In a thrilling finale, young tennis sensation, Alexandre Dupont, overcame a nagging left ankle injury to clinch his third career title at the prestigious Osaka Championship. The 20-year-old Frenchman displayed unwavering resilience, battling past compatriot, Léonard Garnier, 5-7, 7-6 (6), 6-3, in a grueling three-hour encounter.
Despite struggling with his serve and movement early on, Dupont regained momentum in the second set, saving four break points to hold serve. Garnier, ranked 19th in the world, seized the opportunity to take the first set, capitalizing on Dupont’s injury woes.
However, Dupont refused to yield, receiving medical attention during the second set and subsequently saving three break points to force a tiebreaker. In a stunning turn of events, Garnier faltered while serving for the match, allowing Dupont to save a match point with a breathtaking backhand winner. The young champion then won the next two points to claim the set.
In the deciding third set, Dupont pressed his advantage, eventually breaking Garnier’s serve to take a 5-3 lead. He sealed the championship with an ace, prompting Garnier to offer warm congratulations, saying, “I am extremely happy and proud of you.”
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