Oct 12, 2008 - 3:11 PM
0 shoutsVIENNA, Austria (Ticker) -- Phillip Petzschner on Sunday became the third qualifier to win an event this season.
The German shocked eighth seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils, 6-4, 6-4, to win the Bank Austria-Tennis Trophy, becoming the first qualifier to win the event since Belgian Filip Dewulf defeated Thomas Muster in 1995.
Petzschner, who claimed just over $187,000, joins Japan's Kei Nishikori at Delray Beach and Frenchman Gilles Simon in Casablanca as the only qualifiers to win a tournament in 2008.
"I feel great. It was an unbelievable week and I think I played the best tennis of my life," Petzschner said. "From the beginning of the week to the final match, I played great and I am really happy I won my first tournament here."
Petzschner entered this event with just four victories on the ATP Tour this year, but got off to a good start by upsetting Swiss top seed Stanislas Wawrinka in the first round.
Monfils, a semifinalist this season at Roland Garros, Nottingham and Bangkok, was playing in the sixth final of his career and was seeking a second title after winning at Sopot in 1995.
Petzschner broke the Monfils serve on his fourth opportunity in the fifth game of the opening set. Monfils broke back for 4-4, but Petzschner responded immediately with a second break of serve. He rounded out the first set in 42 minutes.
"I think the key today was that I was a little more patient than him" Petzschner said. "My tactics went a little bit better. I changed a little bit since our last match in Bangkok. I tried to come to the net and be more aggressive. It worked out pretty well."
The second set went with serve until the ninth game, when Petzschner sealed a 5-4 lead and coolly clinched his maiden ATP triumph with victory in 90 minutes. The qualifier hit three aces, won 73 per cent of service points and converted two of nine break point opportunities. He improved to 10-8 on the season.
"Philipp played great tennis," Monfils said. "He played better than me and was more consistent today. I was below his level today and hit some bad shots.
"I am disappointed because I lost in the final, but he played better than me by being more aggressive. He bothered me a lot with his game. Now I have to keep working to get stronger and reach another final."
