MANACOR/STARNBERG, September 1, 2024
Duje Ajdukovic and Matteo Gigante will compete in the singles final of the Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar. The No. 5 seed of the ATP Challenger Tour 75 tournament from Croatia defeated Uzbek qualifier Khumoyun Sultanov 6-4, 6-3 in the stage of the last four on Saturday.
Ajdukovic didn’t face a break point and capitalized on three of his own four break-point chances to advance in one hour and one minute.
Gigante needed to go the distance in his match against Jerome Kym of Switzerland, rallying 1-6, 6-3, 7-5. The 22-year-old Italian withstood 13 aces and broke his rival’s serve three times. Gigante recovered from 5-2 down in the third to secure victory in one hour and 39 minutes.
tennis from Giga
Gigante recovers from 5-2 in the third set to book his final ticket with a 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Kym #OnTheRise | @rnadalacademy pic.twitter.com/NXmTL0xLXt
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) August 31, 2024
Ajdukovic is bidding for his third ATP Challenger Tour career crown, his first of the season. Gigante could lift his fifth Challenger career trophy, his third of 2024 following his triumphs in Tenerife, Spain and Nonthaburi. The World No. 175 beat Ajdukovic in the only previous meeting between the two en route to his title win in Thailand in January.
