Paul, Khachanov, Bautista Agut prevail in ATP 250 finals

Tommy Paul, Karen Khachanov and Roberto Bautista Agut each claimed ATP 250 titles on Sunday, with the trio winning finals in Stockholm, Almaty and Antwerp, respectively.

The 36-year-old Bautista Agut became the oldest man to win an ATP tournament this season when he prevailed over Czech Jiri Lehecka at the European Open in Belgium.

The Spaniard, who has been ranked as high as No.9 in the world, wound back the clock to race past Lehecka 7-5, 6-1 in just one hour, 15 minutes.

Despite being an underdog at tennis bookmakers heading into the final, Bautista Agut made just five unforced errors and broke Lehecka four times.

Afterwards, he shared that the road to his 12th career title was not a straightforward one.

“This one is very special,” he said.

“I broke my foot last year and I had to fight so hard this year.

“I went back to 120 in the world, but I was still going to practice with a smile on my face, trying to be a better player, to fight until the end of my career.

“I think I deserved a week like this.”

Another player who has come back from injury this season is Almaty champion Khachanov, who won 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 over Canada’s Gabriel Diallo.

“A lot of emotions, now I’m relieved and super happy,” Khachanov said after winning his seventh career title.

“You can’t expect a final to be easy, without tension, but it was until 6-2, 4-2.

“Then he started to relax, go for his shots a little bit more, and he suddenly turned the match around.”

Diallo was chasing his first-ever title on the ATP Tour, and despite the loss, the 23-year-old will jump to a career-high world ranking of No.87.

Over in Sweden, it was a battle of previous champions between Paul and world No.10 Grigor Dimitrov.

Paul rose to the challenge, reclaiming the Stockholm Open for the first time since 2021 with a brilliant 6-4, 6-3 win.

The American did not drop a set all week in Stockholm, while he hit 19 winners to 14 unforced errors and converted four of eight break points in the final.

“I feel like every match I played a little bit better and better,” Paul said.

“Today I came out playing amazing, so I was definitely happy with the performance.”

The victory not only bags Paul a fourth career title, but it improves his chances of making the ATP Finals for the first time.

He sits 10th in the race to Turin, leapfrogging Dimitrov and hovering 495 points shy of qualification.

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