Bublik routs Zverev to win maiden title

Alexander Bublik has pulled off the biggest win of his career with a surprise triumph over world No.3 Alexander Zverev in the final of the Open Sud de France.

Bublik needed just 70 minutes to record a 6-4 6-3 success and capture his maiden ATP Tour title in Montpellier on Sunday after being in four previous losing finals.

The 24-year-old from Kazakhstan, who was competing in his fifth tour-level final, fired down eight aces and won 86 per cent of points behind his first serve to improve his head-to-head record against Zverev to 2-0.

"I had four finals before and the fifth final I have won against a great player Sascha," Bublik said.

"It is great. All my game together. I was serving well and returned well and kept my nerve. I was lucky in the moments and when I had my chances I used them."

It was another disappointment for the German Zverev following his fourth round exit at the Australian Open at the hands of Denis Shapovalov

Meanwhile at the Tata Open Maharashtra in Pune, India, Joao Sousa defeated Finland's Emil Ruusuvuori 7-6 (11-9) 4-6 6-1 to win his first ATP Tour title in four years.

The 32-year-old Portuguese recovered from being a break down in the first set and although 22-year-old Ruusuvuori did the same in the next to force a decider, Sousa used his greater experience to come through an entertaining contest lasting two hours and 43 minutes.