Nice, France (SportsNetwork.com) - Austrian Dominic Thiem beat Argentine Leonardo Mayer in Saturday's final at the Nice Open to win his maiden ATP World Tour title.
Thiem outlasted the fourth-seeded Mayer 6-7 (8-10), 7-5, 7-6 (7-2).
The 21-year-old Thiem is the fourth first-time ATP World Tour winner this year, joining Jiri Vesely (Auckland), Victor Estrella Burgos (Quito) and Jack Sock (Houston). He is also the eighth player born in the 1990s to earn a title.
Thiem played in his second ATP final, having finished as a runner-up in Kitzbuhel last year.
"It's really, really special; the first title ever," said Thiem. "It's not only this, the match today was a really, really good level. Leonardo played outstanding and I was fighting until the end. I think it was one of the best matches I've ever played.
"The first title, I will remember it forever, so I will also remember forever Nice."
Mayer fell to 1-2 in his career finals.
The French Open starts Sunday. Thiem will play Aljaz Bedene in the first round, while Mayer faces Vesely.
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