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Photo Daniele Combi

GREAT TENNIS RETURNS TO THE CANARY ISLANDS
HALYS AND COBOLLI LEAD THE FIRST ENTRY LIST
TWO CHAMPIONS OF THE NEXT GEN FINALS AT THE START

Tenerife, 26 December 2023 – The Tenerife Challenger 1 entry list is official. After the success of last season, the ATP Challenger circuit returns to the hard courts of the Abama Tennis Academy with the three tournaments organized by MEF Tennis Events. The first ATP Challenger 100, scheduled from 14 to 21 January 2024, will be followed by two ATP Challenger 75s (from 18 to 25 February and from 26 February to 3 March 2024). The Frenchman Quentin Halys, former number 61 in the world rankings, leads the seeding in which the Italians Flavio Cobolli and Raul Brancaccio are present. Spain will be the protagonist with three hosts: Pedro Martinez, Pablo Llamas Ruiz and Daniel Rincon. There is a lot of curiosity about the Jordanian talent of the Rafa Nadal Academy Abdullah Shelbayh, as well as the winners of the 2022 and 2023 Next Gen ATP Finals, Brandon Nakashima and Hamad Medjedovic respectively. The return of professionals to Tenerife coincides with the restyling of the Abama Tennis Academy; the Abama Resort has in fact completed the construction of a new covered area near the central court and a restaurant dedicated to the players (Restaurante Tágara) just before the entrance to the courts. An important investment to increasingly welcome athletes, tourists and enthusiasts.

Cobolli among the favorites on the island, for Brancaccio it’s like home – Exactly one year after his participation in the Tenerife Challenger, Flavio Cobolli returns to the Canary island with a different awareness. The Roman tennis player, current ATP number 101, comes from an important season which saw him enter the top 100, reaching the best ranking of 95 in the world, but also playing two Challenger finals (winning the second trophy of the circuit in Lisbon cadet). Between April and June 2023 he first reached the quarter-finals of the ATP 250 in Munich, then the main draw of the ATP Masters 1000 in Rome and Roland Garros. Precisely in France he faced the former world number one Carlos Alcaraz, coming out defeated inside the prestigious Philippe Chatrier. For Raul Brancaccio it will almost be a home tournament. The tennis player from Torre del Greco has an important connection with Spain (he lives in Valencia and trains at the GTennis Academy) and will try to exploit the public’s sympathy to repeat the Tenerife Challenger 2 final reached in 2023. There is great curiosity for the performances of Abdullah Shelbayh, Brandon Nakashima and Hamad Medjedovic. The Jordanian was the protagonist of an excellent 2023 which saw him participate in the Next Gen ATP Finals and win a Challenger tournament in Charleston, gaining over 250 positions in the rankings. Current number 195 in the world, the point in common between Shelbayh and Spain is the Rafa Nadal Academy, a fixed base for his training. The last two winners of the Next Gen ATP Finals will also take to the court on the hard courts of the Abama Tennis Academy: the American Nakashima, champion of 2022, currently number 134 in the world, and the Serbian born in 2003, Medjedovic, protagonist of a 2023 studded with three Challenger titles and the triumph in the event dedicated to the best under 21s in the world.

Marchesini inaugurates 2024: “A joy to start again in Tenerife” – The President of MEF Tennis Events, Marcello Marchesini, can’t wait to start a new season: “For us it is always a joy to accompany the start of a new season with three tournaments in Tenerife, just like what happened last season. The events consolidate our relationship with the island and are an opportunity to see champions and promising young players up close.” The bond between MEF Tennis Events and the Abama Tennis Academy is increasingly strong. The constant organization of important events has favored further improvements for the areas adjacent to the fields of a club that is even better equipped this year: “We are very happy with the collaboration with Abama, which for 2024 has increased the services within its club. This year there will be a covered restaurant dedicated to the players (Restaurante Tágara), as well as a new covered area behind the center court. The environment will also be more comfortable for the many fans and tourists who will come to experience these three weeks of great tennis.”

