Photograph: ATP Challenger Tour
Pedro Cachin has clinched the I.CLTK Open in Prague on Sunday following a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory over Italian Lorenzo Guistino.
Cachin, who entered the tournament as the No. 5 seed, dropped just one set on his way to the final where he broke his opponent three times to secure the win.
The Argentinian now moves to 15-2 since late-March, with both his Challenger titles coming inside that span (Madrid and Prague).
Arguably the best month of Cachin’s career will see him rewarded with a career-high ranking of world No. 152 on Monday.
The 26-year-old will open his campaign at the Challenger event in Hellibron, Germany on Tuesday against world No. 175 Constant Lestienne.
DANUBE Upper Austria Open
Another two-time 2022 Challenger title winner emerged on Sunday when Juri Rodionov rose to the occasion on home soil.
The Manthusen Challenger attracted a quality field headlined by top-seed Australian John Millman but it was ultimately the unseeded Rodionov who outlasted all comers.
No. 2 seed Jiri Lehecka was expected to provide stiff opposition in Sunday’s final, having dropped just one set throughout his week.
Rodionov, who was yet to drop a set himself, had other ideas though. The Austrian was clearly the more dominant player, both on serve and return.
The Manthausen trophy marks Rodionov’s second of the year after his heroics in Biel in late March.
The 22-year-old can expect to rise to world No. 130 from Monday - a new career-high. His opponent, Lehecka, will also reach a career-high of world No. 79.
Dove Men+Care Salvador De Bahia
Top-seeded Chilean Tomas Barrios Vera has fallen at the final hurdle in Salvador de Bahia after Joao Domingues ran away with the title on Sunday.
The 28-year-old Portuguese manufactured 11 break point opportunities and was more consistent on both serve and return to clinch the trophy with a 7-6(9), 6-1 victory.
Barrios Vera was considered a heavy favourite in what was their first ever meeting but Domingues was clearly the more dominant player.
Domingues’ title run in Salvador de Bahia is the third of his career and first since 2019.
The Portuguese will climb to world No. 330 following Sunday victory while Barrios Vera will reach a new career-high of 134.
Open Pays d’Aix CEPAC
The Challenger event in the French town of Aix-en-Provence will feature an extra day of play at this year’s event after the singles final was delayed due to rain.
The final will now take place on Monday with one of two French finalists to soon be crowned champions on home soil.
Top-seed Benjamin Bonzi, who came through a marathon semi-final against Nicolas Jarry 6-7(8), 7-6(2), 7-6(5) in three hours and 13 minutes, will meet alternate Gregoire Barrere.
Barrere defeated 2008 Australian Open finalist Jo Wilfred Tsonga and sixth and fourth seeds Juan Pablo Varillas and Quentin Halys respectively on his way to the final.
Victory for Bonzi in Monday’s final would see him eclipse his career-high ranking of world No. 58.