Dietrich defeats Draxl to capture MarketBeat Open title in Sioux Falls
The 22-year-old Swiss player climbs into the top 200 after a three-set victory that extended his winning streak to ten.
By David Marshall ·
Dylan Dietrich overcame a dropped opening set to defeat Liam Draxl 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday at Huether Family Match Pointe. The result secures the MarketBeat Open singles championship for the 22-year-old Swiss native and marks his second title of the season.
Dietrich enters the week ranked 254th in the ATP singles rankings. A victory in this event guarantees he will finish the tournament inside the top 200. The match lasted three sets and featured a high volume of second-serve return points, with Dietrich converting 17 of 30 opportunities for a 57% success rate.
Draxl, a 24-year-old Canadian, controlled the first set with aggressive serving. He broke Dietrich's serve in the fourth and sixth games to close the set 6-1. Draxl recorded one ace and completed 42 of his 72 first serves, a 58% efficiency rate.
Dietrich adjusted his strategy in the second set, shifting to a more offensive approach. He won six of seven second-serve return points in that set while Draxl won only three of 11. Dietrich broke serve in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead and held serve to clinch the set.
The final set came down to critical break points. Dietrich broke Draxl's serve in the seventh game to lead 4-3. In the eighth game, Dietrich faced a 30-0 deficit but saved the point with a line drive and closed the game with an ace. He then held serve in the 10th game to win the match at 15-0.
Dietrich noted that he focused on controlling his own play rather than reacting to Draxl's form. He spoke in German to himself at changeovers, emphasizing the need to give 100% effort on every shot. The player also credited his service game, noting he completed 44 of 65 first serves for a 68% rate.
The win extends Dietrich's current winning streak to ten matches. He previously won his first Challenger title on Oct. 4 in Columbus, Ohio. Dietrich is currently the top-ranked college player in the United States, having recently finished his career at the University of Virginia.
Following the match, Dietrich confirmed he will travel to Charlottesville, Virginia, for next week's Challenger event. He described the transition from the current tournament to the next as a typical routine for players on the ATP Challenger Tour.
