Giron saves championship point against Michelsen to win first ATP Tour title in Newport

Marcos Giron is proving age is just a number.

The 30-year-old is playing the best tennis of his career in 2024 and on Sunday the American won his first ATP Tour title, defeating #NextGenATP countryman Alex Michelsen 6-7(4), 6-3, 7-5 to claim the trophy in at the Infosys Hall of Fame Open in Newport. The champion saved match point with an ace at 4-5, 30/40 in the deciding set and clinched victory with his 13th ace of the match.

"Better late than never. We'll take it!" Giron said with a laugh. "There are so many people I can thank and couldn't be more lucky to have them in my life. Family, coaches, friends. For this, it's really special for me but also for all their help and support though the years."

The former college tennis star at UCLA, who underwent right hip surgery in December 2015 and left hip surgery in February 2016, reached his first two ATP Tour finals two years ago in San Diego and earlier this season in Dallas. After a gritty two-hour, 37-minute victory against 19-year-old Michelsen, the veteran Giron can now call himself a tour-level champion.

A critical moment for Giron came when he served at 2-3 in the deciding set. Facing break point, the new No. 38 player in the PIF ATP Live Rankings crushed a courageous forehand winner to escape trouble.

Michelsen was then a shot away from the championship with Giron serving at 4-5, but the older of the two Americans did not allow him to touch the ball with an ace down the T.

The second-seeded Giron saved eight of the nine break points he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats. He won 82 per cent of his first-serve points and hit 41 total winners.

Marcos Giron celebrates his first ATP Tour title. Photo: Andrew Eichenholz/ATP Tour

"Honestly, Alex, unbelievable tournament, unbelievable match," Giron told his countryman. "It's unreal, 19 [years old]. We've been practising together. On court, he's so mature, he's so good. He's got such a bright future. I'm happy to get the win now while I can!"

Michelsen did not lose serve en route to the final, his second consecutive championship match appearance in Newport. One year ago, aged 18, the American advanced to the final of the ATP 250 event when he had never previously won a tour-level match.

The teen was trying to become the youngest American ATP Tour champion (and first teenager) since Andy Roddick in Houston in 2002.