Win titles and you’ll shortly climb the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. Though a lot simpler mentioned than finished, these are the hopes and desires for the younger stars on the ATP Challenger Tour who’re hungry for an expert breakthrough. And all 4 of this week’s Challenger Tour champions are at a career-high Pepperstone ATP Ranking following their triumphs.
American Aleksandar Kovacevic triumphed in Cleveland for his maiden Challenger crown whereas Rinky Hijikata gained in Burnie, Australia to again up his Grand Slam doubles title Down Under. Matteo Arnaldi and Roman Safiullin additionally lifted trophies on the Challenger Tour this week.
Kovacevic rallied from a set down within the Cleveland Open closing to defeat Wu Yibing 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(2). The American avenged his Indianapolis Challenger loss to Wu, who defeated him in July after keeping off six championship factors.
En path to the Cleveland title, the previous University of Illinois standout wanted a deciding set in 4 of his 5 matches and took out the highest three seeds: Emilio Gomez, Wu and Steve Johnson. The Challenger 75 title lifted Kovacevic to a career-high World No. 125 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.
Wu, who has reached 5 Challenger finals throughout the previous 12 months, rose to No. 97 and joined countryman Zhang Zhizhen as the one Chinese males to crack the Top 100. Wu and Zhang additionally battled by way of qualifying on the 2022 US Open to develop into the primary Chinese males to compete in the principle draw at Flushing Meadows. The Hangzhou-native Wu made a run to the third spherical earlier than falling to then-World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev.
From the Australian Open doubles title to gathering a Challenger crown on residence soil, Hijikata has had a dream begin to 2023. The 21-year-old didn’t drop a set all week en path to the title on the Caterpillar Burnie International. In the all-Aussie closing, Hijikata downed high seed James Duckworth 6-3, 6-3.
“I’m stoked to have the ability to maintain the trophy,” Hijikata mentioned. “I wished to return right here and set my 12 months up nicely and have a robust event. I’m fairly proud of the best way I performed all through the entire week. I believed I competed nicely and stored a superb stage in all my matches. I feel it’s one other good stepping stone and hopefully I can hold enhancing.”
Rinky Hijikata on the 2023 Burnie Challenger. Credit: Cameron Wilson
Hijikata paired with countryman Jason Kubler final month on the Australian Open, the place the wild playing cards went on a fairytale run to gather their maiden main title. Hijikata and Kubler adopted within the footsteps of Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios, who gained the 2022 Australian Open title as wild playing cards.
Following his title in Tasmania, the previous University of North Carolina star Hijikata climbed to a career-high World No. 119.
On the Canary island Tenerife, the Italian Arnaldi captured his second Challenger title after needing simply 58 minutes to defeat countryman Raul Brancaccio within the closing 6-1, 6-2.
“I’m tremendous proud of how I performed this week,” Arnaldi mentioned. “After the second-round match, I began to play higher and higher. I feel that was the important thing to successful the event.
“Now I’ll attempt to go and play extra ATP [Tour-level events]. And to play ATP with two Challenger titles and so many matches behind me, that can assist rather a lot.”
Matteo Arnaldi triumphs on the Tenerife Challenger-2. Credit: MEF Tennis Events
Arnaldi, 21, claimed his maiden Challenger title final May on residence soil in Francavilla al Mare. The Sanremo-native was additionally a finalist on the 2022 San Marino and Saint Tropez Challengers. Arnaldi competed on the 2022 Next Gen ATP Finals as an alternate, however suffered a round-robin exit. The Italian’s title on the Tenerife Challenger-2 lifted him to a career-high World No. 110.
“Since I used to be a baby, it’s been a objective to be within the Top 100,” Arnaldi mentioned. “I attempt to assume match by match and take a look at my finest on daily basis. I do know it’s shut however nonetheless a bit far. I’ll attempt my finest to get in and be in the principle draw for Roland Garros.”
In Germany, second seed Roman Safiullin prolonged his good Challenger-final document to 4-0 when he defeated Canadian Vasek Pospisil 6-2, 7-5 to win the Koblenz Open powered by Outlet Montabaur.
After a robust displaying in 2022, together with two Challenger titles (Nur-Sultan, Chicago), Safiullin is constructing upon his momentum. The former junior World No. 2 boasted an 18-6 Challenger document final season and reached two tour-level semi-finals: Marseille (l. Auger-Aliassime) and Tel Aviv (l. Djokovic). Following this week’s triumph in Koblenz, the 25-year-old rose to a career-high World No. 82.
Roman Safiullin collects the title on the 2023 Koblenz Challenger. Credit: Meierhans Fotografie
Source: www.atptour.com