This is the very first title of his career on the ATP circuit, at 28 years old, and Benjamin Bonzi fought to conquer it. Coming from the qualifications, the French tennis player won, Saturday November 9, in two sets (7-6 [8/6]6-4) against the Briton Cameron Norrie, in the final of the Metz tournament. This victory against the 57e worldwide allows the native of Nîmes, to date 124e world, to make a nice comeback in the top 100.
“I came back extremely far, it was a complicated season. Things have been better in recent weeks, but I didn't expect a week like this, here in Metz. It’s incredible to end the year like this”he reacted to the microphone of the organizers.
Former French number 1 when he reached number 42e world ranking at the start of 2023, Benjamin Bonzi had fallen back in the rankings due to a wrist injury. He regained confidence in Challenger tournaments, the second tier of professional tennis. “I have been trying in recent weeks to play to be ready for the start of the 2025 season, he explained. I just wanted to rediscover the pleasure of playing. »
First success against a member of the top 10
Before winning the tournament, Benjamin Bonzi had already distinguished himself in Metz by eliminating (6-4, 6-4) in the second round the Norwegian Casper Ruud (7e world), signing his first success against a member of the global top 10. In the semi-finals, the Frenchman put an end to the course of the American Alex Michelsen, 44e world: 4-6, 6-0, 7-5.
The old 42e world had already played two finals in ATP 250, in Marseille and Pune (India) in 2023, lost respectively against the Pole Hubert Hurkacz (3-6, 7-6) and the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor (6-4, 5-7 , 3-6). His opponent of the day, Norrie, 29, could boast of having won five tournaments, including the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells (California) in 2021.
