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Russian lucky guy Rublev wins first career crown

Rublev, 19, had lost in the final round of qualifying last weekend, but earned a spot in the main draw.

Russia's Andrey Rublev returns the ball on July 23, 2017

Rublev, 19, had lost in the final round of qualifying last weekend, but earned a spot in the main draw when Borna Coric was forced to withdraw with injury.

The world number 74, who will break the top 50 next week, made the most of his reprieve by seeing off third seed and defending champion Fabio Fognini in the quarter-finals and home hope Ivan Dodig in the semis.

"It's amazing. I have no words to explain it, especially after this tough week," Rublev told atpworldtour.com. "Now I'm here and it's amazing."

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Moscow-based Rublev is the seventh lucky loser to win an ATP World Tour title and the first to do so since Rajeev Ram in Newport in 2009.

Rublev has been in a rich vein of form in recent weeks, reaching his first quarter-final on grass in Halle and making the second round as a qualifier at Wimbledon.

Four months ago, he was ranked at 130.

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