Kecmanovic, 19, Claims Second Challenger Title In Shenzhen

A LOOK BACK
Shenzhen International Challenger (Shenzhen, China): Miomir Kecmanovic feels right at home in China. The 19-year-old Serbian notched his second ATP Challenger Tour title on Sunday in Shenzhen, defeating Blaz Kavcic 6-2, 2-6, 6-3. Kecmanovic, whose previous crown came in Suzhou in 2017, also reached the final in nearby Liuzhou last month.

The Florida resident is the eighth teenage titlist of the year, joining Rudolf Molleker, Felix Auger-Aliassime (two titles), Alexei Popyrin, Jurij Rodionov, Alex de Minaur and Corentin Moutet. He is up 29 spots to a career-high No. 133 in the ATP Rankings.

Charlottesville Men’s Pro Challenger (Charlottesville, Virginia, USA): Kecmanovic wasn’t the only #NextGenATP to taste success on Sunday. After entering the main draw as a lucky loser, Tommy Paul dominated the competition in Charlottesville, not dropping a set en route to his maiden Challenger title. The 21-year-old American avenged a 2015 final defeat at the indoor hard court event. Learn more about Tommy’s victory…

Challenger Ciudad de Guayaquil (Guayaquil, Ecuador): Guido Andreozzi stands alone. The Argentine secured a tour-leading fourth ATP Challenger Tour title on Saturday evening, lifting the trophy on the clay of Guayaquil. He defeated Pedro Sousa 7-5, 1-6, 6-4 in one hour and 53 minutes to emerge victorious.

Andreozzi has won a quartet of titles in 2018, prevailing on the clay of Punta del Este, Uruguay; Tunis, Tunisia; Szczecin, Poland and Guayaquil, Ecuador. That’s four tournaments on three different continents. He rises 15 spots to a career-high No. 82 in the ATP Rankings.

Apis Canberra International (Canberra, Australia): Third seed Jordan Thompson completed one of the greatest campaigns in ATP Challenger Tour history. Not only did the Sydney native sweep the Aussie swing, going back-to-back in Traralgon and Canberra, but in doing so he claimed a staggering 52nd match win this year. That is the second-most victories in a single season in Challenger history, behind only Carlos Berlocq’s 57 in 2010.

On Sunday, Thompson triumphed in Canberra, defeating 18-year-old Nicola Kuhn 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 in one hour and 56 minutes. Kuhn had a break lead in the decider, but was unable to sustain the momentum. 

Behind a 52-17 record and three titles (also Chennai, India), Thompson will look to transition to full-time status on the ATP World Tour in 2019, rising to No. 73 in the ATP Rankings. The 24-year-old added a 17th title for Australia this year, which puts the nation three behind the single-season record.

Challenger Eckental (Eckental, Germany): Antoine Hoang lifted his first ATP Challenger Tour trophy, defeating Ruben Bemelmans 7-5, 6-3 on Sunday in Eckental. There are now 34 first-time winners in 2018, one more than last year. 

Hoang had been building to the moment. The 23-year-old Frenchman reached the semi-finals in Istanbul in September, went one step further in reaching his first final in Orleans, France, and then claimed his maiden title in Eckental.

A LOOK AHEAD
Top seed and defending champion Lukas Lacko returns to Bratislava, Slovakia, where he will look to reign on home soil once again. Other former champions Norbert Gombos (2016) and Egor Gerasimov (2015) are also in the draw.

The prestigious event in Mouilleron-le-Captif, France, features #NextGenATP stars Ugo Humbert and Felix Auger-Aliassime as its third and fourth seeds, with 2015 winner Benoit Paire leading the field. Defending champion Elias Ymer is also in the draw.

The U.S. indoor swing continues with the $75,000 event in Knoxville. Tennys Sandgren is the top seed, with 2016 champion Michael Mmoh seeded fourth. Tommy Paul bids for a second straight crown. 

Top seed and defending champion Pablo Cuevas returns home to Montevideo and is joined by 2015 winner Guido Pella and US Open junior champion Thiago Seyboth Wild. The tournament is celebrating its 14th edition.