Roman Safiullin survives two championship points, wins Cary Challenger | ATP Tour

Challenger

Safiullin survives two championship factors, wins Cary Challenger

Dzumhur collects season-leading fourth Challenger title

August 19, 2024

High seed Roman Safiullin made a dramatic comeback Saturday on the Cary Tennis Traditional, the place he saved two championship factors to assert his fifth ATP Challenger Tour title.

The 27-year-old escaped Mattia Bellucci 1-6, 7-5, 7-5 within the closing, throughout which the Italian qualifier led 6-1, 4-1. Safiullin stared down two championship factors on serve at 4-5 within the second set, however discovered a solution to flip across the match and raise the trophy after two hours, 53 minutes. Showing to fade bodily within the latter phases, Safiullin set free a sigh of reduction when he transformed his eighth championship level.

“I simply determined to place the ball again [in play], attempt to let him win it and he made some errors and I performed some good balls. On the finish of the match, I used to be capable of flip it round,” Safiullin instructed commentator Rob Werner.

“It was tremendous humid at present. It was actually powerful with the situations, however I’m glad that I managed it. It was an excellent take a look at for me forward of New York, as a result of New York goes to be comparable situations.”

Following his title run, Safiullin is up seven locations to No. 57 within the PIF ATP Stay Rankings. He was enjoying simply his fifth Challenger occasion since September 2022.

Now 5-0 in Challenger finals, Safiullin is the sixth participant contained in the High 70 to win a title this 12 months at that degree. Safiullin final 12 months turned the primary participant since Nick Kyrgios in 2014 to win a Challenger title and attain the Wimbledon quarter-finals in the identical season.

In different Challenger motion, Damir Dzumhur turned the primary participant this season to win 4 trophies at that degree along with his triumph on the RD Open 2024 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The 32-year-old defeated Ecuador’s fortunate loser Andres Andrade 6-4, 6-4 within the closing.

Damir Dzumhur in motion on the Santo Domingo Challenger.”>Damir Dzumhur in motion on the Santo Domingo Challenger. Credit score: Gabriela Ascuasiati

Dzumhur gained the inaugural version of the Santo Domingo Challenger in 2015 and 9 years later, the Bosnian returned to the winners’ circle for his twelfth Challenger crown.

Coming into the match, the previous World No. 23 returned to the High 100 for the primary time in four-and-a-half years. Dzumhur is as much as No. 81 within the PIF ATP Stay Rankings, setting him up for his highest rating since June 2019.

Swiss Marc-Andrea Huesler dropped only one set all week on the Kozerki Open in Poland, the place he raced previous high seed Vit Kopriva 6-1, 6-4 within the closing. The 29-year-old earned his sixth Challenger title and first since April 2022.

“I served properly this week, performed numerous good tennis and was capable of save numerous break factors. That helped,” mentioned Huesler, who dropped serve as soon as all week, having saved 9 of the ten break factors he confronted, in accordance with Infosys ATP Stats. “Within the closing, as quickly as I bought a bit tight, my first serve was there, so that actually helped me to get by way of the week. It additionally permits me to be extra aggressive on return and take a pair dangers.

“I used to be not likely anticipating loads this week as a result of I didn’t actually have a tough court docket preparation. I noticed that when your expectations are low, then on the finish of the week, you might be standing right here because the winner.”

Marc-Andrea Huesler poses with the Grodzisk Mazowiecki ballkids affter the trophy ceremony.”>Marc-Andrea Huesler poses with the Grodzisk Mazowiecki ballkids affter the trophy ceremony. Credit score: Kozerki Open

Carlos Taberner went one step additional than his earlier week’s runner-up end in Cordenons with a triumph on the Internazionali di Tennis Citta di Todi Sidernestor Tennis Cup. The Spaniard’s consistency helped him down Argentine Santiago Rodriguez Taverna 6-4, 6-3 within the closing to attain his seventh ATP Challenger Tour title.

“Very glad to get this title. Perhaps by rating, the ultimate was the one match of my final three that I gained in two units, however it was not straightforward,” Taberner mentioned. “It was very, very tough. I’m very glad as a result of I feel the entire time I performed the identical degree.”

Carlos Taberner celebrates successful the Challenger 75 occasion in Todi, Italy.”>Carlos Taberner celebrates successful the Challenger 75 occasion in Todi, Italy. Credit score: Yuri Serafini