MARSEILLE, France, Feb. 23-- Stefanos Tsitsipas defended an ATP Tour title for the first time on Sunday, outlasting Canadian rising star Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-4 to win his second trophy at Open 13 Provence in Marseille. Auger-Aliassime, however, has to wait for his maiden ATP title after two final defeats in as many weeks. The 19-year-old teenager lost to French star Gael Monfils one week ago in Rotterdam's final. The second seed and world number six broke for three times and saved four of five break points to take the victory in 86 minutes. "I played a good quality of tennis today and I showed everyone what I am capable of," Tsitsipas said, "Serving well returning well, just being there being every single ball, executing, dominating and being clever in my decision-making". After a stellar performance in last year's ATP Tour Finals in London, where he went all the way to the final and beat Austrian Dominic Thiem to lift the trophy, the Greek young gunner Tsitsipas has undergone a slow start in the new season, arriving in Marseille with a 3-4 losing record. "I am proud of the fact that mentally I didn't even crack, not once," said the 21-year-old, "I didn't crack when I was under pressure." Despite the defeat in the final, the fifth time in his career, Auger-Aliassime also had an impressive week in the Southern France city, saving five match points on his way to stay to the last day. |