and secured the advantage in the following game, taking his first break point opportunity before serving the set out to 30 to take the lead. Both players were struggling to make real inroads in their return games, but the pressure of Bautista Agut winning all 12 of his first serve points told on Troicki, who couldn’t save the one opportunity he gave away.

Bautista Agut Secures Victory

The finalists pose with their respective trophies (Photo: Garanti Koza Sofia Open)
The finalists pose with their respective trophies (Photo: Garanti Koza Sofia Open)

The pressure was placed upon the Serb’s first service game of the second, surrendering the early break which seemed to put Bautista Agut on his way to a comfortable victory. Out of nowhere Troicki broke back, but wasted two game points on his next service game to give away the advantage again. He needed to break back fast, but it was himself having to fend off the pressure as Bautista Agut looked for a match-winning second. As it turned out, just the one break advantage was enough, as the Auckland winner went on to lift his second title of 2016 on his second match point.

It was another terrific tournament for the 27-year-old, who maintains his fifth spot in the ATP Race rankings. Troicki edges into the top-eight also, rising to sixth from a previous-eleventh.

Koolhof And Middelkoop Lift Their First Trophy Together

Koolhof and Middelkoop stand with their first title together (Photo: Garanti Koza Sofia Open)
Koolhof and Middelkoop stand with their first title together (Photo: Garanti Koza Sofia Open)

The comeback kings of the week Wesley Koolhof and Matwe Middelkoop saved another match point to become the first winners of the Garanti Koza Sofia Open doubles event. The Dutch pair saved faced two match points in yesterday’s semifinal, going on to win a place in the final through a champions tie-break, and had to do the same today.

Their opponent’s Philipp Oswald and Adil Shamasdin, raced into a set and a break lead, only to give life back to the third-seeded pair almost immediately. They had a match point on return but failed to take advantage, eventually leading to a deciding third set champions tie-break. Both doubles teams had faced deciding third sets in each of their last two matches, including the Dutch pair having featured in one during every one of their matches throughout the week. Just like the previous three times they prevailed, taking full control at 5-5 to clinch the set 10-6. It was the pair’s fifth final together, with today’s clash being their first ever success on the ATP Tour.

Looking Ahead To Next Week

Rafael Nadal is back in action in Argentina next week (Photo: The Indian Express)
Rafael Nadal is back in action in Argentina next week (Photo: The Indian Express)

The ATP World Tour progresses onto Rotterdam, Memphis and Buenos Aires next week, including the first clay event in the Argentinian City. Rafael Nadal looks to improve on a disappointing start to 2016, and enters Argentina as the event’s top seed. Kei Nishikori arrives in Memphis as their top seed, with Rotterdam having recent Montpellier champion Richard Gasquet as their premier player, as Roger Federer had to pull out due to undergoing knee surgery.

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About the author
James Froud
Recent graduate with a strong interest in sports journalism. Huge sports fan, with strong passions in Football, Rugby and Tennis.