Olympian Marcos Giron wins first ATP title in Newport: 'Better late than never!'

Marcos Giron will fly to the Paris Olympics as an ATP Tour champion after winning his first title Sunday in Newport. The 30-year-old emerged from an all-American semifinal lineup at the Hall of Fame Open to claim the trophy, earning a new career-high ranking of world No. 38 in the process.

After beating fellow Olympian Christopher Eubanks in the semis, the second seed saved a match point to edge Alex Michelsen, 6-7(4), 6-3, 7-5, in Sunday's final. Three of his four wins on the week came in three sets, including an opening victory against Benoit Paire in which he battled back from 3-0 down in the deciding frame.

"Better late than never. We'll take it!" Giron said with a laugh in an on-court interview. "There are so many people I can thank and couldn't be more lucky to have them in my life. Family, coaches, friends. For this, it's really special for me but also for all their help and support though the years."

In Sunday's final, Giron saved match point at 4-5 in the third set with an ace before firing his 13th ace of the match to clinch the title. He hit 41 total winners and won 82% of his first-serve points, saving eight of nine break points.

The former UCLA star was playing in his third final, all of which have come against Americans on U.S. soil. His Newport victory atoned for defeats in San Diego in 2022 (vs. Brandon Nakashima) and earlier this year in Dallas (vs. Tommy Paul).

Giron, Michelsen, Eubanks and Mackenzie McDonald made up the all-American final four in Newport, a fitting way to close out the event's final year as an ATP Tour tournament. In 2025, the Hall of Fame Open will usher in an new era as a joint ATP Challenger Tour 125 and WTA 125 event.

Michelsen finished runner-up in Newport for the second straight year. In the 2023 event, he picked up his first tour-level wins and beat John Isner en route to the final. This year, he was again attempting to become the first American teenager to lift an ATP title since Andy Roddick won Houston in 2002.

The all-American final was the 10th in Newport history and the first since Rajeev Ram beat Sam Querrey in the 2009 title match. Ram, Giron and Eubanks will all represent the U.S. at the Olympics, alongside Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul and Austin Krajicek on the men's team. Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Danielle Collins, Emma Navarro and Desirae Krawczyk make up the women's team. 

The tennis competition at the Paris Olympics will take place from July 27 to Aug. 4 at Roland Garros.

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