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Mahut wins HoF Championships

NEWPORT, R.I. — Frenchman Nicolas Mahut, who was a wild card entry into the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, won the tournament title today, defeating 2012 finalist and No. 4 seed Lleyton Hewitt 5-7, 7-5, 6-3.

Mahut, who will move back into the Top 100 of the Emirates ATP Rankings on Monday as a result of the victory, won his first ATP World Tour title last month at the Topshelf Open, which is also played on grass courts. He was a finalist in Newport in 2007.

“A month ago I was playing to make the cut for the qualies at the US Open, I was ranked 240 with some points to defend. I told my coach, I have to play great on grass to make the cut for the qualies. A month later, I have two titles,” he said.

The championship victory was one of three wins that Mahut recorded today. He started the day in a semifinal match versus Michael Russell, in which Mahut prevailed 6-2, 6-2.

Mahut, who famously contested the longest match in tennis history at Wimbledon in 2010, then went on to a successful doubles semifinal. He partnered with his compatriot Edouard Roger-Vasselin to defeat Marcelo Demoliner and Andre Sa of Brazil, 6-4 7-6(4).

“It’s always easier to come back onto court after wins,” he said. “You know I can play a long time, I can stay a long time on the court.”

Mahut will return to the Newport grass courts one more time for this tournament on Monday, to play in the doubles final. Mahut and Roger-Vasselin will face the American duo of Tim Smyczek and Rhyne Williams at 10:30 am on Monday, July 15.

Admission to the match is free to the public.

Photos by Kate Whitney Lucey.

Posted on July 14, 2013
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