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THE 2024 SPANISH CHALLENGER CALENDAR WILL START IN TENERIFE

Abama Tennis Academyin the south of the island of Tenerifewill host three circuit tournaments during the first quarter of 2024 ATP Challenger, organized by MEF Tennis Events. On this occasion the calendar will be made up of a Challenger 100 and two tournaments Challenger 75.

Of the January 14 to 21 The ATP Challenger 100 will be held. The two ATP Challenger 75 will be held consecutively between the February 18 and 25the first and among the February 26 and March 3, the second. The event will host around 220 professional tennis players, both recognized stars and some of the best promises in the world.

MEF Tennis Events, a company specialized in organizing ATP, WTA and ITF tournaments in Italy, reinforces its commitment to Tenerife as European headquarters. The facilities have seven fast lanes Flexipave surface on which the games are played Australian and United States Open. In addition, the center court has a capacity of 600 spectators.

In 2024, the ATP Challenger Tour circuit has 147 tournaments Worldwide.

In the first and second edition of these tournaments, in 2022 and 2023, great world-known tennis players participated, such as Fernando VerdascoFeliciano LopezTallon Griekspoor (current 24 ATP and tournament winner in 2021), Matteo Arnaldi (winner in 2023 and current 41 ATP) and players like Joao SousaElias Ymer or Benoit Paire.

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Matteo Gigante - Foto Johanna Wallmeier (MEF Tennis Events)

By Florian Heer

Los Gigantes is a resort town in the Santiago del Teide municipality on the west coast of the Canary Island Tenerife. Its main feature are the giant rock formations and cliffs that rise from the sea to a height of 800 metres after which the town has been named. Los Gigantes means “The Giants”.

About 10 kilometres further south, a “Tennis Giant” – Matteo Gigante of Italy – captured his first title on the ATP Challenger Tour. Gigante powered past fellow Italian and wild card entry Stefan Travaglia, 6-3, 6-2, in the singles final of the Tenerife Challenger 3.

On a mostly sunny Sunday at the Abama Tennis Academy in Guía de Isora, the 21-year-old was the dominant player right from the beginning of the match. The first set saw service losses on both sides, but Gigante gained the decisive break in the 8th game to close the set out. The World No. 232 from Rome took the momentum into the second set broke Travaglia’s serve in the first game and from then on didn’t look back anymore. Gigante won 59 per cent of the total points played to seal victory in one hour and 10 minutes.

Exciting week in Tenerife

“I am so happy and proud of myself, my team and my family. I played very good tennis this week at this amazing place,” Gigante said.

The #NextGenATP Italian, who fell in the final round of the qualifying to his compatriot Giovanni Fonio at the start of the €73,000 hard-court event, entered the main draw with a wild card and beat Spanish wild card Daniel Rincon, top seed Francesco Passaro of Italy, wild card entry Pablo Llamas Ruiz of Spain and his fellow countryman Riccardo Bonadio en-route to the championship match.

“It was a complicated final. Stefano and I are good friends and we played last week here. We practice together in Rome. It was a mental challenge, but I won, and I am happy,” the leftie said.

Gigante, who celebrated his maiden triumph on the Pro Circuit at the ITF World Tennis Tour M15 event in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt last year, has claimed the biggest title of his career. He earned €9,880 in prize money as well as 75 ATP Ranking points.

“I will continue with my work and try to play good tennis and a couple more tournaments.”

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Matteo Gigante - Foto Johanna Wallmeier (MEF Tennis Events)

by Florian Heer

For the second consecutive time, two Italians will meet in a singles final of the Tenerife Challenger series. After the success of Matteo Arnaldi over his compatriot Raul Brancaccio last weekend, this Sunday Stefano Travaglia and Matteo Gigante will play for the title of the Tenerife Challenger 3.

Travaglia battled past fifth-seeded Briton Ryan Peniston 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-2 on a sunny Saturday in Guía de Isora. The 31-year-old wild card entry sent down four aces and won two points more than his rival to secure victory in two hours and 24 minutes.

