Swiss surprise Huesler lifts the trophy in Sofia, defeats Rune

Swiss Marc-Andrea Huesler won the Sofia Open trophy by beating Dane Holger Rune, the No 5 seed, 6-4, 7-6 (8) at the Arena Armeec Sofia on Sunday.

It is Huesler’s first ATP title – and he is the first Swiss man to claim an ATP trophy since Roger Federer in Basel in 2019. Huesler, aged 26 and ranked No 95 when the tournament began, is one of the most surprising newcomers on the Tour this year. He was never in the The Top 100 before July, starting the season ranked No183.

His road to the semi-finals of Winston Salem in August, as a qualifier, showed his potential at the Tour level. Sofia was only his twelth appearance in the main draw of an ATP Tour tournament.

The Swiss is the 12th first-time ATP titlist in 2022.

All 12 first-time titles winners on the ATP Tour, 2022

• 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 
• Brandon Nakashima 21 San Diego 
• Marc-Andrea Huesler 26 Sofia

Huesler defeated French qualifier Geoffrey Blancaneaux (6-4, 6-4), Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, the second seed (6-3, 3-6, 6-2), Pole Kamil Majchrzak (6-7 (4), 7-6 (6), 6-3) and Italian Lorenzo Musetti, the No 4 seed (7-6 (5), 7-5) ahead of his final. He is expected to be ranked No 64 on Monday.

Rune, ranked No 31, defeated Dutchman Tim van Rijthoven (7-6 (2), 7-6 (6)), Italian Lorenzo Sonego (6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-3), Belarusian Ilya Ivashka (6-2, 5-7, 6-4) and Italian Jannik Sinner, the top seed (5-7, 6-4, 5-2 ret.). Rune, soon ATP No26, is now preparing for a match-up against Carlos Alcaraz at the first round of the Astana Open.

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