Daniil Medvedev had to produce his best performance of the week to get the better of Denis Shapovalov in the final of the Vienna Open and afterwards he dedicated his title to his wife after she gave birth to their first child.
The top seed had been in cruise control for much of the week in Austria as he reached the final on the back of four straight-set wins, but he found himself up against on Sunday.
Shapovalov was quick out of the blocks as he took the opening set, but Medvedev bounced back and found his A-game to secure a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory in two hours and 18 minutes.
The Canadian broke in games three and five to go 4-1 up although Medvedev got a look back into the set when he claimed one break back in game six. Shapovalov, though, served it out.
It was all Medvedev in the third set as he raced into a 4-1 lead with two breaks. Shapovalov saved three match points in game seven and three more on the Russian’s serve in the next game, but it was seventh time lucky for Medvedev.
“I’m gonna dedicate [this title] to my wife because she gave me the most beautiful present ever – my daughter,” the former world No 1, who became a father earlier this month, said in his victory speech.
“I was there and these emotions are much more than winning any title.”