“It was a tough match right from the beginning and in the first set I immediately spent a lot of physical and mental energy,” said 409th-ranked Travaglia. “In the second set my opponent changed the pace, but in the third I found my best tennis.”

Gigante wins two matches, advances to maiden Challenger final

Gigante pulled double duty to reach his maiden final on the ATP Challenger Tour. The 21-year-old lucky loser backed up a win earlier in the day against Spaniard Pablo Llamas Ruiz (6-2, 6-4) with a hard-fought 5-7, 7-6(3), 6-3 victory over fellow Italian Riccardo Bonadio.

The World No. 232 struck seven aces, won 77 per cent of his first-service points and broke his opponent four times to prevail after two hours and 36 minutes.

“In the first match I played well, then I recharged my batteries for the match with “Bonny”, which was a real battle,” said Gigante.

Gigante, who celebrated his maiden triumph on the Pro Circuit at the ITF World Tennis Tour M15 event in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt last year, is bidding for the biggest title of his career. Travaglia could lift his sixth ATP Challenger career trophy, his first since the 2021 Sibiu Open in Romania. Both players met for the first-time last week in the second round of the Tenerife Challenger 2. Gigante won in straight sets.

The two have a very good relationship and have recently been training together at the Enjoy Sporting Club. “We often play in Rome. Last week’s match counts for nothing. Stefano is playing very well, and it will be a great final,” said Gigante.

Harris/Harrison triumph in doubles

Later in the evening and under the lights on Centre Court at the Abama Tennis Academy, Andrew Harris from Australia and US-American Christian Harrison captured the doubles title. The No. 4 seeds edged past third favourites Luke Johnson from Great Britain and Sem Verbeek of the Netherlands 7-6(6), 6-7(4), 10-8 in two hours and two minutes.

By winning their second team title after Little Rock, United States last year, Harris and Harrison split €9,880 in prize money and pocketed 75 ATP Doubles Ranking points.

President of the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation visits Tenerife Challenger

Off the courts, the Tenerife Challenger earned a visit from Miguel Díaz Román, president of the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET), who attends the final weekend of the tournament series on the biggest of the Canary Islands.

“Not too many years ago we only had two Challenger tournaments in Spain,” Díaz Román said. “Thanks to companies like MEF Tennis Events, which are specialized in the organisation of international tennis tournaments, we had the opportunity to increase this number. We can only thank Marcello Marchesini for this. The three Tenerife Challengers are important for our development and Spanish players have the opportunity to compete in tournaments at home, so they can earn ranking points without leaving the country.”

Reigning US Open junior champion Martín Landaluce is one of the young Spaniards, who played at this year’s Tenerife Challenger series. “I don’t want to compare him to Carlos Alcaraz, but Martín Landaluce has all the ingredients to become a champion,” the RFET president commented on the prospects of the 17-year-old from Madrid.

A total of 15 Challenger events are scheduled to be held in Spain this season.

“It is very important for us to organise tournaments in Spain. To start with three Challengers, being held in a wonderful place like the Abama Tennis Academy is special,” said Díaz Román, who considers the organisation of professional events to be fundamental in his vision. The next step in this direction could be the organisation of an ATP Challenger 175, a category that has been added to the calendar for the first time this year.

“I like this novelty and I have also discussed it with Marcello Marchesini. I think it is a feasible objective for the future.”

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by Florian Heer

For the third time in the past four weeks, the stars of the ATP Challenger Tour have gathered at the stunning venue of the Abama Tennis Academy in Guía de Isora, where spectators can enjoy panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean while soaking in world-class tennis, to determine the champion of the Tenerife Challenger. Following the triumph of Italian Matteo Arnaldi last Sunday, two of his fellow countrymen have found their way into the semi-finals of this week’s €73,000 hard-court event.

In the bottom half of the draw, Stefano Travaglia defeated his compatriot Alessandro Giannessi 6-3, 6-4 on Friday. The 31-year-old from the Marche region of Italy capitalized on four of his eight break-point chances to seal victory in one hour and 27 minutes.

