Cervantes Sets All-Spanish Final

Inigo Cervantes will look to clinch the third 50-win season in Challenger history when he faces countryman Daniel Munoz-de la Nava in Sunday’s final at the ATP Challenger Tour Finals.

Cervantes beat home hope and eighth seed Guilherme Clezar 6-3, 7-6(9) to book a spot in his sixth final of the year. The Spaniard, who is projected to rise to at least a career-high Top 85 position in the Emirates ATP Rankings, fired 17 aces and saved both break points faced during the one-hour and 47-minute affair in Sao Paulo. He remains on track to wrap up the first undefeated campaign in the five-year history of the Challenger year-end championships.

“There was only one break during the match,” said Cervantes. “Then a very close tie-break. Clezar is a very dangerous player here. Not only because we’re in Brazil, but also because it’s indoors and fast conditions. His serve is pretty strong so I’m glad that I won the match.”

MOST WINS IN A SEASON

The all-Spanish final clash will be the second of the week between the two compatriots. If the title match is as close as their thrilling round robin encounter in Group A, won by Cervantes 4-6, 7-6(3), 7-5, fans will be in for a treat. It was Cervantes’ second three-set win of the year in the FedEx ATP Head2Head, after prevailing in qualifying of the ATP World Tour 500 event in Hamburg.

“It’s been only a few days since our last match and it was tough, almost three hours,” added Cervantes. “It will be difficult, I’m sure, but we know each other really well and if I play like today, I have a good shot for the title.

“Maybe physically he’s a bit more fresh than me. He had a day of rest and I played almost two hours. But I’ll face this victory in a positive way. It helps me mentally so I can be prepared and without any issues tomorrow.”

Munoz-de la Nava had already sewn up a berth in the final following second seed Guido Pella‘s injury withdrawal prior to Saturday’s semi-finals. Pella suffered a torn adductor muscle in his round robin finale in Group B against Marco Cecchinato on Friday. Madrid native Munoz-de la Nava is 46-17 this year.

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Cervantes is 3-2 in Challenger finals this year, seeking his sixth title overall. He lifted trophies in Ostrava, Vicenza and Marburg. Munoz-de la Nava, meanwhile, is 3-3 in title matches in 2015 and will be eyeing a fourth crown overall. He won titles in Napoli, Moscow and Meknes this year.

“I leave with my head up high,” Clezar said. “I had a good tournament. The two matches I lost were more about the opponents’ merits than me playing bad.”