Qualifier Peter Gojowczyk Wins Metz for First ATP World Tour Title
(September 24, 2017) – Qualifier Peter Gojowczyk won his first career ATP title at the Moselle Open in his very first final, defeating seventh seed Frenchman Benoit Paire 7-5, 6-2 on Sunday in Metz, France.
World No. 95 Gojowczyk became the first qualifier since Nicolas Mahut at ‘s-Hertogenbosch in 2015 to win a tournament.
“It feels great to win my first ATP World Tour title,”said the German. “It was only one or two points [to decide] the first set. It was a long rally on the break point. I was serving well all day and that was the difference.”
“He didn’t miss many shots and it was tough for me,” Paire said. “But I’m happy for my week and I’m happy for him because he’s a good guy. If I play like I did this week, I think I can do something good [going forward]. There are a lot of positives. And the crowd was unbelievable, supporting me all week.”
Gojowczyk will rise to a career-high ranking of No. 66.
The 28-year-old is the sixth first-time champion on the ATP World Tour in 2017. Damir Dzumhur added a seventh maiden title with his triumph at the St. Petersburg Open just hours later on Sunday.