Las Vegas, USA
Tennys Sandgren (USA) def [4] Stefan Kozlov (USA) 7-5, 6-3
The man with a name more fitting to his sport than any other – Tennys Sandgren – has won his first ATP Challenger singles title since 2017 in his home nation.
The 31-year-old has spent most of his year at this level with little success before a brilliant week in Las Vegas saw him clinch the trophy.
Sandgren – the previous world number 41 – was more mature in Sunday’s all-American final, choosing the right moments to attack and defend on his way to a straight-sets victory.
The American, who pushed Roger Federer to five sets and held seven match points over the Swisse at the 2020 Australian Open, will make a big jump to world number 286 on the ATP live rankings.
Lima, Peru
[4] Daniel Altmaier (GER) def [2] Tomas Martin Etcheverry (ARG) 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-4
24-year-old Daniel Altmaier has won his fifth ATP Challenger singles title in South America, after a brilliant week filled with extensive matches.
Altmaier won four of his five matches in deciding sets and came back from a set and a break down in two in them.
In front of a strong Lima crowd, Sunday’s final saw the German face Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry, dictating play throughout the match to triumph in three hours and twenty minutes.
Altmaier’s success will help him rise back inside the ATP top 100 to a live ranking of 91 and puts him in line for a second consecutive berth in the Australian Open main draw.
Brest, France
[3] Gregoire Barrere (FRA) def Luca Van Assche (FRA) 6-3, 6-3
Frenchman Gregoire Barrere has won his second Challenger singles title in a month after taking out another event in his home nation.
Barrere’s toughest test came in a tight opening round clash, before three straight sets victories ensured him the title.
In Sunday’s final, the 28-year-old took on younger counterpart Luca Van Assche – with the 18-year-old also competing in his second Challenger final for October.
Barrere, who has now reached five straight quarterfinals at this level, proved too strong and experienced for Van Assche who was unable to hit through him.
The champion in Brest will rise back inside the ATP top 100 to a live ranking of 93.
Ortisei, Italy
Borna Gojo (CRO) def [7] Lukas Klein (SVK) 7-6(4), 6-4
Croatian Borna Gojo has won his maiden Challenger title and the first professional singles title of his career.
Gojo, who had lost his three previous singles finals, came in unseeded this week, and rolled through four of the top seven seeds to lift a much-deserved trophy.
The 24-year-old overcame Lukas Klein in the decider, needing a tiebreak to claim the first, before continuing an unbroken run on serve to win the second.
Gojo will now rise inside the ATP top 150 for the first time, to a career-high live ranking of No. 148.
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