It was a weekend of comebacks on the ATP Challenger Tour.
Pablo Llamas Ruiz, who earned his maiden Challenger title Sunday on the Open Castilla y Leon in Segovia, saved three match factors within the semi-finals earlier than changing into the youngest Spanish winner at that degree since Carlos Alcaraz in 2021. Vit Kopriva fought again from a set and a double break down within the Internazionali di Tennis Verona ultimate to seize his second Challenger crown.
Llamas Ruiz, 20, defeated seventh seed Antoine Escoffier 7-6(9), 7-6(5) within the ultimate to win on dwelling soil and rise to a career-high No. 146 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. In Saturday’s semi-final, the #NextGenATP star fended off three match factors at 4-5, 0/40 within the deciding set in opposition to Nicolas Moreno De Alboran earlier than tallying 5 consecutive factors and later closing the match in a final-set tie-break.
Following his triumph in Segovia, Llamas Ruiz rose to twelfth within the Pepperstone ATP Stay Subsequent Gen Race. The Spaniard is aiming to make a maiden look on the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals.
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Kopriva rallied from a set down in his ultimate three matches to win the Challenger 100 occasion in Verona, Italy. The Czech survived Ukrainian Vitaliy Sachko 1-6, 7-6(3), 6-2 within the championship match after dropping only one level behind his first serve within the ultimate set.
The 26-year-old Kopriva, who gained his maiden Challenger title final 12 months at dwelling in Prostejov and later reached a career-high No. 124, bought into Verona as an alternate earlier than embarking on every week to recollect.
“Superb week, I’m speechless as a result of I used to be 6-1, 5-2 down. I simply fought and I gained the title,” Kopriva mentioned. “I didn’t even know if I used to be coming to Verona as a result of I didn’t get in on the primary [entry] checklist, so it was a really particular second to be right here and maintain the trophy.”
On the Finaport Zug Open, prime seed Arthur Rinderknech additionally needed to claw his strategy to the title. The 28-year-old moved previous Belgian Joris De Loore 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to win his fifth Challenger trophy.
“It was a really shut match,” Rinderknech mentioned. “I began properly however then bought damaged within the first set and unexpectedly I used to be behind within the rating. I simply needed to keep there, focussing on my serve. I continued to serve very properly, which allowed me to win the third set and take the title.”
Arthur Rinderknech wins the ATP Challenger Tour 125 occasion in Zug, Switzerland. Credit score: Fabian Meierhans
Gamers from France have now mixed for a season-leading 18 Challenger titles. They’re aiming to move Argentina’s report 23 Challenger titles in a single season (2022).
Illya Marchenko performed impressed tennis on the Challenger de Salinas in Ecuador to win his ninth Challenger trophy and first since 2021. The 35-year-old defeated Croatian qualifier Matija Pecotic 6-3, 6-4 within the ultimate and devoted the victory to his fellow Ukrainians.
“It’s been an ideal week for me, I’m actually glad and relieved that I may add one other Challenger title to my profession,” Marchenko mentioned. “I used my expertise at this time and it helped me loads. Many matches right here I used to be the underdog, however no matter occurs I all the time struggle.
“I want to dedicate my trophy to all of the individuals in Ukraine proper now. It’s actually troublesome occasions for our nation.”
Pecotic, 34, was competing in his first Challenger ultimate since 2015. The lefty made a splash at this 12 months’s Delray Seaside Open, the place he turned one of many tales of the season. Pecotic is the Director of Capital Markets for Wexford Actual Property Buyers and works remotely whereas travelling to tournaments.
On the President’s Cup in Astana, Kazakhstan, dwelling hope and third seed Denis Yevseyev dropped only one set all week to earn his maiden Challenger title. The 30-year-old ousted Khumoyun Sultanov 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 to triumph.
Yevseyev is the primary participant to win his maiden Challenger title after turning 30 since 2015 and first dwelling champion Astana since 2015, when Mikhail Kukushkin clinched the title.
“To win my first Challenger at house is unbelievable. It was good to really feel such help from native followers,” Yevseyev mentioned. “It was an exquisite expertise. By no means cease dreaming, even on the age of 30 you’ll be able to play on the highest degree and win tournaments.”
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