ATP Challenger - Knoxville, USA
[4] Ben Shelton (USA) def [3] Christopher Eubanks (USA) 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(4)
20-year-old Ben Shelton has continued his push towards the ATP top 100 with a second consecutive Challenger title.
The American, who turned pro earlier this year and forewent his college degree at the University of Florida, has risen over 450 ranking places since June to become the live world number 108.
This week in Knoxville, Shelton overcame counterpart Christopher Eubanks in the final, with the pair squaring off on Sunday for the second straight week.
The 20-year-old has also made himself the frontrunner for the men’s American wildcard into the 2023 Australian Open, should he miss direct entry.
The USTA will determine the recipient based on results for the period Monday October 24 – Sunday November 20, which Shelton now leads by 67 points, ahead of Eubanks.
ATP Challenger - Roanne, France
[2] Hugo Gaston (FRA) def Henri Laaksonen (SUI) 6-7(6), 7-5, 6-1
Frenchman Hugo Gaston has also boosted his chances at a place in the 2023 Australian Open main draw, after winning his first career ATP Challenger title.
Gaston had lost each of his previous four finals at the level and appeared set to continue the trend after a dropping a tight opening set in Sunday’s final.
However, the 22-year-old responded empathically to claim the trophy – making it his first singles title in more than three years.
Having fallen out of the top 100 this week for the first time all year, the triumph helps Gaston rise back to number 106 and on the cusp of direct entry into the Aus Open – with the French Tennis Federation also having one wildcard to award.
WTA 125K - Colina, Chile
[1] Mayar Sherif (EGY) def Kateryna Baindl (UKR) 3-6, 7-6(3), 7-5
Mayar Sherif has won her third WTA 125K title of the season, on the clay courts of Colina, Chile.
In her second-round match, Sherif enjoyed a hard-fought 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 over rising 15-year-old Brenda Fruhvirtova, mixed in amid a pair of drubbings.
In Sunday’s final, the 26-year-old overcame Kateryna Baindlin a three-hour-and-two-minute battle, with the Ukrainian contesting her first 125K final in over five years.
Despite winning six less points than Baindl, Sherif was stronger on break points and in pressure moments, allowing her to come away with the victory.
The Egyptian will now rise to a live WTA ranking of world number 50.
ATP Challenger - Matsuyama, Japan
[Q] Seong Chan Hong (KOR) def Tung-Lin Wu (TPE) 6-3, 6-2
25-year-old Seong Chan Hong was the only unseeded champion at ATP Challenger level this week, coming through qualifying to claim his maiden Challenger title.
The Korean dropped just one set from seven matches, displaying his consistency en route to a series of dominant victories.
Hong, who had recorded just one main draw Challenger win before this season, now appears comfortable at the level, exhibited in recent wins over Aussies John Millman and Li Tu.
The former world number two junior will rise to a live ranking of 252, after commencing the year at 612.
ATP Challenger - Bratislava, Slovakia
[2] Marton Fucsovics (HUN) def Fabio Marozsan (HUN) 6-2, 6-4
Martin Fucsovics has won his first title in over four years atthe 90K Challenger event in Slovakia.
Fucsovics, the former world number 31 in 2019, had spent five consecutive years inside the ATP top 100 before recently falling out after a difficult season.
The Hungarian dropped just one set all week on his way a fifth career Challenger title and gets himself back inside the top 100 to a live ranking of 97.
In Sunday’s final, Fucsovics was dominant on serve, winning 81% of points behind his first, to claim a straight sets win in one hour and sixteen minutes.
ATP Challenger - Montevideo, Uruguay
The final in Uruguay between [2] Tomas Martin Etcheverry(ARG) and Genaro Alberto Olivieri (ARG) has been suspended due to rain, with the score tied at one set a pieceand to be resumed tomorrow.
Comments