Cassis, France
[3] Hugo Grenier (FRA) def [2] James Duckworth (AUS) 7-5, 6-4
Aussie James Duckworth has fallen just short of a thirteenth ATP Challenger singles title at the hands of Frenchman Hugo Grenier.
For Grenier, it is a third career title at the level, and a second since July this year.
Playing in front of his home crowd in the south of France, Grenier proved too consistent for the Australian – ultimately taking out the final in two tight sets.
The 26-year-old Frenchman will now rise inside the ATP top 100 for the first time in his career on the back of a strong season.
Meanwhile, after dropping down to world number 83, Duckworth will rise back 13 places to 70 in the ATP rankings.
Bangkok, Thailand
[Q] Stuart Parker (GBR) def Arthur Cazaux (FRA) 6-4, 4-1 (ret.)
Competing in his first career ATP Challenger main draw, Britain’s Stuart Parker has claimed his maiden title, after winning seven matches in seven days.
Commencing the week at world number 464, Parker came through qualifying in dominant fashion – carrying that momentum into Sunday’s final, before French opponent was forced to retire.
Parker – who has spent time with Swede Thomas Enqvist in recent years – has big weapons, including a strong serve and forehand combination.
The British 25-year-old will rise over 100 places in the ATP rankings to live world number 351.
Meanwhile in Bangkok, Aussie Omar Jasika – who is continuing his professional tennis comeback – reached a Challenger semifinal for the second consecutive week.
25-year-old Jasika now sits inside the live ATP top 300, for the first time since January 2018.
Seville, Spain
[3] Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP) def [2] Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-3, 7-6(6)
Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena has won his eleventh career ATP Challenger title and second of 2022, in his home country.
In front of a full-house crowd supporting two locals in the final, Carballes Baena managed fewer unforced errors than his Spanish counterpart to claim the 90K title.
The 29-year-old will now rise to world number 73 – two spots below his career high, while Zapata Miralles remains just below at number 80.
Tulln, Austria
Jozef Kovalik (SVK) def [Q] Jelle Sels (NLD) 7-6(6), 7-6(3)
29-year-old Jozef Kovalik has claimed his fifth ATP Challenger title and first in over three years at the 100K event in Austria.
Kovalik took multiple big scalps over the course of the week, defeating second seed Tseng Chun-Hsin and fourth seed Elias Ymer – both in tight three-setters.
In Sunday’s final, Kovalik and Sels struggled to break serve, with just two of fifteen chances converted between them, before the Slovakian stepped up in both tiebreaks to lift the trophy.
Kovalik will rise to number 155, whilst Sels jumps inside the ATP top 200 for the first time – at 199.
ITF
Aussie Maddison Inglis teamed up with Japan’s Mai Hontama to win the 25K doubles title in Santarem, Portugal.
The duo overcame three of the top four seeded pairings, including a dominant 6-0, 6-4 victory in the final.
For Inglis, it is a third professional doubles title and first since October 2019.
Meanwhile, Matthew Dellavedova reached another ITF singles semifinal – now his third in the past month.
The 22-year-old overcame second seed Tao Mu on his way to the last four, before falling in a tight encounter.
He will continue to rise up the ATP rankings – currently at world number 621.
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