Marcos Giron claimed his first ATP title in Newport a couple of days ahead of his 31st birthday. In an all-American final, Giron saved a match point and ousted Alex Michelsen 6-7, 6-3, 7-5 in two hours and 37 minutes, fending off a match point and lifting the trophy.
Michelsen lost his second consecutive Newport final, standing a point away in the decider and allowing Giron to rattle off three games and emerge at the top. Marcos fired 13 aces and made the difference behind the first serve.
The more experienced American defended eight out of nine break points, including that pivotal match point in the tenth game of the decider. Michelsen struggled behind the initial shot, facing 13 break points and suffering three breaks, finishing runner-up despite having his opportunities.
Marcos grabbed 14 points more, earning that advantage in the shortest exchanges up to four strokes thanks to a higher number of unreturned serves.
Michelsen made a slow start, denying two break points in the first game of the encounter before Giron earned the third with a backhand down the line winner. Alex netted a backhand, losing serve and falling behind. Marcos produced two fine holds, landing a service winner in game four for a hold at love and a 3-1 lead.
The young gun generated three break points in the sixth game, converting the second with a forced error and pulling the break back for 3-3. Michelsen held after a deuce in the seventh game and earned a massive chance to move in front after three break points in the next one.
Marcos Giron prevailed over Alex Michelsen in the Newport final.
Marcos stayed focused and denied them, bringing the game home and leveling the score at 4-4.
They served well in games nine and ten before Alex faced more issues behind the initial shot at 5-5. Michelsen saved two break points and denied them, clinching the game with a service winner for a 6-5 lead. The set went into a tie break, and Alex stepped in and gained a 5-1 advantage with three mini-breaks.
Giron denied two set points at 2-6 before Michelsen seized the third with a forehand down the line winner, moving closer to the title after 58 minutes. Facing the exit door, Marcos played against two break points in the third game of the second set, saving them and remaining on the positive side.
The more experienced American made a push on the return in the next one, landing a backhand crosscourt winner and opening a 3-1 gap. Alex served to stay in the set at 2-5 and faced three set points.
He denied them and held, prolonging the action before Marcos wrapped up the second part of the duel with a powerful serve at 5-3, forcing a decider after an hour and 41 minutes. They served well in the opening five games of the third set, with Michelsen opening a 3-2 lead.
Giron saved a break point in the sixth game and faced the ultimate challenge at 4-5. Serving to stay in the match, Marcos faced a match point after Alex’s volley and a forced error.
Giron landed an ace down the T line, erasing it in style and holding for 5-5. Marcos fired a forehand winner in the 11th game, creating two break chances and missing them after Alex’s powerful serves. Giron converted the third match point with a forced error, moving 6-5 in front and serving for the title.
Michelsen netted a routine backhand, offering Giron two more match points. Marcos seized the second with an ace, celebrating his first ATP title in the last edition of the ATP Newport event.