SALINAS/STARNBERG, July 29, 2023

Matija Pecotic has reached his first final on the ATP Challenger Tour since 2015. The 34-year-old Croatian leftie will play Illya Marchenko from Ukraine in Saturday’s championship match of the Challenger de Salinas Copa Banco Guayaquil.

Pecotic, who graduated from Princeton University and battled through the qualifying of the $80,000 hard-court event in Ecuador, defeated Altug Celikbilek of Turkey 7-5, 6-1 on Friday. The World No. 611 converted five of his eight break-point chances to prevail after one hour and 24 minutes. Pecotic, a 10-time champion on the ITF Pro Circuit, is seeking his maiden crown on the Challenger Tour.

Persistence pays off 💪

34-year-old Matija Pecotic advances to his first Challenger final since 2015!#ATPChallenger | @SalinasOpenEc pic.twitter.com/K4Bq0Ow5eW

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) July 28, 2023

Marchenko knocked out No. 3 seed Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard of France, winning 7-6(0), 6-4. The 35-year-old fired 11 aces and won 72 per cent of his first-service points to advance in one hour and 37 minutes. Marchenko is bidding for his ninth ATP Challenger Tour career title, his first since Biella, Italy two years ago. The pair will meet for the first time.