Joao Sousa wins 4th career title in Pune by defeating Emil Ruusuvuori

Joao Sousa is an ATP champion once again, as the Portuguese player defeated Emil Ruusuvuori in the final 7-6(9) 4-6 6-1 in the Pune final.

After a week of intense play in the Indian city of Pune, we have the champion of the ATP 250 event. It's Joao Sousa who defeated Ruusuvuori in the final after a battle that lasted close to three hours. Both of these tennis players played a superb event to reach the final with the Portuguese player having a much tougher road. He had a few comeback victories at this event and this one was was another earned one.

Sousa has been through a lot in the past 2.5 years and this trophy meant a lot to him as it was his first since Estoril 2018. From the start, it was clear that it would be a very close match. Both players served rather well and played well but the Finnish player was a bit better. He forced the first break point and ultimately got the 5-3.

At 5-4, when he served for the set, Sousa played a brave game to make it 5-5 and give himself another chance at the set. It proved very important later on when Sousa won a dramatic tie break with 11-9. He battled back in that one as well as he trailed 3-5. In the 2nd set he jumped out to an early 4-1 lead but Emil played a fabulous 25 minutes to make it 4-4 and then 6-4.

The final set was played much better by Sousa who once again took an early lead thanks to some superb attacking on Emil's 2nd serve. The Finnish player did not serve to well and gave too many chances to Sousa who took advantage of them and cruised to a 6-1 finish.