MUNICH — Jan-Lennard Struff won his first title with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Taylor Fritz in the BMW Open final Sunday.
“To do it on home soil is just incredible,” Struff said. “I waited so long. I’m 33 years old and played so long on tour. It’s just an amazing feeling to do it here in Germany.”
The 28th-ranked German player had lost his previous three appearances in finals, but he converted 5 of 11 break points against Fritz to win in 1 hour, 19 minutes.
The ATP website said Struff became the third-oldest first-time champion, at 33 years, 11 months, since the tour was established in 1990.
Struff beat defending champion Holger Rune 6-2, 6-0 in the semifinals.
Fritz was playing his first tour-level final on clay. The American was looking for his second trophy of the season after winning at Delray Beach.