“I’m happy to be in the semi-finals,” said 409th-ranked Travaglia, who entered the main draw of the Tenerife Challenger 3 with a wild card. “Alessandro and I have known each other for a long time. Today there was a lot of wind, but I was well prepared and played a good match. I’m finding consistency after not being able to play so many matches at the end of 2022.”

Supported by his wife Maria Paola and his new coach Giuseppe Fischetti, who is based at the Enjoy Sporting Club in Rome, former World No. 60 Travaglia wants to get back to his best.

“The ranking will come as a result. I am happy that my wife will be able to travel with me a few more weeks this year. With Peppe Fischetti we are having a good time and I will travel with him as well. At the Enjoy Sporting Club we worked hard during the pre-season and now we are starting to see the results.”

Peniston beats Fonio 

Travaglia will next face No. 5 seed Ryan Peniston, who beat Italian qualifier Giovanni Fonio 7-5, 6-4 on Court 3. The 27-year-old Briton won 58 per cent of the total points played to advance in one hour and 37 minutes.

“I am happy to be in the semi-finals here. It was a super close match, which could have gone either way. The conditions were tough, and Giovanni is a great player,” said Peniston. 

“I did my pre-season in Australia because my coach is from Adelaide. It was awesome, as I was staying with his family, and I could also enjoy some really good preparation. This helped me at the start of the season,” added the World No. 159, who also reached the stage of the final four at the ATP Challenger event in Noumea, New Caledonia in January, his first tournament of 2023. Another good result in Tenerife should help him to get closer to reach his goal of the new season. “I want to make the Top 100 this year, playing some ATP events,” Peniston said.

Bonadio through to the final four

In the top half of the draw, Riccardo Bonadio knocked out fellow Italian and No. 8 seed Francesco Maestrelli 7-5, 6-2. The 29-year-old from Pordenone withstood four aces and broke Maestrelli’s serve five times to prevail after one hour and 56 minutes.

“Today’s conditions were slower compared to the other days, probably because of the rain last night,” said Bonadio. “It was very windy, so it was tough to be aggressive on court today. But I am happy, as I played well and made it into the semi-finals here in Tenerife. Together with my coach we work hard on my game on hard courts, and it pays off.” 

Bonadio will next take on either Matteo Gigante of Italy or Spanish wild card entry Pablo Llamas Ruiz. Their quarterfinal match was suspended at 1-1 in the first set due to rain and postponed to Saturday, 10:30 am.

 

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Matteo Arnaldi - Foto Daniel Kondraciuk (MEF Tennis Events)

By Florian Heer

Amazing Arnaldi downs Brancaccio for Tenerife Challenger 2 title

Matto Arnaldi capped his stunning week at the Abama Tennis Academy on Sunday when the 21-year-old prevailed 6-1, 6-2 in an all-Italian championship match at the Tenerife Challenger 2.

The second-seeded Arnaldi was ruthless right from the beginning against his countryman by staying consistent from the baseline and winning 68 per cent of the total points played to clinch opening set in only 25 minutes.

The #NextGenATP star also set the tone early in the second set, earned a break in the first game and continued to impress with clean hitting off both wings. On the other side of the net, Brancaccio struggled with blisters, took a medical time-out after the third game to receive treatment on his right hand. Arnaldi remained solid, still focused on his own game, and served the match out after 58 minutes.

Arnaldi with new career-high ranking

“I’m very happy about the success,” said Arnaldi. “Overall, it was a good week. It’s never easy to be one of the favourites of a tournament. I played my best match probably in the first round (against Alessandro Giannessi). I’m sorry for Raul who couldn’t play at 100 per cent today, but I am super happy, how I played. The event was amazing with perfect organization by MEF Tennis Events and fantastic conditions. It’s great to play outdoors during the winter.”

Arnaldi lifted his second ATP Challenger Tour career title following his maiden triumph on home soil in Francavilla in May last year. The Sanremo native pocketed €9,880 in prize money as well as 75 ATP Ranking points, which propels him to a new career-high of World No. 110 on Monday.

