Alexander Bublik delivered a serving masterclass on Sunday to energy to victory on the European Open.

The third-seeded Kazakhstani beat #NextGenATP Frenchman Arthur Fils 6-4, 6-4 in Antwerp to assert his second tour-level title of the season. Bublik clinched a decisive break of Fils’ serve in every set and saved all three break factors he confronted to enhance to 3-6 in ATP Tour finals.

“I used to be just about serving all match,” mentioned Bublik in his on-court interview. “I informed Arthur I used to be very fortunate to beat him in a remaining earlier than he turns into the following large factor. That was the one possibility I had, and I executed it properly.”

The 26-year-old maintained his rhythm behind his supply all week en path to the trophy. After dropping simply one among 37 factors behind first serve to propel himself to a 75-minute victory towards Fils, Bublik lifted the trophy on the Belgian ATP 250 having gained 136 of 148 factors behind first serve throughout his run.

Bublik takes a bow 😅@EuroTennisOpen | #EuropeanOpen pic.twitter.com/339T7AeQnk

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 22, 2023

Bublik additionally gained a tour-level crown on indoor exhausting courts in Montpellier in 2022, whereas he added a grass-court ATP 500 trophy to his tally in June by successful in Halle. The Kazakhstani will rise six spots to No. 30 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings on Monday on account of his Antwerp run, simply 5 spots shy of his career-high.

“Truthfully, once we gained the second title, I [said to my coach], ‘Possibly that’s it, perhaps we’ll by no means win one other one’,” joked Bublik. “It was the best feeling ever, so being right here once more, successful one other title, it means the world to me.”

Regardless of defeat, Fils stays an almost-certain qualifier for the season-ending Subsequent Gen ATP Finals. The 19-year-old is fifth within the Pepperstone ATP Stay Race To Jeddah, and is now inside 207 factors of Lorenzo Musetti in fourth.