World number 14 Grigor Dimitrov ended a title drought spanning six years by defeating Holger Rune in the Brisbane International on Sunday. Clinching his ninth ATP Tour title, Dimitrov beat Rune 7-6(5), 6-4 in a tightly-contested encounter.
The Bulgarian clinched his first title since the Nitto ATP Finals in 2017. Dimitrov has won the most number of matches at the Brisbane International (23).
The Bulgarian held his nerve to win a tense first set in the tiebreak, against the world number eight. Despite the intensity of Dimitrov’s performance, Rune didn’t show signs of yielding. The Danish player made clever use of his service game to keep himself in contention throughout the match.
Showing exceptional resolve, Rune managed to save three championship points, holding the score for a tenacious 4-5. However, Dimitrov’s relentless attack proved too much in the end, securing him the Brisbane International title and ending his long wait for an ATP Tour accolade.
Speaking after his win, an emotional Dimitrov said it’s been a while since he held an AP trophy, insisting that his love affair with Brisbane has continued.
“It’s been a while since I held one of these, it’s a bit emotional. My love affair started here many years ago in Brisbane and it continues. I’m very thankful to lift the trophy again,” said Dimitrov.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Rune said he is hoping to go a step further at the Australian Open, which is set to begin on January 14.
“It’s a great start to the year and we have a lot to build on. Hopefully we can go one step further at the Australian Open,” said Rune.
Dimitrov’s triumph pushed him up to the 13th spot in the ATP rankings, as he tries to push for a place in the top-10 for the first time since October 2018.