Huesler becomes first Swiss man since Federer to win title on ATP Tour

Huesler, 26, became the first Swiss player to win a men’s tour-level title since Roger Federer lifted the trophy at his hometown event in Basel in 2019.

Switzerland’s Marc-Andrea Huesler beat Danish teenager Holger Rune on Sunday to win his first-ever ATP Tour title in Sofia, Bulgaria. | Photo Credit: AP

Switzerland’s Marc-Andrea Huesler captured his first ATP Tour title on Sunday by defeating Danish teenager Holger Rune 6-4, 7-6 (8) in the final of the Sofia Open.

Huesler, 26, became the first Swiss player to win a men’s tour-level title since Roger Federer lifted the trophy at his hometown event in Basel in 2019.

A dream realised! 🇨🇭🏆

The moment Marc-Andrea Huesler became the 1⃣2⃣th first-time ATP Tour winner of 2022!#SofiaOpenpic.twitter.com/DlkK7AeKJi

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 2, 2022

“I am completely taken aback. I am lost for words,” the 95th-ranked Huesler said in his on-court interview.

“It was a great match. I just tried to stay focused, stayed calm and I am just really happy I was able to make it.”

The left-handed Huesler, who saved two match points against Kamil Majchrzak in the quarterfinals, took the first set after breaking in the opening game of the match against the 19-year-old Rune.

The Dane was chasing his second career title after winning in Munich on clay at the start of May. Rune had four set points in the second set but Huesler saved them all before sealing the biggest win of his career.

First-time ATP Tour title winners in 2022

PLAYER	NATIONALITY	TOURNAMENT	OPPONENT
THANASI KOKKINAKIS	AUSTRALIAN	ATP250 ADELAIDE I	BEAT ARTHUR RINDERKNECH (FRA) 6-7 (6), 7-6 (5), 6-3
ALEXANDER BUBLIK	KAZAKH	ATP250 MONTPELLIER	BEAT ALEXANDER ZVEREV (GER) 6-4, 6-3
FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME	CANADIAN	ATP500 ROTTERDAM	BEAT STEFANOS TSITSIPAS (GRE) 6-4, 6-2
PEDRO MARTINEZ	SPANISH	ATP250 SANTIAGO	BEAT SEBASTIAN BAEZ (ARG) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
HOLGER RUNE	DANISH	ATP250 MUNICH	BEAT BOTIC VAN DE ZANDSCHULP (NED) 3-4 RETD.
SEBASTIAN BAEZ	ARGENTINE	ATP250 ESTORIL	BEAT FRANCES TIAFOE (USA) 6-3, 6-2
TIM VAN RIJTHOVEN	DUTCH	ATP250 'S-HERTOGENBOSCH	BEAT DANIIL MEDVEDEV (RUS) 6-4, 6-1
FRANCISCO CERUNDOLO	ARGENTINE	ATP250 BASTAD	BEAT SEBASTIAN BAEZ (ARG) 7-6 (4), 6-2
MAXIME CRESSY	AMERICAN	ATP250 NEWPORT	BEAT ALEXANDER BUBLIK (KAZ) 2-6,6-3, 7-6 (3)
LORENZO MUSETTI	ITALIAN	ATP500 HAMBURG	BEAT CARLOS ALCARAZ (ESP) 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-4
BRANDON NAKASHIMA	AMERICAN	ATP250 SAN DIEGO	BEAT MARCOS GIRON (USA) 6-4, 6-4
MARC-ANDREA HUESLER	SWISS	ATP250 SOFIA	BEAT HOLGER RUNE (DEN) 6-4, 7-6 (8)