Ram lifts second ATP title at Newport
Xinhua, July 20, 2015 Adjust font size:
American Rajeev Ram defeated Croatian Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (5), 5-7, 7-6 (2) to win his second ATP Tour title at the same place in the ATP Hall of Fame Championships final on Sunday.
Ram saw his second career title six years after winning his only prior ATP crown in Newport by beating countryman Sam Querrey in the final.
The victory helped Ram move into the top 100 of the ATP rankings on Monday. "The first win was more elation, this one is more satisfaction just because I did it again," said Ram.
Ram will jump from 161st into the top 90 after the tournament. He joins John Isner and Bryan Shelton as the only Americans to win multiple Newport crowns.
Ram, 31, saved a match point in defeating top seed Isner in the opening round and saved two more in ousting French fifth seed Adrian Mannarino in the quarterfinals.
Karlovic, 36, repeated his regret at Newport after dropping last year's Hall of Fame final to Australian Lleyton Hewitt.
This is the eighth ATP runner-up finish for Karlovic, who collected his sixth title earlier this year that coming at Delray Beach. Endi