PIRACICABA/STARNBERG, February 3, 2024
The top two seeds of the Ano II – Brasil Tennis Challenger will go head-to-head in Sunday’s singles final in Piracicaba. Federico Coria, top-ranked player of the ATP Challenger Tour 75 clay-court tournament, edged past home favourite Matheus Pucinelli de Almeida 7-5, 7-6(6) in the stage of the last four on Saturday.
The World No. 103 from Argentina converted five of his 11 break-point chances to succeed in two hours and 22 minutes.
HOW did @fedeecoria win this point 😯
The Argentine gets past Pucinelli in straight sets to reach the final in Piracicaba
#ATPChallenger | @AATenis pic.twitter.com/hA5umny4qx
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) February 3, 2024
In the bottom half of the draw, Camilo Ugo Carabelli remained untroubled during his 6-3, 6-0 win over Felix Gill from Great Britain. The second-seeded Argentine sent down two aces and won 86 per cent of his first-service points to advance in one hour and eight minutes.
The 31-year-old Coria is seeking his seventh ATP Challenger Tour career title. Ugo Carabelli, 24, could lift his fifth Challenger career trophy. The pair’s head-to-head record is tied at 2-2.
“Tomorrow will be a very tough match,” said Coria. “I beat him at the US Open, he beat me in the last Challenger of the year. I know the crowd wanted a Brazilian in the final, but he will have many chances. He is young and will have many finals ahead. I am a bit older, and that was very important for me. I am very happy with this final.”
Argentines claim doubles title
In other action, Guido Andreozzi and Guillermo Duran clinched the doubles title. The No. 1 seeds from Argentina defeated the all-Brazilian duo of Daniel Dutra da Silva and Pedro Sakamoto 6-2, 7-6(5) in one hour and 28 minutes.
“It was a week where we improved with each match, leading us to this title. I am very happy; we have already won some titles together, and now we are heading to the ATP event in Cordoba, our last tournament together,” said Andreozzi, who will team up with Mexican Miguel Angel Reyes Varela in the upcoming tournaments.
