First-time ATP singles title winners of 2019
Hubert Hurkacz beat France's Benoit Paire to triumph in his first tournament final in Winston Salem and win his maiden singles title on the tour. However, the Pole is not the only player to reach the landmark this season. 13 other singles players have done so earlier in the year. It is the most number of first-time winners in a season since 15 players did so in 1999.
Let us have a look at the players to win their first singles title in 2019.
#1: Tennys Sandgren (Auckland)
Following a defeat in his first career singles final in Houston last year, 63rd-ranked Tennys Sandgren joined the winners' wagon by romping to his first title in Auckland, where he beat Cameron Norrie 6-4 6-2.
In the process, the 27-year-old American from Gallatin, Texas became the first first-time singles title winner of the season and ascended to a career-high world no. 41.
#2: Alex De Minaur (Sydney)
Alex De Minaur fell short in his first career singles final at his home town Sydney last year and was thwarted in another title match at Washington later in the year.
The 31st ranked Australian, though, went one better at his hometown tournament this year, beating Italian veteran Andreas Seppi 7-5 7-6(5) in the final to open his singles titles account on the tour.
The 19-year-old De Minaur is the youngest first-time title winner on the singles circuit this season, and the youngest from his country to win a singles title since a 16-year-old Lleyton Hewitt triumphed in Adelaide in 1998.
With the win, De Minaur broke into the world's top-30 for the first time in his career, at no. 29.
#3: Juan Ignacio Londero (Cordoba)
112th-ranked Juan Ignacio Londero followed his first tour-level match win at his hometown tournament of Cordoba by lifting the title against compatriot Guido Pella to script a fairy-tale triumph.
The wildcard recovered from a set and a break down to beat his more illustrious compatriot 3-6 7-5 6-1 as Pella lost for the fourth time in as many tournament finals.
In the process, the 25-year-old from Jesus Maria, Argentina, ascended over 40 places in the ATP rankings and broke into the world's top 100, at no. 69.
#4: Laslo Djere (Rio de Janeiro)
In a title match between two first-time finalists, 23-year-old Serb Laslo Djere beat 18-year old Canadian Felix Auger Aliassime 6-3 7-5 in the Rio de Janeiro final to become the fourth first-time title winner of the season.
The triumph helped the Serb climb from No. 90 and break into the top 50 at no. 37.
Among the season's first-time title winners, Djere is the only player to win his first title at an ATP 500 tournament, and climb the most places up the rankings (53) following his maiden title.