By Daily Sports on January 13, 2019
American Tennys Sandgren was left speechless on Saturday after claiming his first ATP tour title with a comprehensive straight sets win over Britain’s Cameron Norrie in the Auckland Classic final.
The 27-year-old Sandgren took just 79 minutes to beat Norrie 6-4, 6-2 to round out a remarkable week of tennis without dropping a set.
“I’m a little lost for words,” a relieved Sandgren said when a Norrie service return went over the baseline to end the match.
“A lot of work, a lot of training, a lot of sacrifice goes into even making a final and to get a win, I’m speechless.”
In a tournament in which none of the seeded players made it to the final four, Sandgren was playing only his second ATP final — having lost in Houston last year — while it was the first for wildcard entrant Norrie.
Sandgren said his extra experience counted.
“I left that match thinking I played a really good one but I left something on the table. Mentally, I wasn’t as good as I could have been so I didn’t want to leave today thinking that I could have been more solid upstairs.”
But there was no hiding the nerves for both players with 29 unforced errors from Norrie and 17 from Sandgren, a quarter-finalist in the Australian Open last year.
Norrie was in trouble at the start of match when he dropped his serve in the opening game.
The New Zealand-raised Briton broke back to level at 2-2 then immediately dropped his serve a second time, as Sandgren sealed the set with an ace.
Sandgren had too much power and accuracy for Norrie in the second set, breaking him twice before securing the match.
It was the first time Sandgren had beaten Norrie in their past four encounters. (NAN)
•Photo shows Tennys Sandgren
Source Daily Sports
Posted January 13, 2019
You may also like...
Enyimba’ll be champions again – Ogunbote
Mikel Rules Out Trabzonspor Return
Atseye, Quadre Win Rainoil Tennis Open
Barcelona defender Pique: Real Madrid chose right with...
Naomi Osaka Hits Ground Running In Melbourne With...
18th Milo Secondary School Basketball Championship: Kogi complete...

Lookman battles Onyedika in UCL knockout play-off
Osimhen’s Galatasaray thrash Juve 5-2 in UCL first leg playoff
Para-badminton star Bolaji emerges World No. 1 after Bahrain tourney
Falcons to face Cameroon in pre-WAFCON friendlies
Ondo athletes eye Niger Delta Games top spot
Onyekwere-Lyons eyes double Commonwealth Games glory
Priestly Ordination: Igbawase Irotier Family Now Has A Priest
W’Cup: Nigeria’s wait continues as FIFA delays DR Congo verdict
Athletes protest as Ogun award N474m for NSF medallists
Eagles to face Jordan in March friendly
Senegal coach hails Falconets strength in W’Cup qualifier defeat
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,563 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,870 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,781 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,419 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,334 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,253 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,121 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,669 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,839 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,369 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,761 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,229 views)