Zizou Bergs captures first ATP title with Eastbourne comeback

Zizou Bergs won his first ATP Tour title by defeating Ugo Humbert 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the Eastbourne Open final. The Belgian recovered after losing the opening set to complete a notable grass-court breakthrough.

The final carried over into Sunday after rain interrupted play on Saturday after only three games. In difficult blustery conditions, Bergs responded strongly in the second set and forced a deciding set after taking control with two breaks of serve.

Humbert, the French sixth seed and world number 30, had been chasing an eighth ATP Tour title and started the match more convincingly. But Bergs, ranked 48th, found momentum as the contest developed and secured the key break in the third set before closing out the biggest win of his career.

The result also changes the tone of their immediate rivalry: Bergs and Humbert are scheduled to face each other again on Tuesday in the first round of Wimbledon. For Bergs, who had previously fallen short in finals at 's-Hertogenbosch and Auckland, Eastbourne marks a significant step before the grass-court major.