Alexandre Muller came back from one set down to beat Kei Nishikori 2-6 6-1 6-3 after 1 hour and 43 minutes in the final of the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open claiming the first ATP Tour title of his career.
Muller became just the third man in the Open Era to win a tour-level title after losing the opening set in every match he played after Arthur Ashe at the 1975 WCT Finals and Alexander Bublik Montpellier in 2024. The Frenchman rallied from one set down in the previous matches he played against Marc-Andrea Huesler, Miomir Kecmanovic, Arthur Fils and Jaume Munar in his second ATP Tour championships match.
Nishikori earned the first break of the match in the fifth game with a backhand winner and won three consecutive games including a double break in the seventh game to close out the first set 6-2 in his first head-to-head match against Muller on the ATP Tour. The Japanese player was chasing his first title since 2019.
Muller broke twice in the fourth and sixth games to win the second set 6-1 forcing the match to the third set. Nishikori saved two break points in the third game to hold serve for 2-1. Muller reeled off four consecutive games from 2-3 down with two breaks of serve and closed out the third set 6-3, as Nnishikori netted a backhand on the match point.
Muller converted four of eight break points he earned. He will rise eleven spots to a career-high number 56 after his title. He finished runner-up to Roberto Carballes Baena in Marrakesh in his only previous ATP Tour final. “Thank you everyone for the support today. It’s been an amazing week for me, losing the first set in all the matches. I have no words. I am sorry. I just won the match, but thank you everyone. In all the matches I tried to be calm between points and keep my energy. I want to thank Kei, because he is an amazing player I am so happy for him that he can play without injuries, so I wish him good luck for the season”, said Muller.
