GUIA DE ISORA/STARNBERG, February 24, 2024
An all Italian singles final at the Tenerife Challenger 2 is set, as Matteo Gigante will take on Stefano Travaglia at the Abama Tennis Academy in Guía de Isora on Sunday.
Gigante, champion of the ATP Challenger Tour 75 hard-court event on the biggest of the Canary Islands last year, defeated his compatriot Francesco Maestrelli 6-0, 6-4 in the stage of the last four. The 22-year-old Rome native saved the only break point he faced and capitalized on four of his six break-point chances to secure victory in one hour and 13 minutes.
Sealed in STYLE 🪄
Matteo Gigante is through to his 5th career Challenger final with a victory over Maestrelli 6-0, 6-4 in Tenerife#ATPChallenger | @meftennisevents pic.twitter.com/m7ILhAJsXQ
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) February 24, 2024
Later on Saturday, Travaglia stopped the run of Frenchman Jules Marie, winning 6-2, 6-3. The World No. 214 broke his rival five times and won 59 per cent of the total points played to advance in one hour and 15 minutes.
“Last season’s matches mean nothing, this is another year,” said Gigante, who will appear in his second championship match of the season after lifting the trophy in Nonthaburi, Thailand. “Stefano and I train together every day in Rome, and it will be a psychologically tough match, but I will give my 100%.”
Travaglia, who started his season with a semi-final run in Koblenz, Germany, agreed but also praised the development of his compatriots: “There is an exceptional group of young Italians from my generation. We train a lot, have dinner together, and I am very happy about that.”
Nouza/Rikl earn doubles title
In other action, Petr Nouza and Patrik Rikl from the Czech Republic captured the doubles title. The pair upset the tournament’s top seeds Sander Arends and Sem Verbeek of the Netherlands 6-4, 4-6, 11-9. The encounter lasted one hour and 39 minutes.
By winning their second ATP Challenger Tour team title following their triumph in Nottingham two weeks ago, Nouza and Rikl split €4,250 in prize money as well as 75 ATP Ranking points.
🏆 Tenerife Challenger 2 Double Champions 🏆
🇨🇿 Rikl/Nouza beat Verbeek/Arends 6/4 4/6 11/9 and enter the Tenerife Challenger roll of honor#tennis #TenerifeChallenger #ATPChallenger #VisitTenerife #CanaryIslands #AwakenEmotions pic.twitter.com/bO0QzYGL5t
— MEF tennis events (@meftennisevents) February 24, 2024
