Fucsovics Caps Challenger Grass Season With Ilkley Crown

  • Posted: Jun 26, 2017

Fucsovics Caps Challenger Grass Season With Ilkley Crown

Jun252017

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
Aegon Ilkley Trophy (Ilkley, U.K.): There is no stopping Marton Fucsovics in the month of June. The Hungarian claimed his second title in four weeks on Sunday, prevailing on the grass of Ilkley with a dominant 6-1, 6-4 win over qualifier Alex Bolt of Australia.

Also the champion at the clay-court Challenger in Vicenza, Italy, 25-year-old Fucsovics has moved to the doorstep of a Top 100 breakthrough. Now a four-time winner on the ATP Challenger Tour, he has boosted his position in the Emirates ATP Rankings to a career-high World No. 107. The title was extra sweet for Fucsovics, who was awarded a main draw wild card at Wimbledon following the match.

Fergana Challenger (Fergana, Uzbekistan): Fourth seed Ilya Ivashka was ruthless in streaking to his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title in Fergana. The Belarusian did not drop a set all week, capped with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Nikola Milojevic on Sunday. With the win, players from Belarus are now an impressive 4-0 in Challenger finals this year. Egor Gerasimov won titles in Saint-Brieuc and Karshi, while Uladzimir Ignatik prevailed in Rennes.

Poprad-Tatry Challenger (Poprad-Tatry, Slovakia): Germany’s Cedrik-Marcel Stebe has returned to professional tennis with a vengeance after being sidelined for nearly three years due to injury. The former World No. 71 claimed his first ATP Challenger Tour title since 2013 on Saturday, prevailing on the clay of Poprad-Tatry.

Stebe, who defeated Laslo Djere 6-0, 6-3 in the final, has won 10 of his last 11 matches after reaching the semis as a qualifier in Caltanissetta last week. Having been outside the Top 700 of the Emirates ATP Rankings a year ago, he is projected to rise to No. 167.

Internationaux de Tennis de Blois (Blois, France): Top seed Damir Dzumhur made quick work of local favourite Calvin Hemery in the Blois final, claiming his seventh ATP Challenger Tour title with a 6-1, 6-3 win in just 68 minutes. It was a strong week for Dzumhur, who stopped the breakout run of Lyon winner Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round, followed by a straight-set win over fourth seed Henri Laaksonen in the semis. Laaksonen was looking to enter the Top 100 for the first time with a win. Dzumhur rises 11 spots to No. 83 in the Emirates ATP Rankings with his first title in nearly two years.

Internazionali di Tennis dell’Umbria (Todi, Italy): Last year, Argentina boasted a record-tying 20 winners on the ATP Challenger Tour. The South American nation finally has its first in 2017, with Federico Delbonis claiming the title on the clay of Todi, Italy. Delbonis ousted home hope Marco Cecchinato 7-5, 6-1 in front of a packed crowd at the Tennis Club Todi. It was the eighth Challenger crown for the 26 year old, who celebrates a return to the Top 100.

Watch Hot Shots: Smith in Ilkley | Delbonis in Todi | Caruana in Todi

THEY SAID IT
Fucsovics: “In the beginning of the year, I didn’t think I would be close to the Top 100. Now I will be almost inside it. Top 100 has been a goal in all of my career. I want to finally make it.

“It’s been a great month and this is a great tournament in Ilkley. I played unbelievable all week. I think my game fits on all the surfaces. I can play well on clay and on grass. I won Wimbledon juniors seven years ago, so I really like the grass.”

A LOOK AHEAD
The lone tournament on next week’s slate is the Aspria Tennis Cup in Milan. Defending champion Cecchinato is the top seed, while Todi winner Delbonis looks to go back-to-back. Seeded third, Delbonis lifted the Milan trophy in 2015.

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ATP CHALLENGER TOUR ON TWITTER: 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

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