Australia’s Matt Ebden won his first ATP Challenger title with a 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 victory over defending champion Benjamin Becker in Sunday’s final in Nottingham.
Ebden, ranked 122nd in the world, took just over two hours to see off German world number 97 Becker and win the grass-court event, which is part of the ATP’s second tier Challenger circuit.
The 25-year-old had to save seven break points at 3-3 in a tense first set before landing the crucial break to move ahead in the match.
Ebden, born in South Africa but now living in Perth, was broken early in the second set as Becker forced a decider.
But Ebden piled the pressure on the German and broke his serve to seal the title.
“No one was going to give anything away out there,” Ebden said.
“In the big points during the match you had to be the one attacking, because being on the front foot was the only way to win it.”
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