MILAN/STARNBERG, July 9, 2023
Facundo Diaz Acosta from Argentina has clinched his third title on the ATP Challenger Tour this season by winning the 2023 Apria Tennis Cup – Trofeo BCS held at the Aspria Harbour Club Milano in Italy. The top seed of the €73,000 clay-court event defeated home favourite Matteo Gigante 6-3, 6-3 in Sunday’s singles final.
Diaz Acosta advanced to the championship match with wins over local wild card entry Gianmarco Ferrari, Pablo Cuevas from Uruguay, Gauthier Onclin of Belgium and eighth-seeded Italian Flavio Cobolli.
The World No. 115 saved all seven break points he faced and capitalized on three of his own 10 break-point chances to prevail after one hour and 44 minutes.
The winning moment 🙌@Facudiazacosta | #ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/7qg17zBrAs
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) July 9, 2023
“It was very hot, then it was a final and we were both nervous,” said Diaz Acosta. “I had played a few this year, so I was more used to it than he was. I tried to focus on tactics, on how to play and not thinking about external factors.”
Diaz Acosta lifted his fourth career trophy on the ATP Challenger Tour and earned €9,880 in prize money as well as 75 ATP Ranking points. The 22-year-old Buenos Aires native will crack the Top 100 for the first time and has also secured his spot in the main draw of a Grand Slam at the upcoming US Open.
“This is a really important achievement. Anyone who starts playing tennis would like to become a top-100 player in order to make a living out of this sport, which is incredibly difficult,” Diaz Acosta said.
