Paolo Lorenzi Sets Record As Oldest 1st Time ATP Winner With Kitzbuhel Trophy Over Nikoloz Basilashvili

Italian Paolo Lorenzi became the oldest player ever to win a first-time title on the ATP tour on Saturday when the No. 4 seed beat Nikoloz Basilashvili, 6-3, 6-4 in the final of the Generali Open in Kitzbuhel.

“I don’t look at the age, so I don’t mind if it’s happening at 34,” Lorenzi said.

Lorenzi is 1-1 in career finals after losing last year at Sao Paulo.

At 34 years, 7 months, he beat the record set by Victor Estrella Burgos in February 2015 at Quito at 34 years, 6 months.

“Winning one trophy was a goal for this year, so it’s great for me,” Lorenzi said. “I hope this is not the last. I’m changing a lot. I need to be more aggressive and improve a lot of things, so this is just the start.”

Basilashvili, who admitted to being tight in the final, became the first player representing Georgia to reach an ATP final. The 24-year-old entered the event with only a 2-4 win-loss record at the tour level.