“Off the court I have found my balance,” said Arnaldi. “I will make some new experiences this season, playing my first ATP events and I also hope to compete in the main draws of the Grand Slam tournaments. I will continue trying to do my best.”

Arnaldi will next play at the ATP Challenger in Bahrain followed by the qualifications to the ATP Tour events in Doha, Dubai, Indian Wells and Miami.

Brancaccio, who is based in Spain at the GTennis Academy in Valencia and is coached by Sergio Gallego, earned €5,820 in prize money and 50 ATP Ranking points.  

Third and final tournament in Tenerife to go underway

Tennis action on the largest of the Canary Islands continues the upcoming week with the Tenerife Challenger 3. The field is led by World No. 109 Francesco Passaro of Italy, who will start his title bid against a qualifier.

Alexander Shevchenko, champion of the Tenerife Challenger 1, will be the second seed. The 22-year-old Russian also awaits a qualifier for his first-round match. Carlos Taberner, Martín Landaluce as well as wild card entries Daniel Rincón and Pablo Llamas Ruiz will be part of a strong Spanish contingent.

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Matteo Arnaldi - Foto Daniel Kondraciuk (MEF Tennis Events)

by Florian Heer

Matteo Arnaldi and Raul Brancaccio will meet in Sunday’s all-Italian singles final of the Tenerife Challenger 2. Arnaldi, No. 2 seed of the €73,000 ATP Challenger Tour hard-court event being held at the Abama Tennis Academy, defeated Spanish wild card entry Nicolas Alvarez Varona 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday in Guía de Isora.

In the pair’s first meeting at Challenger level, Arnaldi won 83 per cent of his first-service points and broke his rival three times to advance in one hour and 35 minutes.

“I am very happy how I played. Today was my best match of the tournament. I was more consistent in the important moments,” said Arnaldi, who lost to Max Purcell in the final round of the qualifying at last month’s Australian Open. “In Australia I played well and was close to reach the main draw. Being in the final here is another good sign at an early stage of the season,” the World No. 130 added.

“I am close to crack the Top 100 after this tournament, regardless of the result of the final. My goal was to raise the level, which worked pretty well, and I will now have the opportunity to play the qualifying of ATP Tour events.”

Brancaccio receives walkover

Meanwhile, Brancaccio received a walkover from South African Lloyd Harris, who was forced to withdraw from his match due to sciatica.

Arnaldi is bidding for his second ATP Challenger career title following his maiden triumph on home soil in Francavilla in May last year. The 147th-ranked Brancaccio could lift his third career trophy, his second of the season after Noumea, New Caledonia in the very first week of the 2023 season. The pair’s head-to-head record on the Pro Circuit is tied at 1-1.

Harrison/Mochizuki lift doubles trophies

Later in the day and after a short rain delay, US-American Christian Harrison and Shintaro Mochizuki of Japan claimed the doubles title. The unseeded duo defeated the all-Italian combination of Matteo Gigante and Francesco Passaro 6-4, 6-3 in 64 minutes.

By winning their first team title, Harrison and Mochizuki split €4,250 in prize money and earned 75 ATP Doubles Ranking points.

Sunday’s singles final will start at 12 noon.

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Matteo Arnaldi - Foto Daniel Kondraciuk (MEF Tennis Events)

Tenerife Challenger series continues with Hawk-Eye System

Following the success of the first ATP Challenger Tour 100 tournament in mid-January won by Russian Alexander Shevchenko, the second of a three-week hard-court swing in Tenerife is underway.

The Tenerife Challenger 2, which offers a total prize money of €75,000, is being held at the stunning Abama Tennis Academy in Guía de Isora in the western part of the largest of the Canary Islands.

Thanks to the support of Turismo de Tenerife, the Ayuntamiento de Guía de Isora, the Real Federación Española de Tenis and the Federación Insular de Tenis de Tenerife, the event will feature the Hawk-Eye System, which has been installed on Centre Court for the first time.

