By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday July 21, 2024

 

Marcos Giron saved a championship point late in the third set to defeat Alex Michelsen at the Hall of Fame Open.

Photo Source: TTV

Marcos Giron stepped to the service line, staring down the barrel of a championship point, in the third set of Sunday’s Hall of Fame Open final against Alex Michelsen in Newport.



He calmly smashed an ace down the T and never looked back, earning a 6-7(4), 6-3, 7-5 triumph for his first ATP title.

At 30 years old, Giron has been through a lot to get to this moment, including surgeries on both hips between 2015 and 2016. How did he feel about finally finishing a week as a winner on tour?

"Better late than never,” he said, a giant smile emanating.

Giron, the 2014 NCAA men’s singles champion at UCLA, has been a steady force inside the Top 100 since 2020, never dropping out for a single week since the 2020 US Open. Now he’s looking to become a steady force inside the Top-40. He will rise to No.38 in Monday’s ATP ranking – a career-high.



Giron saved eight of nine break points and rallied from a set down to win for the third time this week. He hit 13 aces in total, against zero for Michelsen, and won 55 of 67 first-serve points.

He saved all four of the break points he faced across the second and third sets and converted a single break in the second and third to get over the hump against the 61st-ranked California native.

Michelsen, who has now reached the final in consecutive years at Newport, has developed rapport with Giron on the practice courts of late.

The 19-year-old American was bidding to become the youngest American ATP title winner since Andy Roddick at Houston in 2002, but couldn’t finish off a determined Giron.

"Honestly, Alex, unbelievable tournament, unbelievable match," Giron told Michelsen after his triumph. "We've been practising together. On court, he's so mature, he's so good. He's got such a bright future. I'm happy to get the win now while I can!"