Challenger
#NextGenATP Butvilas wins first Challenger title; Fearnley, Ritschard set for High 100 debut
Fearnley wins third consecutive title, extending match profitable streak to fifteen
September 30, 2024
LTP Challenger
Edas Butvilas wins his first ATP Challenger Tour title in Charleston, South Carolina.
By ATP Employees
Three gamers secured memorable milestones Sunday after they triumphed on the ATP Challenger Tour.
#NextGenATP Edas Butvilas earned his maiden Challenger crown whereas Jacob Fearnley and Alexander Ritschard are set to crack the High 100 of the PIF ATP Rankings on Wednesday following their title runs.
The 20-year-old Butvilas gained the LTP Challenger in Charleston, South Carolina, the place he turned the primary fortunate loser champion at that degree since February 2023 (Matteo Gigante, Tenerife). Butvilas downed American Nishesh Basavareddy 6-4, 6-3 within the remaining.
Coming into the 2024 season, there had solely been two Lithuanian winners in Challenger historical past: Ricardas Berankis and Laurynas Grigelis. However Lithuania has two #NextGenATP gamers who’ve added their names to the combination this 12 months: Vilius Gaubas, who gained the Cordenons Challenger, and Butvilas.
Up eight locations to 14th within the PIF ATP Reside Race To Jeddah, Butvilas is aiming to make a late push for maiden qualification for the 20-and-under Subsequent Gen ATP Finals offered by PIF, which runs from 18-22 December. His countryman Gaubas is ninth.
Fearnley, 23, continued his unstoppable run on the Co’met Orleans Open. The Briton has gained 4 Challenger titles this 12 months, together with the previous three he has performed. Previous to this season, Fearnley had solely competed in a single Challenger match, however the former Texas Christian College standout now boasts a 23-1 season file at that degree.
Highest win share in a Challenger season (min. 20 matches performed)
World No. 98 within the PIF ATP Reside Rankings, Fearnley dropped only one set all week in Orleans, the place he defeated dwelling hope Harold Mayot 6-3, 7-6(5) within the remaining.
“It was a really, very tough match. I used to be feeling fairly snug till about 5-3 [in the second set]. I had some alternatives however credit score to Harold, he stored combating and made it very tough for me,” Fearnley stated. “It’s by no means simple to serve out a title, particularly a giant one in entrance of a French crowd.”
Jubilation for @jakefearnley01 🎉🏆#ATPChallenger | @the_LTA pic.twitter.com/QEbz1CNWu3
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) September 29, 2024
Ritschard can also be set to make his High 100 debut after profitable his third title of the 12 months. The 30-year-old, who’s one place behind Fearnley at No. 99 within the PIF ATP Reside Rankings, gained the Del Monte Lisboa Belém Open in Portugal. The Swiss overcame Belgian Raphael Collignon 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-3 in a two-hour, 37-minute remaining.
Alexander Ritschard celebrates profitable the Lisbon Challenger.” type=”width:100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/photographs/information/2024/09/30/17/37/ritschard-lisbonch-2024.jpg”>
Alexander Ritschard celebrates profitable the Lisbon Challenger. Credit score: Beatriz Ruivo/FPT
“The end result, the profitable, and all that is simply the reward for exhausting work,” Ritschard stated. “I contemplate myself nonetheless younger, however I assume on the earth of tennis individuals see 30 they usually assume, ‘Oh, he is on his method out’. However for me, it is simply getting began. I simply need to see how far I can go. I believe I’ve what it takes to play on the high and I simply need to discover how far I can take it.”
Argentine Juan Manuel Cerundolo gained his third Challenger title of the 12 months and tenth total on the Challenger Dove Males+Care Antofagasta in Chile.
Juan Manuel Cerundolo on the Antofagasta Challenger.” type=”width:100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/photographs/information/2024/09/30/17/38/cerundolo-antofagastach-2024.jpg”>
Juan Manuel Cerundolo on the Antofagasta Challenger. Credit score: Challenger Dove Males+Care Antofagasta
The eighth seed relied on rock-solid counterpunching to beat Paraguay’s 20-year-old Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 within the remaining. Cerundolo, 22, saved 11 of 15 break factors confronted, in line with Infosys ATP Stats.
Tung-Lin Wu was topped champion on the Bangkok Challenger, the place he superior by means of qualifying en path to lifting the trophy.
The 26-year-old, who hails from Chinese language Taipei, downed American Mackenzie McDonald 6-3, 7-6(4) within the remaining to assert his second Challenger title and first since April 2022. Wu dropped only one set throughout seven matches in Thailand.
Tung-Lin Wu in motion on the Bangkok Challenger.” type=”width:100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/photographs/information/2024/09/30/17/35/wu-nonthaburich-2024.jpg”>
Tung-Lin Wu in motion on the Bangkok Challenger. Credit score: Bangkok Challenger