Challenger
Tien and Fearnley proceed good type with Challenger titles
Kopriva saves 5 MPs in Szczecin semi-final on solution to title
September 17, 2024
Mike Stobe/Getty Photos
Pupil Tien is a two-time ATP Challenger Tour champion.
By ATP employees
American teenager Tien and Britain’s Jacob Fearnley are presently two of probably the most dominant gamers on the ATP Challenger Tour.
The #NextGenATP Ten added his title to the elite firm of American tennis historical past when he received his second Challenger title on the Las Vegas Tennis Open on Sunday. Fearnley, 23, received his third trophy in solely his fourth look on the degree this yr.
Tien, seeded third, defeated Tristan Boyer 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 within the closing of the Las Vegas Challenger. Tien received 65 % of his factors from second-serve returns, in comparison with 37 % for Boyer.
“I worth return factors rather more. I understand how a lot stress it may be when somebody wins a number of factors of their service video games,” Tien advised commentator Bryan Fenley.
By triumphing on the laborious courts of Las Vegas, Tien grew to become the fifth-youngest American to win a number of Challenger titles, behind solely Taylor Fritz, Andy Roddick, Frances Tiafoe and Sam Querrey.
Youngest Individuals to win a second Challenger title
“I am joyful I used to be capable of get by this week,” Tien stated. “Right here the circumstances had been tougher due to the altitude and the wind. Typically I did not play in addition to I needed, however I am joyful I used to be capable of remedy issues and get by the week.”
In Could, Tien was ranked No. 432 within the PIF ATP Rankings, however the 18-year-old has since climbed to a profession excessive of No. 151. {The teenager} received his first Challenger title at Bloomfield Hills in June, amid a run of 28 match wins – together with 4 ITF World Tennis Tour titles – throughout all ranges.
Tien is seventh within the PIF ATP Stay Race To Jeddah, aiming for his first journey to the 20-and-under Subsequent Gen ATP Finals introduced by PIF, which runs from December 18-22.
Britain’s Fearnley defeated three of the highest 4 ranked gamers on the Open Blot Rennes, together with fourth-seeded favorite Quentin Halys within the closing, which Fearnley received 0-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 after saving 12 of the 15 break factors he confronted, based on Infosys ATP Stats.
Fearnley accomplished his distinguished five-year collegiate profession at Texas Christian College this yr and has since risen quickly on the ATP Challenger Tour, compiling a season file of 18-1 on the degree. Rising to a career-high No. 129 within the PIF ATP Rankings, Fearnley received his first main main at Wimbledon, the place he defeated Novak Djokovic in 4 units within the second spherical.
Trophy time in Rennes 🏆#ATPCchallenge | @jakefearnley01 | @OpenBlotRennes photo.twitter.com/27GrrhAYL5
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) September 15, 2024
In different Challenger motion, Vit Kopriva went one higher than final yr’s runner-up on the Make investments In Szczecin Open to assert his fourth title. The Czech took dramatic revenge for final yr’s loss to Federico Coria by keeping off 5 match factors within the semi-finals to beat the Argentine. Kopriva cruised previous Andrea Pellegrino 7-5, 6-2 within the closing.
“The entire week was very particular. Very laborious for me to come back again after the ultimate final yr,” Kopriva stated. “I am actually proud of the entire week. At present’s closing was up and down. It was windy. We each struggled a bit at first, we misplaced service video games. The primary set was the decisive one and fortunately I received it.”
Vit Kopriva wins the Challenger 125 event in Szczecin, Poland. Credit: Invest In Szczecin Open
Guy Den Ouden remained unset all week at the IZIDA Cup in Dobrich, Bulgaria, where the 22-year-old defeated Jelle Sels 6-2, 6-3 in the final. After the Dutchman’s first Challenger title, Den Ouden is ranked a career-high No. 277 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
Christopher O’Connell won his sixth Challenger title and first of the season at the Guangzhou Huangpu International Tennis Open. The 30-year-old Australian, who has won a trophy on Asian hard courts in each of the past three seasons, defeated Sho Shimabukuro 1-6, 7-5, 7-6(5) in the championship match. O’Connell was playing in his first tournament since reaching the third round of the US Open, losing to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
Christopher O’Connell in action at the Guangzhou Challenger. Credit: Guangzhou Huangpu International Tennis Open