Patten's Partners Make It Dream Week For Him At Atp Finals

Great Britain's Henry Patten completed a life-changing sojourn to Turin by becoming an ATP Finals champion for nan first clip - a week aft nan nerve-jangling infinitesimal of proposing to his woman successful nan city.

Patten, from Essex, said nan lucrative season-ending tourney had "taken rather a large backmost seat" to his engagement plans.

But he sewage nan reply he hoped for from long-time partner Ellie arsenic they looked retired complete nan metropolis from a hilltop basilica past Sunday.

The unforgettable travel past became each nan much typical arsenic he and Finland's Harri Heliovaara triumphed together 7 days later, winning 7-5 6-3 against Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski successful nan doubles last to gain a shared prize of astir £660,000.

The occurrence comes astatine nan extremity of a twelvemonth that began pinch Patten and Heliovaara adding an Australian Open title to their 2024 Wimbledon victory.

Patten, 29, praised his beaten compatriots and thanked his support squad successful a post-match speech, earlier adding: "I person to springiness a typical mention to my caller fiancee, Ellie. I thought Turin was a beautiful romanticist spot and luckily she said 'yes'. Thank you for nan support and I can't hold to bask our clip together."

The result meant location was nary history-making infinitesimal for their opponents, who were bidding to go nan first all-British squad to assistance nan trophy.

If this proves to beryllium Salisbury and Skupski's past lucifer together, arsenic is expected, past their year-long business ended successful a acquainted emotion of disappointment successful a awesome final, having besides been beaten successful nan French Open and US Open title matches.

Horacio Zeballos and Marcel Granollers took them down successful some Grand Slam finals, and successful nan Wimbledon quarter-finals.

"We've had immoderate awesome times, we've had immoderate reliable times," Salisbury said aft their latest conclusion connected a large stage.

This clip nan British brace faced a squad they had beaten successful nan round-robin stage, but they were wary that Patten and 36-year-old Heliovaara were disconnected their crippled connected that juncture and expected a greater trial successful nan final.

That is really it played out.

After nan first 11 games went pinch serve, big-hitting from Patten and a Salisbury double responsibility put Heliovaara and Patten connected nan brink of nan opening set, which was secured erstwhile Skupski's volley connected nan agelong recovered nan net.

The decisive break successful nan 2nd group came successful crippled six erstwhile Skupski's service gave way, a fizzing forehand from Heliovaara connected break constituent excessively basking to put backmost successful play.

Salisbury has doubly been a champion astatine this arena alongside American Rajeev Ram, but this was not to beryllium his and Skupski's day.

Patten began nan week by saying his engagement was "so overmuch much important" than nan result connected court, but he sewage to acquisition nan champion of some worlds.

Back-to-back aces from Patten clinched nan title, earlier he drew a gem ringing and a emotion bosom connected a courtside TV camera, a cleanable week complete.