American Marcos Giron stops top-seeded Dan Evans in San Diego for first ATP final

American Marcos Giron, the No 3 seed, won against top seed Daniel Evans 6-3, 7-5 to reach the final of the San Diego Open at the Barnes Tennis Centre on Saturday night.

Giron, ranked No 58, will play the winner of the match between American Brandon Nakashima, the No 5 seed, and Australian Christopher O’Connell next.

“It’s amazing to play here,” the Thousand Oaks, California said on court. “It’s an incredible atmosphere.”

Giron, a former NCAA champion at UCLA who is currently ranked 58, needed an hour and 46 minutes to take down Evans. He hit 11 aces and won 80 percent of his first serve points against the world No 25.

“That was a really tough match,” Giron said. “I’ve played Dan a couple of times and he has beaten me twice, so coming into this I knew it was going to be a tough match.”

The American saved all three break points he faced and converted two of five – one in each set – against the Brit.

“Coming into this match I know I’ve done really well under pressure, so I just want to keep that going,” Giron said.

If he can win the title on Sunday, Giron will rise to a career-high ranking of 44.

He will bid to become the 11th first-time title winner on the ATP Tour in 2022.

ATP Tour, first-time winners, 2022 (age, event)

• Thanasi Kokkinakis 25, Adelaide-2 
• Alexander Bublik 24, Montpellier 
• Felix Auger-Aliassime 21, Rotterdam 
• Pedro Martinez 24, Santiago 
• Holger Rune 19, Munich 
• Sebastian Baez 21, Estoril 
• Tim van Rijthoven 25, ‘s-Hertogenbosch 
• Francisco Cerundolo 23, Bastad 
• Maxime Cressy 24, Newport 
• Lorenzo Musetti 20, Hamburg

Earlier in the tournament, the American beat Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry (6-4, 6-3) and Australian James Duckworth, the No 7 seed (7-6 (5), 6-3).

Evans, ranked No 25, defeated Japanese Taro Daniel (6-4, 6-4) and Frenchman Constant Lestienne (6-1, 6-3) in the previous rounds of the San Diego.

San Diego ATP 250, other semi-final result (Barnes Tennis Centre, hard, USD 612.000):

• Brandon Nakashima vs. Christopher O’Connell

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