SIOUX FALLS, October 28, 2024 (Press Release)

Croatian qualifier Borna Gojo captured the first professional tennis singles championship in the state of South Dakota on Sunday at the MarketBeat Open presented by USTA Northern as he defeated Univ. of Arizona wild card Colton Smith 6-1, 7-5.

The 26-year-old Gojo was sidelined for seven months earlier this year due to a back injury. After playing the first two weeks in January, Gojo didn’t return again until August.

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Qualifier Borna Gojo claims his first title since 2022, defeating Smith 6-1, 7-5 in Sioux Falls#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/VzdxRKfyBs

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) October 27, 2024

“A lot of things people don’t really see after you get hurt for such a long time, for being at the top of your career and then going back to zero,” said Gojo, who finished a year-end best No. 72 last year but dropped to No. 422 coming into Sioux Falls. “Mentally it wasn’t easy and I struggled but always kind of stayed positive and went to all the doctors in this world to find a solution. I’m happy right now that I’m feeling well and playing some good tennis.”

After rallying from a set down in his quarter-final win over No. 8 seed Brandon Holt, Gojo won the last six sets he played. In his last three matches he saved 18 of 20 break points, including four of five in the final.

It was Gojo’s second career ATP Challenger Tour title in his fifth final, almost two years since winning his maiden title in Ortisei, Italy on Oct. 30, 2022. At last year’s US Open he advanced to the fourth round as a qualifier (l. to Djokovic).

The 21-year-old Smith, a senior at Arizona, came in ranked No. 496 and he will jump to around No. 390. This was his first career Challenger final. Smith is the first week leader in the USTA/Australian Open Wild Card Challenge. The American with the most points in three of the four-week series of events, will earn a main draw WC into the 2025 Australian Open.

“I had a slow start and it’s attributed a little bit to nerves, having never been in this position before,” said Smith. “This guy played like a Top 50 player I think and I tried to find my way back into the match. Overall I couldn’t be more happy and I feel super blessed to be here in this position. It hasn’t been an easy road this week but to be able to get through a handful of really tough matches, helps me build the confidence and I am looking forward to kind of keeping this momentum the next couple of weeks.”

Smith added on being the wild card leader: “It’s pretty cool and I didn’t know about it at all until two days ago so to be in the lead it feels pretty nice but I think now going into these next couple of weeks it’s not something I will be thinking about. I just got to take it one match at a time.”

The $82,000 ATP Challenger Tour event was the first professional tennis tournament held in South Dakota as the Huether Family Match Pointe played host on the Sanford Sports