More than 6,000 miles aside, French kids Arthur Cazaux and Arthur Fils mixed to be topped champions on the ATP Challenger Tour this week.
While Cazaux superior by means of qualifying in Nonthaburi, Thailand, 18-year-old Fils received his maiden Challenger title on the Oeiras Indoor 2. Argentine Juan Manuel Cerundolo additionally triumphed Sunday on residence soil.
Fils, who was taking part in in his first Challenger closing, appeared unfazed as he earned a 6-1, 7-6(4) victory to finish Belgian Joris De Loore’s 11-match profitable streak.
Shortly after beating Top-60 gamers Jaume Munar and Fabio Fognini final season to qualify for the ATP Masters 1000 occasion in Paris, the 2021 Roland Garros boys’ singles finalist has constructed on his momentum and labored exhausting within the offseason to organize for 2023.
“I did a very good preseason, so I knew I used to be taking part in good,” Fils mentioned. “It was an incredible week [in Oeiras], I performed nicely the entire week.”
Arthur Fils on the Challenger 75 occasion in Oeiras. Credit: FPT/Sara Falcao
Fils joins an unique listing of French Challenger champions aged 18 and below: Richard Gasquet, Sebastien Grosjean, Gael Monfils, Fabrice Santoro, Corentin Moutet, and Luca Van Assche.
The teen rises to a career-high 195 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings and is the youngest French participant within the Top 200.
At the Bangkok Open 2, Cazaux received seven matches in as many days, together with taking down the Top-2 seeds Dennis Novak and Lloyd Harris, who he defeated within the closing 7-6(5), 6-2.
The 20-year-old has reached at the very least the ultimate the previous thrice he’s performed in Nonthaburi, together with profitable the title on the Challenger 50 occasion in September.
Arthur Cazaux in motion on the Bangkok Open 2. Credit: The Lawn Tennis Association Of Thailand
In Cazaux’s second-round encounter in opposition to Indian Prajnesh Gunneswaran, the #NextGenATP star saved three match factors to remain alive. The title lifts the Frenchman to a career-high 266 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.
Harris, who was a quarter-finalist on the 2021 US Open, was competing in simply his second occasion since May, when the 25-year-old underwent wrist surgical procedure following Roland Garros.
In Tigre, Argentina, which is close to Buenos Aires, residence favorite Juan Manuel Cerundolo defeated Dutchman Jesper de Jong within the closing 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 to triumph on the Challenger Aysa de Tigre 2.
Cerundolo, 21, has had a dream begin to this season. The lefty has received back-to-back titles in Tigre and is on a 10-match profitable streak.
Juan Manuel Cerundolo wins his second Challenger title of 2023. Credit: Asociación Argentina de Tenis
“It was a reasonably wonderful week, with unbelievable tennis for me,” Cerundolo mentioned. “Two in a row, I’m comfy with my tennis. I’m actually pleased and I’m hoping to maintain going and hold profitable.”
The seven-time Challenger champion is the primary participant to win back-to-back Challenger titles to open the season since Marcel Granollers in 2018 (Bangkok 1 & 2). After battling accidents for a lot of 2022, Cerundolo has been on a sizzling streak, together with profitable 24 of his previous 27 matches.