No. 1 Jannik Sinner wins Halle Open for first grass-court title

Italian World No. 1  Jannik Sinner won his first grass-court title by edging his doubles partner Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (8), 7-6 (2) in the Halle Open final in Halle, Germany, on Sunday.

The win marks the 22-year-old Australian Open champion's 14th career singles title.

Poland's Hurkacz and Sinner, who played together in the Halle Open doubles, each saved a break point in the first set, traded aces and held serve forcing a tiebreak which Sinner won.

The top seed had a chance to go 2-0 up in the second set but Hurkacz saved two break points as both players again held their serves before Sinner claimed the title after another tiebreak.

"It's inspiring what you've been doing the last 12 months," Hurkacz told Sinner. "Jannik becoming No. 1 in the world is really special. I try to learn from that. Big congrats."

Sinner also congratulated the fifth-seeded Hurkacz, who won the Halle Open in 2022, for reaching another final.

"We're very good friends off court ... seeing us play the final here is very special. Thank you so much," he said.

Sinner is preparing for Wimbledon, where he reached the semifinals last year. The Grand Slam tournament starts on July 1.