Andy Murray’s trio of titles on the ATP Challenger Tour stood out as a memorable second in 2023.
The Scot was certainly one of 4 gamers to win on the all-new Challenger 175 stage this yr along with his triumph on the Open Aix Provence Credit score Agricole, his first title of any type since claiming the ATP 250 occasion in Antwerp in 2019.
“This final yr, 18 months has been a little bit of wrestle with my sport. However [my team] have been there supporting me and dealing with me to attempt to get higher,” Murray mentioned throughout the trophy presentation.
Murray’s street to the title was not straightforward. Within the opening spherical, he defeated tour-veteran and former World No. 6 Gael Monfils. Murray maintained a excessive stage all week, rallying previous then World No. 17 Tommy Paul within the ultimate.
17 years, 8 months.
The longest hole between Challenger titles in historical past!#ATPChallenger | @andy_murray pic.twitter.com/iAPqM9mnjn
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) Could 7, 2023
The outcomes stored coming for the 36-year-old, who gained the Lexus Surbiton Trophy in June to turn out to be the oldest grass-court champion in Challenger historical past (since 1978) and prolonged his profitable streak to 10 by claiming the Nottingham Challenger.
Frenchman Ugo Humbert additionally loved a mid-season surge on the ATP Challenger Tour by claiming two consecutive 175 titles.
In Cagliari, Italy, the 25-year-old saved three match factors towards Taro Daniel in a four-hour, 13-minute quarter-final marathon earlier than strolling away along with his first clay-court title. Humbert survived one other prolonged battle – greater than three hours – within the ultimate towards Laslo Djere.
“I’ll always remember this trophy as a result of I hate clay usually, by no means gained greater than two matches in a row on clay,” Humbert mentioned in his post-tournament press convention. “It feels unbelievable to have the trophy at this time… I don’t know what to suppose, I’m simply tremendous blissful.”
Ugo Humbert is topped champion on the Cagliari Challenger. Credit score: Mike Lawrence/ATP Tour
Humbert’s run didn’t cease there. The lefty captured the BNP Paribas Primrose in Bordeaux, the place he downed Tomas Martin Etcheverry within the ultimate. Humbert performed with conviction behind his serve all week and returned to the High 40 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the primary time since 31 January, 2022. Humbert completed the season at a career-high No. 20.
Portugal’s Nuno Borges was the primary Challenger 175 champion when he lifted the Arizona Tennis Basic trophy in March.
After incomes the highest-ranked win of his profession within the opening spherical towards World No. 38 Diego Schwartzman, Borges then defeated Roman Safiullin, Alexei Popyrin, Jan-Lennard Struff and Alexander Shevchenko to cap a 10-match profitable streak on the Challenger stage and declare his largest profession title.
“Someway I discovered myself within the ultimate and I lastly did it,” Borges mentioned on the time. “I really feel like I’m nonetheless absorbing it but it surely’s unbelievable. First Challenger 175 occasion, it’s a really particular place. It motivates me loads for the whole lot else.”
Nuno Borges celebrates his title on the Arizona Tennis Basic with a pool plunge. Credit score: Mary Grace Grabill
German Dominik Koepfer overcame a number of challenges confronted to win the Piemonte Open Intesa Sanpaolo in Turin, the place rain compelled the event to be moved from clay to an indoor laborious courtroom for the semi-finals and ultimate.
The 29-year-old performed his first-round match in Turin roughly 48 hours after competing within the Prague Challenger ultimate. With no indicators of fatigue, Koepfer claimed his fourth Challenger crown.
“It wasn’t straightforward to go from outside clay to quick indoor courts in only a few hours, however I am pleased with how I used to be capable of adapt,” Koepfer mentioned. “It was an unimaginable week, which gave me an important title of my profession.”
Dominik Koepfer in motion on the Turin Challenger. Credit score: Francesco Panunzio
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