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Tim Pütz (left) with his partner Miyu Katō

Photo: Lewis Storey / Getty Images

Tennis pro Tim Pütz won his first Grand Slam title in mixed at the French Open in Paris. The 35-year-old Davis Cup player prevailed alongside Japan's Miyu Katō in the final against Michael Venus/Bianca Andreescu (New Zealand/Canada) 4-6, 6-4 and 10-6 in the match tie-break. The duo had only come together shortly before the start of the tournament in Roland Garros.

No collusion, but the title

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I'd rather be in the doubles final, that's no secret, but of course I'm still happy," Pütz said after reaching the final. With the 28-year-old Katō it worked despite some communication difficulties, because the Japanese speaks little English. » So we haven't discussed anything like positional play or running routes in a week and a half," said Pütz.

At the time of enrollment, both Pütz and Katō did not have the necessary ranking points with their originally intended partners, so they decided to participate together. After that, both also had to survive the difficult emotional phase after the disqualification of the Japanese in the women's doubles.

Katō was disqualified in the women's doubles

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I tried to help her as much as I could," said Pütz. » I just felt sorry for what happened to her. I can only try to win the mixed with her. Then she can take some positive emotions from here. « Katō had been disqualified in her women's doubles for hitting a ball girl with a ball.

Pütz is only the third German mixed champion in Paris. In 1930, Cilly Aussem triumphed with the American Bill Tilden, and in 2014 Anna-Lena Grönefeld won the title with Jean-Julien Rojer from the Netherlands. Before Pütz, however, only one male German tennis player had won a major mixed title: In 1933, Gottfried von Cramm triumphed at Wimbledon with Hilde Krahwinkel.

Pütz/Katō collected 122,000 euros in prize money for the victory, and Pütz also earned 40,000 euros in doubles after reaching the quarter-finals with Kevin Krawietz. In professional tennis, mixed tennis is only played at the four Grand Slam tournaments and at the Olympic Games.

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