Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut claimed the first title of his career at the ATP/WTA grasscourt event in The Netherlands on Saturday, just hours after Coco Vandeweghe clinched her maiden success on the same court.
Bautista Agut, the world number 28, came from a set down to beat 2009 champion Benjamin Becker of Germany 2-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 in just under two hours as he continued his breakout season.
The Spaniard, who entered the world’s top 30 for the first time last month, was forced to do things the hard way, though, as Becker raced through the opening set courtesy of two service breaks with Bautista Agut’s second serve coming in for heavy punishment.
The second set was much tighter with a tie-break required to separate the players and it was Bautista Agut who held his nerve as Becker faltered, forcing a decider.
Becker hammered an ace to save break point in the opening game of the final set but Bautista Agut made the crucial breakthrough two games later before shutting the door on his rival to earn his first ATP title, going a step further than he did a year ago in Chennai.
“It took me a while to recover from a very long match yesterday and I was getting better and better after the first set,” said Bautista.
“I was more focused and started to feel better physically. I was trying not to think too much and play my game point by point.
“It was the same nervousness as every match. I played calm and aggressive in the last game. I had to celebrate hard (after match point) and enjoy the moment.”
Earlier, American Vandeweghe also lifted her first title following a 6-2 6-4 victory over China’s Zheng Jie .
Vandeweghe, who had to come through the qualifiers just to reach the main draw, was dominant on serve throughout and capitalised on two breaks of serve in the first set before making a lone break count in the second on her way to capturing the trophy.
“I usually take tournaments one match at a time, so early in the week I was just focused on being prepared for my first match in the qualification.
“Once I took care of that first match I just went from there, and I got more and more comfortable on the courts.
“I was trying not to think about it being a final today. I got the first set and I thought to myself, ‘One set to the good, one more to go, try and get the early break now and keep the pressure on her.'” said an elated Vandeweghe, whose only previous appearance in a WTA final came at Stanford two years ago when she lost to Serena Williams.
The world number 69 will head to Wimbledon next week looking to advance beyond the first round for the first time after early exits in her three previous attempts.
She will face French Open quarter-finalist Garbine Muguruza of Spain, the woman she beat on Thursday in the Dutch quarter-finals, in her opening match at the All England Club.