Learnen Tien is the last champion at the Moselle Open in Metz. The young American faced Cameron Norrie in the final and prevailed 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 in two hours and ten minutes for his first ATP title.
A left-hander became the first American teenager with an ATP title since Andy Roddick in Houston in 2002. The Irvine native, coached by Michael Chang, is also the second-youngest winner in Metz after Novak Djokovic in 2006.
Learnen will wrap up the season inside the top-30 following a great run, five top-10 triumphs and his first trophy on the top-tier level of competition. Cameron, who also battled for the trophy a year ago, led 5-1 in the deciding tie break.
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However, the young gun took seven of the remaining eight points to emerge at the top and wrap up the season on a high note. The Briton took five points more and produced much better tennis behind the second serve.
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However, Cameron denied two of four break points and seized two of nine break chances, including one at 4-4 in the final set. Norrie landed 25 winners and 40 unforced errors, while Tien stood on a 23-48 ratio.
The American hit more service winners, while the Briton responded from the baseline. Learnen made a reliable start and fired a forehand winner in the fourth game for an early advantage.
He served well in the remaining games to maintain the lead and served for the opener at 5-3. Cameron landed a forehand winner for a break point, and a teenager saved it with an ace before drawing the rival's error for 6-3 in 29 minutes.
The more experienced player served well in the second set and kept the pressure on the other side. Norrie seized the sixthbreak point in the fourth game after Tien's backhand error to grab a break and move in front.
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The Briton landed an ace at 5-3 for a hold at love, wrapping up the set and forcing a decider after an hour and eight minutes. Learnen broke at 15 in the second game and secured an early advantage.
He served well in games three and five and missed two more break chances at 4-1 that could have propelled him over the top. Instead, Cameron saved them and held before overcoming the rival's game point in game seven and breaking back for 3-4.
The young gun faced another break point in the ninth game and denied it with a service winner. They served well in the remaining games and reached a tie break. Norrie collected three mini-breaks and drew Tien's mistake in the sixth point for a massive 5-1 advantage.
The American launched his comeback and fired a backhand crosscourt winner in the tenth point for 5-5. Cameron missed a routine forehand in the 11th point and faced a match point.
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He denied it with a fine attack and locked the result at 6-6 for more drama. However, Norrie landed a routine backhand wide in the 13th point and faced the second match point.
Learnen seized it after the rival's forehand error to complete a notable comeback and lift his first ATP title at 19.
