Challenger
Safiullin survives two championship points, wins Cary Challenger
Dzumhur collects season-leading fourth Challenger title
August 19, 2024
Peter Staples/ATP Tour
Roman Safillun is No. 59 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings (File photo).
By ATP Staff
Top seed Roman Safiullin made a dramatic comeback Saturday at the Cary Tennis Classic, where he saved two championship points to claim his fifth ATP Challenger Tour title.
The 27-year-old escaped Mattia Bellucci 1-6, 7-5, 7-5 in the final, during which the Italian qualifier led 6-1, 4-1. Safiullin stared down two championship points on serve at 4-5 in the second set, but found a way to turn around the match and lift the trophy after two hours, 53 minutes. Appearing to fade physically in the latter stages, Safiullin let out a sigh of relief when he converted his eighth championship point.
“I just decided to put the ball back [in play], try to let him win it and he made some mistakes and I played some good balls. At the end of the match, I was able to turn it around,” Safiullin told commentator Rob Werner.
“It was super humid today. It was really tough with the conditions, but I’m happy that I managed it. It was a very good test for me ahead of New York, because New York is going to be similar conditions.”
Following his title run, Safiullin is up seven places to No. 57 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. He was playing just his fifth Challenger event since September 2022.
Now 5-0 in Challenger finals, Safiullin is the sixth player inside the Top 70 to win a title this year at that level. Safiullin last year became the first player since Nick Kyrgios in 2014 to win a Challenger title and reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals in the same season.
In other Challenger action, Damir Dzumhur became the first player this season to win four trophies at that level with his triumph at the RD Open 2024 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The 32-year-old defeated Ecuador’s lucky loser Andres Andrade 6-4, 6-4 in the final.
Damir Dzumhur in action at the Santo Domingo Challenger.”>
Damir Dzumhur in action at the Santo Domingo Challenger. Credit: Gabriela Ascuasiati
Dzumhur won the inaugural edition of the Santo Domingo Challenger in 2015 and nine years later, the Bosnian returned to the winners’ circle for his 12th Challenger crown.
Coming into the tournament, the former World No. 23 returned to the Top 100 for the first time in four-and-a-half years. Dzumhur is up to No. 81 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, setting him up for his highest ranking since June 2019.
Swiss Marc-Andrea Huesler dropped just one set all week at the Kozerki Open in Poland, where he raced past top seed Vit Kopriva 6-1, 6-4 in the final. The 29-year-old earned his sixth Challenger title and first since April 2022.
“I served well this week, played lots of good tennis and was able to save lots of break points. That helped,” said Huesler, who dropped serve once all week, having saved nine of the 10 break points he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats. “In the final, as soon as I got a bit tight, my first serve was there, so that really helped me to get through the week. It also allows me to be more aggressive on return and take a couple risks.
“I was not really expecting a lot this week because I didn’t really have a hard court preparation. I saw that when your expectations are low, then at the end of the week, you are standing here as 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: Kozerki Open
Carlos Taberner went one step further than his previous week’s runner-up finish in Cordenons with a triumph at 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 in the final to score his seventh ATP Challenger Tour title.
“Very happy to get this title. Maybe by score, the final was the only match of my last three that I won in two sets, but it was not easy,” Taberner said. “It was very, very difficult. I’m very happy because I think the whole time I played the same level.”
Carlos Taberner celebrates winning the Challenger 75 event in Todi, Italy.”>
Carlos Taberner celebrates winning the Challenger 75 event in Todi, Italy. Credit: Yuri Serafini
