CURITIBA/STARNBERG, October 30, 2023
Bolivian Hugo Dellien, ranked World No. 129, won the first edition of the Festval Challenger in Curitiba, Brazil after a marathon effort on Sunday. First, he played the semi-final against Guido Andreozzi of Argentina, which lasted almost three hours. He won by 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-3. Then came the final, another two hours and 42 minutes fight, during which the 30-year-old suffered from cramps and missed match points before managing to lift the trophy by defeating US-American Oliver Crawford 7-6(6), 4-6, 7-6(1).
Both matches took place on the indoor court of Graciosa Country Club due to heavy rains in the capital of Paraná state. With this title, his tenth in his career, Dellien earned 75 ATP Ranking points as well as prize money of $10,840.
That tenth Challenger title feeling 🤩@hugo_dellien grinds past Crawford 7-6(6), 4-6, 7-6(1) to become the champion in Curitiba!#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/e1t18p4h9R
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) October 29, 2023
Dellien, the best player in Bolivia’s history since Mario Martinez, who was ranked 32nd in the world in 1980, is a role model for athletes in his country and is striving to regain victories and his best ranking of 64th, achieved in August 2022 before he got injured and was sidelined from the courts until the end of the year. 2023 has been a year of recovery for him. Despite owning 10 ATP Challenger titles in his career, all on clay courts, the Trinidad native only won one ATP Challenger 75 tournament in Santiago this season.
“It was the toughest stage of my career. I got injured at my best moment when I was 64th in the world. It was very tough because I had the goal of entering the top 50 and I had four months where I didn’t defend any points. But these are things that happen,” said Dellilen.
“Then, I had a significant setback this year due to family issues, and that’s why this title is so important to me. It takes a weight off my shoulders. I was without counting points for many months, not playing well, so I hope everything can change from now on. I am very happy with the victory here.”
