Tie-Break Titan: Chiudinelli Reflects On Historic Run

In the midst of a resurgent 2016 campaign, Marco Chiudinelli is pushing towards a return to the Top 100 of the Emirates ATP Rankings. The 35-year-old Swiss, who has soared more than 150 spots to World No. 125, has amassed 25 wins this year on the ATP Challenger Tour and owes much of his success to a dominant run in tie-breaks.

Calm under pressure, Chiudinelli established an impressive streak of 13 consecutive Challenger tie-breaks won from January to September. Despite dropping the first set 7-6(3) to eventual champion Marsel Ilhan at last week’s event in Izmir, Turkey, it will go down as the second-longest streak on the circuit since 2000. Only South Africa’s Wesley Moodie has won more tie-breaks in a row, when he strung together 14 straight from 2002-03.

“I have a lot of runs,” Chiudinelli told ATPWorldTour.com. “Last year, I had a negative one and this was a pretty positive one. It obviously helps me to stay calm in the tie-breaks. They have gone so well for me this year.

“I lost a pretty big one in Davis Cup, but knowing that I won many this year does help. You just keep believing and it definitely gives me confidence knowing that I’ve had such a good tie-break run. It doesn’t give you any guarantees, but this year it’s been good for me.”

Chiudinelli, runner-up in Manila in January and titlist on the hard courts of Wroclaw, Poland, a month later, continues to turn back the clock as the season progresses. After reaching the US Open second round as a qualifier, the Swiss carried the momentum into Istanbul, advancing to his fourth Challenger semi-final of the year (l. to Sela). He will look to start a new tie-break streak at this week’s prestigious indoor event in Orleans, France.