The use of Hawk-Eye has been a rarity on the ATP Challenger Tour until now. The well-known computer vision system, which uses several video cameras positioned at different angles of the court, makes it possible to reconstruct the trajectory of the ball and to verify whether the bounce point is in or out. The players of the tournament will be able to ask for the verification of doubtful shots, a further guarantee for them.

“We are very happy to use the Hawk-Eye System for the second of three tournaments we have organised on the island of Tenerife,” explains Marcello Marchesini, president of MEF Tennis Events and tournament director. “We are among the first to adopt this solution on the ATP Challenger Tour and it is something that enriches the tournament.”

Arnaldi leads the field

This week’s semi-finals line-up is led by World No. 130 Matteo Arnaldi. The second-seeded Italian, who had to go the distance in his opening two matches, defeated Oleksii Krutykh from Ukraine 6-4, 6-1 on a sunny Friday afternoon. Arnaldi capitalized on four of his seven break-point chances to prevail in one hours and 10 minutes.

“Krutykh is a friend, and it was not easy to face him. Throughout the challenge I played more and more aggressive tennis and made fewer and fewer mistakes, so I am happy with my performance,” said Arnaldi. “It was not easy to adapt to the surface, but today’s match was my best match of the tournament.”

The 21-year-old Sanremo native will next take on Spaniard Nicolas Alvaraz Varona, who is competing in his first tournament of the season. The wild card entry rallied past his compatriot and qualifier Alejandro Moro Canas 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 in one hour and 54 minutes.

Harris continues fine run of form

In the top half of the draw, Lloyd Harris defeated Italian veteran Roberto Marcora 7-6(4), 6-3. The 175th-ranked South African, who knocked out World No. 111 and top seed Francesco Passaro of Italy in the second round, struck nine aces and won 75 per cent of his first-service points to seal victory in one hour and 38 minutes.

“It wasn’t an easy match. The first set was very tight. I got through some break points there. I served pretty well, which helped me today and I got some more free points,” said Harris, who saved three set points in the first set and needed to take a medical time out in the second when he received treatment on his right thigh.

“I am feeling a bit of stiffness. I was playing a lot of matches. Now, I am trying to recover and let’s see how I will feel tomorrow,” said Harris.

The 25-year-old will next play third-seeded Italian Raul Brancaccio, a 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-0 winner over No. 7 seed Carlos Taberner from Spain. The longest encounter of the day lasted three hours and 24 minutes.

 

 

 

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By Florian Heer

Alexander Shevchenko’s long journey from Melbourne to the Canary Islands paid off. The 22-year-old, who fell in the first round of the qualifying at the Australian Open to Jan-Lennard Struff, claimed the title of the Tenerife Challenger I. Shevchenko defeated Sebastian Ofner from Austria 7-5, 6-2 on Sunday afternoon.

In perfect weather conditions with a lot of sunshine, temperatures of 22 degrees Celsius and in great atmosphere on Centre Court of the Abama Tennis Academy in Guía de Isora, Shevchenko was the better player right from the beginning.

The World No. 157 set the tone early, broke Ofner’s service in the fifth game but couldn’t serve the opening set out in the 10th game after missing a couple of baseline shots. However, Shevchenko stayed calm and took the set two games later after one hour and 10 minutes.

Shevchenko carried the momentum of winning set one into the second set and gained another early break in the first game. Ofner came back again but the youngster showed his fighting spirit and a great display of tennis to eventually close the match out, winning 55 per cent of the total points played in one hour and 48 minutes.

Winning in great atmosphere

“Today’s match was very really tough,” said Shevchenko, who is based in Austria and coached by Günter Bresnik, but was accompanied by his father during his stay in Tenerife.

“I knew Sebastian is a great player and I had to be aggressive. I also had to win some of the points on my defence, what I did. I served and returned well, that’s why I won today.

“The crowd was amazing. I hope that every Challenger would have a crowd like this. It was great, a lot of fun and many emotions I will remember for the rest of my career.”

