DAVID Goffin and Rebecca Marino are hopeful that winning the respective Lexus Ilkley Trophy singles titles can resurrect their careers, starting with this week’s Wimbledon qualifying tournament at Roehampton.

Fourth seed Goffin comfortably defeated Harold Mayot 6-4, 6-2 in Saturday’s ATP Challenger Tour final.

Earlier Canada’s Marino had made it double French disappointment by coming from behind to beat Jessika Ponchet 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the decider of the $100,000 ITF Women’s World Tour event.

Both winners, who are 33, had dropped out of the top 100 after difficult spells, with three-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist and former world No.7 Goffin and ex-world No.38 Marino only moving back into three figures last August.

Goffin was ranked 109 going into Ilkley, while Marino was at 140.

Remarkably it was Goffin’s first grass-court title, with his nearest misses being the finals of the ATP tournaments in Halle, Germany in 2019 and s’Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands in 2015.

The experienced Belgian, who had squeezed past American Zachary Svajda 7-5, 6-7, 6-3 in his semi-final, said: “It was a really good week and my level was there, which gives me confidence for the rest of the season.

“I haven’t won a trophy for a while, but I have had some good results on grass, and the surface means a lot to me, but my level being there was the most important thing.

“Dropping out of the top 100 was down to injury and mentally as well. You have doubts coming into your head and you have to work hard and have the support of your family.”

Goffin said of the final: “He (Mayot) was tough and the wind was tough - blowing in every direction - so the level for both of us was not what it had been earlier in the week.

“We had to serve with a bit more spin and not go so much for the lines, but I just had to stay calm and focused on what I had to do.

“The first set was the key, because I was a break up, then I lost my serve at 4-3 but I managed to break again.

“Once he had lost the first set 6-4, it was tough for him to stay focused, stay calm and deal with the wind, and he checked out a bit towards the end of the match.”

Marino, who has an impressive serve and forehand, said of her final success: “There were definitely some ups and downs and I started a bit slow due to the fatigue from my long semi-final on Friday (where she beat Australia’s Kimberly Birrell 7-5, 4-6, 6-4).

“But I felt my rhythm and felt my serve again and was proud of how I turned it around and took the match away.

“I wanted to play with freedom and I felt that I did that after the first set.

Rebecca Marino had to dig deep in the final after Jessika Ponchet's bright start, but she fought back superbly to win.Rebecca Marino had to dig deep in the final after Jessika Ponchet's bright start, but she fought back superbly to win. (Image: Jack Gray Photography.)

“I didn’t expect that many drop shots from Jessika to start with, but after the first set I was able to touch most of them and maybe that stopped her from doing so many.

“It is a tactic that I am used to being used against me, because I am so tall.

“My confidence is up and I feel really good about my game, although I didn’t know that at the start of the week.

“It is my second $100,000 title of the year (she also won in Irapuato, Mexico in February), and my coaches have helped me to get back.

“I have been working on my return game and my movement - everything really - but there is no better practice than winning matches.

“My ranking points helps a lot and the prize money is nice too, but one step at a time.

“You play for your level, and if you do the ranking points will follow, but I have had injuries, such as with my shoulder, but that is the way that tennis goes, and luckily I feel 100 per cent now.”

Marino praised the set up at Ilkley, adding: “I have enjoyed Ilkley from the first day that I got here and the scenery is gorgeous.

“The club have worked very hard to make the tournament happen and I hope to be back next year.

“The courts are in great shape and it is really excellent preparation for Wimbledon so credit to the groundstaff.

“With my great great grandparents coming from Huddersfield, I am happy to call this a home win.”

Both Marino and Goffin are straight back into action this week with Wimbledon qualifying.

As for the doubles titles at Ilkley, they were decided on Friday.

Americans Evan King and Reese Stalder won the men’s event, while France’s Kristina Mladenovic and Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse claimed the women’s trophy.