Abdullah Shelbayh accomplished a historic run Sunday, when he grew to become the primary participant from Jordan to win an ATP Challenger Tour title.
The 19-year-old triumphed on the LTP Challenger in Charleston, South Carolina, the place he defeated American wild card Oliver Crawford 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3 within the closing. Shelbayh, who’s one in all 4 Challenger champions this week, is the youngest participant from an Arab nation to win a title at that stage.
“It’s one thing particular for me to characterize Jordan at such tournaments at a excessive stage. With the ability to win such an incredible occasion is such a giant title for me, the largest of my profession thus far,” Shelbayh informed commentator Mike Cation.
Shelbayh made a breakthrough this February when he made the Manama Challenger closing earlier than falling to Thanasi Kokkinakis. The next week, the lefty made his ATP Tour debut in Doha. A 2021 graduate of the Rafa Nadal Academy, Shelbayh hopes to construct upon his momentum after capturing his maiden Challenger title.
“I believe the primary half is bodily energy. I really feel like my physique hasn’t grown absolutely. As I preserve working within the gymnasium with my health coach and with time, I believe that can assist me quite a bit to enhance the talents that I’ve,” stated Shelbayh.
The Charleston Challenger closing was a duel between two former College of Florida stars. Crawford, who was competing in his first Challenger closing, performed faculty tennis on the College of Florida earlier than turning professional in 2020. Shelbayh performed one season for the Gators earlier than turning professional in 2022.
The Royal Connection That Helped Jordan’s Shelbayh Make It On Tour
In different Challenger motion, Czech Tomas Machac ousted 4 of the highest eight seeds en path to the Co’met Orleans Open title. The 22-year-old overcame eighth seed Jack Draper 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 within the closing to elevate his fifth Challenger title and first of this season.
“I’m tremendous blissful that I confirmed myself that I generally is a nice participant and beat nice gamers,” Machac stated. “[In the final], the primary set was my greatest tennis, second set was okay, and the third set was superb from my head, power, and every part. I used to be simply combating and attempting to provide him my recreation.”
Tomas Machac wins the Challenger 125 occasion in Orleans, France.” />Tomas Machac wins the Challenger 125 occasion in Orleans, France. Credit score: Co’met Orleans OpenMachac, who’s at a career-high No. 96 within the Pepperstone ATP Reside Rankings, ended his three-match skid in Challenger finals whereas ending Draper’s excellent 4-0 document in Challenger finals.
“I used to be within the zone and simply focussing on myself,” Machac stated. “I performed the final two video games unbelievably bodily and mentally.”
Germans Constantin Frantzen and Hendrik Jebens collected their season-leading sixth Challenger crew title in Orleans, the place they survived Henry Patten and John-Patrick Smith 7-6(5), 7-6(12) within the closing.
Oriol Roca Batalla was topped champion on the Braga Open in Portugal, the place he rallied previous Croatian Duje Ajdukovic 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 within the closing. Roca Batalla, 30, is the second-oldest participant this 12 months to win his maiden Challenger title, solely behind the 31-year-old Arthur Weber, who received in Zhuhai.
Oriol Roca Batalla wins the Challenger 75 occasion in Braga, Portugal.” />Oriol Roca Batalla wins the Challenger 75 occasion in Braga, Portugal. Credit score: FPT/Sara FalcaoCompeting in his 96th Challenger primary draw, the Spaniard Roca Batalla received seven matches in eight days as he went from qualifying to the winners’ circle.
Thiago Agustin Tirante received his second Challenger title of the season on the Directv Open Bogota. Within the closing, the 22-year-old Argentine, who additionally received in Morelos, Mexico in April, was given a walkover by Brazil’s Gustavo Heide, who was coping with a abdomen difficulty.
Thiago Agustin Tirante wins the Challenger 125 occasion in Bogota.” />Thiago Agustin Tirante wins the Challenger 125 occasion in Bogota. Credit score: Directv Open Bogota
