Herbert Claims Third Challenger Title In Bergamo

A LOOK BACK
Trofeo Perrel – Faip (Bergamo, Italy): The €42,500 event in Bergamo was thrust into the spotlight last week, as Dustin Brown went behind-the-back for a stunning hot shot in his first-round meeting with Aldin Setkic. Brown may have stolen the headlines, but it was France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert who took home the trophy, claiming his third ATP Challenger Tour title 6-3, 7-6(5) over Egor Gerasimov on Sunday. Herbert, who is in the midst of a strong start to the 2016 season following a run to the third round at the Australian Open as a qualifier, earned his first Challenger crown in 16 months. The Frenchman is closing in on a return to the Top 100 of the Emirates ATP Rankings, rising to World No. 111.

The tournament, in its 11th year, welcomed 20,000 fans during the week, including a sold out final.

Milex Open (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic): Argentina’s Guido Andreozzi vaulted more than 60 spots to No. 172 in the Emirates ATP Rankings after capturing his third ATP Challenger Tour title Sunday in Santo Domingo. Andreozzi dominated the all-Argentine final against Nicolas Kicker 6-0, 6-4 in 73 minutes, following a five-hour rain delay. It was his first title in three years. Meanwhile, fresh off his title defence at the ATP World Tour 250 event in Quito, native son Victor Estrella Burgos fell in the second round in his tournament debut.

What The Players Said
Herbert: “It was really tough because Gerasimov played unbelievable this week, didn’t lose a set before the final. I knew that it was going to be a difficult match and I’m very happy to be able to win in two sets.

“The surface helped me because it was very fast, almost like carpet. I’m happy to serve and volley and go to the net. The surface was quite fitting to my game. Last year, I played very well in doubles with Nicolas Mahut and I really like to go the net. My game is a more aggressive now and the key is to put my opponent in bad situations.

“This title means a lot. I started the season well at the Australian Open. After Melbourne I said to Nico [Mahut] that I’m not going to play doubles and I’m going try to have a higher singles ranking. For me, February will be a “Challenger month” and to start with a title is very good. I hope to continue like this in the next weeks.

“Last year, I made it into the Top 100 at No. 92 in the world, but I had some issues with my fitness, some injuries. I played a lot of doubles and couldn’t play some singles. I hope that this year my [singles] ranking is going to be higher. If I have weeks like this, for sure I will have the chance to come back to the Top 100 and even better.”

WHAT’S AHEAD
There are three tournaments on three continents this week, with Evgeny Donskoy leading the field in Wroclaw (Poland), Horacio Zeballos the top-ranked player in Morelos (Mexico) and 2015 runner-up Yuki Bhambri the top seed in New Delhi (India). In Wroclaw, Herbert looks to keep the momentum rolling when he faces defending champion Farrukh Dustov in the first round. In Morelos, third seed Gerald Melzer won the title in 2014.

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