Quentin Halys achieved his lifelong dream as he claimed a first ATP tour title of his career in Kitzbuhel.
The Frenchman produced a sensational performance to defeat top seed Alexander Bublik 6-4 7-6(6).
It was the second week in a row Halys defeated Bublik after his win over the Kazakh in Gstaad and he produced 17 aces to seal a landmark moment in his career.
After the match Halys said it was a lifelong dream of his to win an ATP title, “It’s tough not to think about my family, because since I was a kid the goal was to win an ATP title and today the dream came true,” Halys explained to the ATP website.
“So thanks to my parents, my grandparents and everybody who made this possible. Of course that’s a great achievement. I was trying to get a title even at Challenger level. Now its been three years [since my last Challenger title] and I’ve lost some finals. I knew before this tournament I was playing great, but it’s a huge difference between, let’s say, making the quarter-finals or winning.
“Hopefully it’s going to give me a lot of confidence. Now the goal is to get back to another final and of course to try to win one more title.”
After so many tough times, Halys is finally an ATP champion after losing his previous ATP final to Matteo Berrettini in less than an hour.
The 29 year-old reflected on his last final and spoke about this moment in his career, “The last final was a bit weird because I lost in less than one hour to [Matteo] Berrettini,” Halys told the ATP website.
“He played a really good match, but from my side I played really bad. Today I just wanted to fight and at least enjoy and give something, because last time was a pretty easy match for [Berrettini]. Before the match, I really wanted to enjoy it more than last time, and I fought from the very first point until the end. I wanted to have zero regrets at the end of this match.
“I’m not thinking too much about my age now because I’m feeling good and I think I have a few more years to play. But of course, you want to win a title whenever you can. Now I’m 29 so let’s say I’m a bit late, but the level is so high now, so hopefully it’s going to give me more confidence.
“I feel I can win more titles, and I don’t feel too old now so hopefully I have a few more years to play and a few more titles to win.”
After winning his first title of his career Halys will climb up 32 places in the world rankings to 51 in the world.
