It is odd to hear a 21-year-old say a huge weight has been lifted off his shoulders after winning Eastbourne.

Yet that is the case for Taylor Fritz.

The American had become impatient for a title, even at such a tender age, because he reached the final in Memphis when only 18.

The wait is over after beating compatriot Sam Querrey in the men's final at Devonshire Park 6-3, 6-4.

Fritz is one to watch. He was 761 in the world when he made his tour debut at the Nature Valley International four years ago, when it was being held in Nottingham.

Now he is ranked 42 with variety in his game and a steely nerve, demonstrated in particular in his tight semi-final success against British No.1 Kyle Edmund.

An early break in each set was enough against Querrey, who at 31 is in decline.

He is down to 79, his lowest ranking for five years, after an 11-week absence with an abdominal injury.

The pair know each other and each other's games well, but Fritz generally controlled their fifth meeting to edge ahead 3-2 in their personel duels.

Fritz acknowledged: "It feels funny to say I have been waiting for a long time to win a title when I'm only 21, but when you could have won at 18, it's in my head for a long time. So it's just a huge weight lifted off my shoulders."