Luca Nardi’s first ATP Challenger Tour title of the season couldn’t have come at a greater time.
The Italian #NextGenATP star triumphed on the Porto Open in Portugal on Sunday, when he was celebrating his twentieth birthday. The fourth seed Nardi rallied previous dwelling favorite Joao Sousa 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 within the closing to earn his fourth Challenger trophy.
“I’ll bear in mind at the present time, my twentieth birthday, my most necessary title,” Nardi advised Sport TV. “For certain it will likely be particular for a very long time. It wasn’t simple as a result of I knew it will be a really robust crowd at present, all for him. I knew that, I respect that. He performed good, he had a really stable week and at present I feel I used to be very focussed, did not wish to surrender.
“The primary two matches I did not play good, however then I performed higher match by match and I hope I can maintain this confidence for the remainder of the season.”
Nardi, who’s twelfth within the Pepperstone ATP Dwell Subsequent Gen Race, is aiming to make his debut on the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals, which showcases the season’s greatest 21-and-under gamers.
Newcomer Nardi: Get To Know The Newest #NextGenATP Italian Star
In different Challenger Tour motion, Jaume Munar dropped only one set all week to be topped champion on the San Marino Tennis Open, the place he defeated Andrea Pellegrino 6-4, 6-1 within the closing.
World No. 80 Munar overcame a sluggish begin within the semi-finals, the place he trailed countryman Daniel Rincon 0-6 earlier than mounting a comeback and lifting his ninth Challenger title the following day.
Earlier this season, the Spaniard Munar reached the final 4 of the ATP 250 occasion in Santiago and the fourth spherical of the Mutua Madrid Open. His triumph in San Marino marks his first Challenger title of 2023. The 26-year-old arrived on the Challenger 125 occasion following back-to-back tour-level quarter-finals in Gstaad and Umag.
Jaume Munar wins the ATP Challenger Tour 125 occasion in San Marino.” />
Jaume Munar in motion Sunday in San Marino. Credit score: San Marino Tennis Open
It was a dream week for Croatian Duje Ajdukovic, who superior by way of qualifying en path to his maiden Challenger title on the Platzmann Open in Luedenscheid, Germany. The 22-year-old received seven matches in as many days and downed eighth seed Hugo Dellien 7-5, 6-4 within the closing.
Rain pressured Ajdukovic and Dellien to play their semi-final matches and closing on Saturday. Regardless of taking part in in his first Challenger closing, Ajdukovic held his nerve to triumph, sealing his rise to a career-high World No. 216 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.
On the Lexington Challenger in Kentucky, former World No. 21 Steve Johnson didn’t drop a set all week to elevate the trophy. The American moved previous #NextGenATP Frenchman Arthur Cazaux 7-6(5), 6-4 within the championship match after successful 88 per cent of his first-serve factors.
The 33-year-old Johnson has received two Challenger crowns this previous month following a three-year title drought in any respect ranges.
Steve Johnson wins the ATP Challenger 75 occasion in Lexington, Kentucky.” />
Steve Johnson throughout Sunday’s closing on the Challenger 75 occasion in Kentucky. Credit score: Lexington Challenger
Argentine Francisco Comesana collected his second Challenger title of the 12 months by successful the Svijany Open by Moneta Cash Financial institution in Liberec, Czech Republic. The 22-year-old cruised previous American qualifier Toby Kodat 6-2, 6-4 within the closing, the place Comesana received 90 per cent of his first-serve factors and didn’t face a break level all match.
A four-time Challenger champion, Comesana is at a career-high No. 170. The Argentine has reached not less than the quarter-finals in his previous six Challenger occasions, together with a title run in Vicenza.
Raise it up, Come!@fran_comesana wins his second Challenger title of the 12 months and 4 of his profession, defeating Kodat 6-2, 6-4 in Liberec 👏#ATPChallenger | @AATenis pic.twitter.com/owTqMsDcU3
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) August 6, 2023