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Writer's pictureConnor Joyce

VUKIC FALLS SHORT IN CALGARY / HARRIS-SMITH WIN MAIDEN TITLE TOGETHER



Aleks Vukic has enjoyed his deepest singles run at an event in nine months, reaching a Challenger final in Calgary, Canada.


The Aussie has endured a difficult year on tour, managing consecutive wins just twice since February, before this week.


The 26-year-old dropped just one set in his four matches before the final, before falling 6-2, 6-4 to Dominik Koepfer.


Vukic managed to fend off 13/16 break points in the decider but was unable to break Koepfer for the entire match.


For the German, it is a first Challenger title in over three years and will take him back inside the ATP top 200.


Elsewhere, Alexei Popyrin reached the semi-finals of the Challenger event in Roanne, France.


The 22-year-old was able to string together three consecutive wins for the first time since June on his way to a fourth Challenger semi-final of the season.


Popyrin, who started the week ranked 131 in the world – his lowest placement in almost four years, will rise up 10 places on the back of an improved week.


On the doubles side, John-Patrick Smith and Andrew Harris won their first title as a pair, at the ATP Challenger event in Matsuyama, Japan.


The duo needed match tiebreaks to win their two of their last three encounters, ultimately coming through 6-3, 4-6, [10-8] in the final.


It is Harris’ third Challenger doubles title for the year and fourth overall, whilst J.P Smith picks up his 28th career title but first since February 2020 after six consecutive losses.


Li Tu and Dane Sweeny also reached the doubles semi-finals in Matsuyama but were unable to create an all-Aussie decider.


From an ITF perspective, Bernard Tomic and Matthew Dellavadova reached singles quarterfinals in America and Greece, respectively.


Both remain just outside the ATP top 500 and will be in the frame for qualifying wildcards into the 2023 Australian Open.


The upcoming week will see the bulk of our Aussie men and women on tour head to Traralgon for the ITF 25K events.


Meanwhile, a large contingent of men will be competing in Japan, as all but Chris O’Connell look to make their final case for an Australian Open main draw wildcard.


Singles upcoming Challenger schedule: (Week of November 14-20)


ATP Challenger – Kobe, Japan


Main draw:

[1] Chris O’Connell

[2] John Millman

[3] Rinky Hijikata

[5] James Duckworth

[8] Li Tu

Dane Sweeny


Qualifying:

Marc Polmans


ATP Challenger – Champaign, USA


Main draw:

Adam Walton


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