Meanwhile, qualifier Caroline Garcia completed a dream week on Sunday at the WTA Cincinnati Masters with a 6-2, 6-4 title defeat of Petra Kvitova.

World No. 152 Coric dispatched the Greek star 7-6 (7/0), 6-2 to become the lowest-ranked player to ever lift a Masters trophy, replacing 143rd-ranked Spaniard Roberto Carretero, the 1996 Hamburg champion.

Coric lost his only previous final at this level, going down to Novak Djokovic in Shanghai four years ago.

"I have no words, to be honest. It's just an unbelievable feeling," the winner said. "I'm just gonna enjoy this.

"I thought I could play well. I was training hard and I knew I could play good tennis, but to play this level of tennis, I was just not aware.

"I'm just super happy, obviously," he said.

Coric came back from an early deficit trailing Tsitsipas 4-1 before turning the corner and sweeping the tiebreaker to love. Momentum shifted further in the second set for the Croat, who was supported by a few fans wearing the national colors.

Coric fired seven aces and saved three of four break points in a two-hour victory.

Coric improved to 2-1 all-time against Tsitsipas, having retired from their first meeting in Rome in 2018 and winning in the third round of the 2020 US Open in a fifth-set tiebreaker.

"You've kicked my [obscenity] the last couple of times," Tsitsipas said to Coric in the trophy ceremony.

Then he praised Coric's title run at Cincinnati, which included victories over Rafael Nadal, Britain's Cameron Norrie and Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Tsitsipas said he was still seeking a first title on outdoor hard court, losing six finals played on cement.

The Midwest event was the last major tune-up for the United States Open, which begins on Aug. 29.

 

Pure joy

French winner Caroline Garcia claimed her third Masters-level title, her 10th overall, after winning Wuhan and Beijing in a Chinese double five years ago.

Garcia followed the extraordinary template of Emma Raducanu, who won the US Open 11 months ago as a qualifier.

No. 35 Garcia, who fell on her back after clinching victory, maintained her lead on the Tour with her 27th match victory since June.

"Pure joy, just happiness," she said. "Every single win is very important. It's always very hard to describe.

"It doesn't happen so often and you have to really enjoy it. I'm grateful for this great week of tennis, and to win another title, it's very special."

She said expectations were low when she arrived for the qualification rounds.

Kvitova, a double Wimbledon champion, was playing the 40th final of her career and looking for a 30th title.

Garcia set up match point against an opponent who needed off-court medical treatment by sending over her 11th ace of the afternoon.

The end came on the next point as Kvitova returned long.

"It was definitely not the result I wanted, but if someone had told me I would be in the final, I would be very happy," said Kvitova.

Garcia repeated a victory over Kvitova from here seven years ago. She upset three top-10 players this week on her run to the trophy.

Garcia ran her season ace total to 286 with the victory in 96 minutes.

She is the fourth French player since 1980 with 10 or more WTA-level titles after Amelie Mauresmo (25), Mary Pierce (18) and Julie Halard (12).