Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov gave the roaring partisan crowd plenty to cheer about as he beat Belgian David Goffin 7-5, 6-4 to win the Sofia Open for the first time Sunday. The 25-year-old, who reached the Australian Open semi-finals after winning the Brisbane International last month, claimed his sixth career title to the delight of 12,000 passionate fans. After a tight opening set, Dimitrov gave little breathing space to his opponent to take a 5-0 lead in the second set. But Goffin, who was hoping to win his first title since 2014, broke twice to make it 5-4. Dimitrov dug deep into his reserves to break again and conclude the final after his fourth championship point. He promptly collapsed to his knees, burst into tears and kissed the court. In the semifinals, Dimitrov brushed aside unseeded Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-1, 6-3 and Goffin stayed calm to fend off defending champion Roberto Bautista Agut 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 Saturday. Zverev beats Gasquet for Open Sud de France title Teen Alexander Zverev beat two-time defending champion Richard Gasquet 7-6 (4), 6-3 to win the Open Sud de France Sunday and clinch his second career title. The 19-year-old German's other title came last September when he beat three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka to win the St. Petersburg Open in Russia. This time, he denied Gasquet a 15th career title. Zverev, the younger brother of tennis player Mischa Zverev, is considered one of the rising stars of the game and recently took 14-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal to five sets in the third round of the Australian Open. In the semifinals on Saturday, Gasquet beat countryman Benoit Paire 6-2, 6-2 while Zverev prevented an all-French final by beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-4. — Agencies
