Austrian Dominic Thiem won the ATP event in Stuttgart Monday after rain caused the grasscourt final against German Philipp Kohlschreiber to be held over. Kohlschreiber had been leading Thiem 3-2 in a first-set tiebreaker Sunday when play was halted for the day. But the Austrian world No. 7 upped his game Monday, eventually running out a 6-7 (2-7), 6-4, 6-4 winner with the contest played on a side court in front of a small crowd of 1,000 due to water damage on the Center Court grass. "I've never been so relieved," said Thiem after claiming his fourth title of a breakthrough season. "This is by far my most special trophy. "Every title is wonderful, the only thing comparable would be winning Kitzbuehel at home," said the seventh-ranked Austrian. "I came here almost expecting to lose in the first round. Then I reached the semifinals, the final and now the title. "I couldn't have expected this in my wildest dreams." Thiem, who moved into the ATP top 10 last week after a French Open semifinal performance, had already claimed titles in 2016 at Buenos Aires, Acapulco and Nice. The 22-year-old, who saved two match points as he knocked out Roger Federer in the quarterfinals, was successful in his bid to become the first man this season to claim trophies on three different surfaces — clay, hardcourt and now grass. Mahut claims title In the Netherlands, Nicolas Mahut warmed up for Wimbledon by winning his third ‘s-Hertogenbosch title after dominating a rain-delayed final Monday. After taking the opening set 6-4 against Luxembourg's Gilles Muller on the Dutch grass court Sunday, Mahut wrapped up victory by claiming the second set by the same scoreline. It was his third title win in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the 34-year-old eighth-seeded wild card having previously won the Dutch event in 2013 and 2015. It was his fourth career title having also won on grass in Newport in 2013. Mahut, currently 61 in the world rankings, faces home favorite and world No. 2 Andy Murray in Queen's Tuesday. Nishikori clears first hurdle In Halle, second-seeded Kei Nishikori overcame a shaky start to beat Lucas Pouille of France 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-4 in the first round of the Gerry Weber open Monday. Nishikori fell behind 3-0 at the start of the match but battled back to force a tiebreaker. He was unable to win the last two points on his serve and Pouille got the set. Nishikori raced through the second but requested medical treatment for what appeared to be a sore left shoulder. He broke serve in the seventh game and served out the match. Pouille had 34 unforced errors, 12 more than Nishikori, the semifinalist in Halle the last two years. Pouille has never won on grass in four attempts. The match was played under the roof because of rain. — Agenciesies
