Duje Ajdukovic and American Patrick Kypson ascended to career-highs within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings Monday after they every claimed their second ATP Challenger Tour title of the season this weekend.
Ajdukovic returned to the winners’ circle in Kobe, Japan, the place he cruised previous residence hope Sho Shimabukoro 6-4, 6-2 within the Hyogo Noah Challenger last. Ajdukovic, 22, received three deciding-set matches en path to the title.
The cut up native received his maiden Challenger title in August in Luedenscheid, Germany and following his title run in Japan, Ajdukovic is at a career-high No. 145 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.
Kypson defeated second seed Alex Michelsen 6-4, 6-3 within the Paine Schwartz Companions Challenger last in Champaign, Illinois. The 24-year-old American began the yr outdoors the High 500 and has now risen to a career-high No. 192 following his first hard-court title.
High 200 shattered 💥
After successful the title in Champaign, Patrick Kypson reaches a brand new profession excessive rating! #ATPChallenger | @usta pic.twitter.com/tF9Q4ML6KR
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) November 20, 2023
“I’ve performed quite a bit on clay, I perhaps want clay just a little bit however I feel my sport is appropriate for quicker surfaces as effectively,” Kypson instructed commentator Mike Cation. “I feel I can play on every part, it’s only a matter of doing the issues which are required for every floor. I feel considered one of my expertise is that I can adapt to the circumstances fairly effectively. So long as I play the fashion that should, I feel I can have success on any floor, so I’m completely satisfied to win on a tough courtroom.”
Gamers from america have now tied Italians for third most ATP Challenger Tour titles in 2023 (16), trailing Argentina (21) and France (27). Kypson received the USTA’s Roland Garros wild card problem earlier this season and is now in prime place to win the USTA’s wild card competitors for the Australian Open, solely trailing Michelsen, who might get into the season’s first main through direct entry.
Michelsen, who cracked the High 100 for the primary time final Monday, will subsequent journey to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to compete on the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals introduced by NEOM.
In different ATP Challenger Tour motion, Belgian Zizou Bergs dropped only one set all week on the Challenger Banque Nationale de Drummondville in Canada, the place he defeated second seed James Duckworth 6-4, 7-5 within the last to elevate his sixth Challenger trophy.
“It’s particularly particular as a result of it comes after a interval that was more durable due to an harm I had,” Bergs stated. “To have an excellent, convincing week means quite a bit to me. It offers me motivation and confidence for ending this yr sturdy.”
Zizou Bergs celebrates successful the Drummondville Challenger. Credit score: Sarah-Jäde Champagne
Bergs, who’s No. 152 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, suffered a left wrist harm in July which compelled him to hit solely slice backhands for 3 months. The Drummondville Challenger was Bergs’ second match since returning to full well being.
German Maximilian Marterer rallied previous final yr’s Subsequent Gen ATP Finals champion Brandon Nakashima 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 within the Good to Nice Challenger last in Danderyd, Sweden. The 28-year-old lefty is a nine-time ATP Challenger Tour champion, together with two triumphs this season.
“I got here with a variety of confidence from the final weeks to this occasion,” stated Marterer, who made the Ismaning Challenger last earlier this month. “I felt actually good from the primary practise I had right here, so it was about conserving the top down and going spherical by spherical.
“It offers me a variety of good feelings and confidence for subsequent yr. Through the yr, it was not straightforward for me. I used to be ranked in a special area and had some points with my physique. By no means anticipated to complete contained in the High 100 on the finish of the yr. It’s loopy the way it changed into a optimistic means.”
Maximilian Marterer wins the Good to Nice Challenger in Danderyd, Sweden. Credit score: Good to Nice Challenger
On the Uruguay Open in Montevideo, Facundo Diaz Acosta was topped champion after Brazilian Thiago Monteiro was compelled to retire on account of a proper hand harm with the Argentine main 6-3, 4-3.
Diaz Acosta has loved a career-best season. The 22-year-old made his High 100 debut in July and has collected 4 ATP Challenger Tour trophies this yr. A pivotal second got here for the Buenos Aires native within the semi-finals Saturday, when he saved three match factors to outlive Gustavo Heide.
Facundo Diaz Acosta wins the Challenger 100 occasion in Montevideo, Uruguay. Credit score: Uruguay Open
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