Hamburg: Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili retained his title at the Hamburg Open yesterday when he beat unseeded Russian Andrey Rublev, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.

Basilashvili, 27, is ranked 16th in the world, but will lose points because last year he took the title after coming through qualifying. The Georgian dropped serve early in the first set, but broke back with his sixth break point of the sixth game. He wasted a set point in 10th game before clinching on the fourth break point of a marathon 12th game. Rublev, 21, hit back with the only break of the second set to level the match. The young Russian took the next game to deuce but the Georgian held and was in control the rest of the way.