Quentin Halys blasts 17 aces, wins Generali Open for first crown

VIENNA (Agencies): Frenchman Quentin Halys delivered 17 aces and earned his first career title with a solid 6-4, 7-6 (6) victory over defending ​champion Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan in the Generali Open ‌final at Kitzbuhel, Austria on Saturday. Halys, 29, turned pro in 2012 and had played in just other ATP final — losing to Italy’s Matteo ​Berrettini in the 2024 Swiss Open. Halys won 86.8% ​of his first-serve points (33 of 38) and didn’t face ⁠a single break point. Top-seeded Bublik led 6-5 in the second-set ​tiebreaker but couldn’t convert a set point. Halys then scored two ​more points to finish the match. Bublik had six aces and saved 5 of 6 break points. He hadn’t lost a set this week prior ​to the title match and was looking for his 10th ​career ATP crown.

Estoril Open

Fourth-seeded Alexander Blockx of Belgium rallied for a 5-7, ‌7-6 (1), ⁠7-6 (5) victory over second-seeded Luciano Darderi of Italy in the semifinals at Portugal to reach the first ATP final of his career. Blockx, 21, recorded eight aces and saved 8 of 14 ​break points while ​sliding past Darderi. ⁠In the third-set tiebreaker, Darderi scored the first four points before Blockx turned things around ​and won seven of eight to close the ​match. Blockx will ⁠face Luca Van Assche, who posted a 6-4, 7-5 victory over fellow Frenchman Hugo Gaston. Van Assche won the final two ⁠games to ​close out the match in straight ​sets. The final will also be the first for the 22-year-old Van Assche. The ​win over Gaston came in his first ATP semifinal.