By lifting his second ATP Challenger career trophy following his maiden triumph in Bratislava, Slovakia in April last year, Shevchenko pocketed €16,020 in prize money as well as 100 ATP Ranking points.

“I am close to the Top 100, but I still have to work hard to achieve it,” Shevchenko said.

Ofner, who appeared in his eighth Challenger career final, earned € 9,415 in prize money as well as 60 ATP Ranking points.

The Tenerife Challenger series will continue January 29 with an ATP Challenger 75 tournament.

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Sebastian Ofner - Foto Daniele Combi (MEF Tennis Events)

by Florian Heer

Sebastian Ofner and Alexander Shevchenko will compete in Sunday’s singles final of the Tenerife Challenger I. On another sunny day on the largest of the Canary Islands, Ofner stopped the run of Hungarian qualifier Mate Valkusz, winning 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday.

In a highly entertaining match on Centre Court of the Abama Tennis Academy in Guía de Isora, the 26-year-old Austrian gained first blood by breaking Valkusz’s serve in the sixth game. Ofner played some decent returns, was solid on his own serve and took the first set in 30 minutes. The World No. 193 kept going, dictated most of the rallies from the baseline and earned an early break in the second set. From then on, Ofner didn’t look back and secured victory in one hour and 14 minutes. 

“I feel very comfortable here and played very well today in a match with a lot of tough rallies and in front of a great crowd. Overall, I am very pleased with my last performances. Every match is very close and most of them can go either way, but I am mentally very strong,” said Ofner, who considered his performance against Valkusz as the best of the season so far. 

“Winning four consecutive matches and starting the year with a final at Challenger level is fantastic,” he added.

Ofner enjoyed an effective pre-season preparation, which seemed to pay off and also gained worldwide media attention during the World Tennis League exhibition tournament in Dubai last month by facing Novak Djokovic. 

“It was fun, and I was lucky to play there. Although it was only an exhibition, it helped me, and it gave me confidence. It wasn’t an official match but playing with that intensity against Nole means that there is nothing you really have to be afraid of,” said Ofner. 

Shevchenko fights past Maestrelli

Later in the afternoon, Shevchenko defeated Next-Gen ATP Italian Francesco Maestrelli. In a match with a couple of close calls and controversial discussions, the No. 5 seed capitalized on three of his seven break-point opportunities to prevail after one hour and 45 minutes. 

“It was an unbelievable fight out there today,” Shevchenko said afterwards. “Francesco played a fantastic last season. His serve is amazing and really tough to return. I needed to be at 100 per cent to beat him today.” 

Final between two good friends

Ofner, a winner of four Challenger crowns, will appear in his eighth Challenger career final, his first since lifting the trophy in Prague, Czech Republic in April last year. Shevchenko could claim his second title on the Challenger Tour following his maiden triumph on clay in Bratislava, Slovakia in June 2022.

“I also like to play on hard court,” Shevchenko said and is looking forward to the championship match. “The surface is not that fast here. I like the conditions.”

Ofner and Shevchenko will meet for the first time in an official match, but the pair know each other pretty well, as both players were previously coached by Günter Bresnik. While Ofner started to join forces with Wolfgang Thiem, Shevchenko still has a strong relationship with the Austrian star coach.

“We are really good friends,” Shevchenko said about Ofner. “He is a great person and I respect him very much. It’s going to be a tough battle and I hope that we deliver a good match.”

Vlad Cornea and Martos Gornes triumph in doubles

In other action, Victor Vlad Cornea from Romania and Spaniard Sergio Martos Gornes clinched the doubles title. The pair defeated Patrik Niklas-Salminen of Finland and Dutchman Bart Stevens 6-3, 6-4 in the final. 

“I had a wonderful week here and a very good start into the season by winning my second title. Hopefully I can keep going like that,” Vlad Cornea said during the trophy ceremony. 

“It was pleasure to play this tournament at home and in these incredible conditions,” Martos Gornes added. 

By claiming their first team title, Vlad Cornea and Martos Gornes split €6,845 in prize money and earned 100 ATP Doubles Ranking points.

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