Mayer Takes Another Title In Portoroz
Mayer Takes Another Title In Portoroz
Revisit the week that was on the ATP Challenger Tour as we applaud the achievements of those on the rise and look ahead to who’s in action in the week to come
A LOOK BACK
ZS-Sports China International Challenger (Qingdao, China): Former World No. 8 Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia took a major step forward in his injury comeback by coming through qualifying and winning the title over Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo of Spain, 1-6, 7-5, 6-1. The win gives the 32 year old his first title of any kind since 2013 and his first Challenger since winning in 2009 in Mons, Belgium. Tipsarevic had never previously won a Challenger coming through qualifying.
Ramirez Hidalgo drops to 0-3 in Challenger finals in 2016. The 38 year old was also a runner-up last week at the Challenger in Chengdu, China.
Tilia Slovenia Open (Portoroz, Slovenia): Top seed Florian Mayer of Germany continued his comeback from injury with a dominant win in the final over Daniil Medvedev of Russia, 6-1, 6-2. The 32 year old was in top form during the latter stages of the tournament, dropping 10 games in his final three matches. The 20 year old Medvedev was competing in his first Challenger final and will reach a new career-high Emirates ATP Ranking on Monday.
Nordic Naturals Challenger (Aptos, California): Top seed Daniel Evans of Great Britain lived up to his billing with a win over qualifier and fellow Brit Cameron Norrie, 6-3, 6-4. Evans has now won three Challenger titles this year, moving him into a five-way tie for the Challenger titles lead with Radu Albot, Facundo Bagnis, Gerald Melzer and Mikhail Youzhny. Norrie, a rising junior at Texas Christian University, was competing in his first Challenger final.
Challenger Banque National de Gatineau (Gatineau, Canada): Local favourite Peter Polansky captured his second-career ATP Challenger Tour title by defeating fifth seed and defending champion Vincent Millot of France, 3-6, 6-4, retired. Millot led by a set and a break, but was eventually forced to stop play due to a leg injury. Both player had to play their semi-finals on Sunday due to rain the previous day.
Polansky’s other Challenger title came in 2013 in Tiburon, California. He’s the first Canadian to win a Challenger since Frank Dancevic prevailed in 2014 in Kosice, Slovakia. Millot is still looking for his first Challenger title of 2016, having finished runner-up in June in Ilkley, Great Britain.
Strabag Challenger Open (Trnava, Slovakia): Fifth seed Steve Darcis won his second ATP Challenger Tour title this summer and seventh overall by defeating Jordi Samper-Montana of Spain, 6-3, 6-4. The 32 year old Belgian was also a runner-up last week in Liberec, Czech Republic, and in June at the Challenger in Blois, France. Samper-Montana was competing in his first Challenger final, having previously gone 0-5 in Challenger semi-finals.
Adriatic Challenger (Fano, Italy): Fourth seed Joao Souza of Brazil needed eight championship points, but won his second consecutive Challenger title and ninth overall over third seed Nicolas Kicker, 6-4, 6-7(12), 6-2. Souza also prevailed last week in Cortina, Italy. Kicker drops to 1-2 in Challenger finals in 2016.
A LOOK AHEAD
Two Challengers are on the calendar this week, with the $50,000 event in Cordenons, Italy, taking top billing as it returns for the 13th consecutive year. World No. 41 and local favourite Paolo Lorenzi, the champion here in 2012, is the top seed, while Taro Daniel of Japan is the second seed. Daniel Gimeno-Traver of Spain, the 2012 runner-up, is the fourth seed. NextGen star Elias Ymer of Sweden, whose two Challenger titles have come in Italy, is the seventh seed.
The $50,000 event in Meerbusch, Germany, is back for the fourth consecutive year. Mayer looks to continue his form from Portoroz as the top seed, while World No. 98 Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain is the second seed. Former Top 15 player Jerzy Janowicz of Poland also continues his comeback from injury as the fifth seed.
View Draws & Watch Free Live Streams
ATP CHALLENGER TOUR ON TWITTER: New in 2016, the ATP Challenger Tour has launched a dedicated Twitter account for the latest news and information about players and events. Follow @ATPChallengerTour at twitter.com/ATPChallengerTour.