By Tennis Now | Sunday, September 24, 2017

 

Qualifier Peter Gojowczyk dismantled Benoit Paire, 7-5, 6-2, winning Metz and becoming the first German champion in the tournament's 15-year history.

Photo credit: Arnaud Bantquin/Moselle Open Facebook

French dominance has marked Metz’s 15-year-history.

German qualifier Peter Gojowczyk struck a major blow for first-timers.

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Playing his first career ATP final, Gojowczyk dismissed seventh-seeded Benoit Paire, 7-5, 6-2, capturing his maiden championship at the Moselle Open.

The 28-year-old Gojowczyk is the first qualifier to lift an ATP title trophy since Nicolas Mahut won the 2015 ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

The world No. 95 is the first German to win the Metz title in the tournament’s 15-year history.

Paire was playing to become the eighth Frenchman in the last nine years—and 10th Frenchman overall—to win Metz.



Gojowczyk halted the French connection with some timely strikes down the line. Gojowczyk, who lost his lone prior main-draw match with Paire, 6-2, 6-4, in Stuttgart in June, turned the tables.

Gojowczyk defeated three-seeded players—eighth-seeded Gilles Simon, fifth-seeded compatriot Mischa Zverev and the No. 7-seeded Paire—en route to the title. He won seven matches in eight days, including two qualifying-round victories.