GENOVA, September 11, 2016

Defending champion Nicolas Almagro and Carlos Berlocq will compete in Sunday’s final of the AON Open Challenger in Genova. The tournament’s number one from Spain fought past seventh seed Adam Pavlasek 6-0, 2-6, 6-4.

Almagro won 68 per cent of his first service points and broke his opponent six times to prevail in one hour and 39 minutes. The world number 48, who lost in the third round of the US Open, will play his first title match since lifting the trophy of the Estoril Open in April 2016.

The Spaniard will take on Jerzy Janowicz for the third time (head to head 1-1). The 25-year-old from Poland overcame third favourite Carlos Berlocq 3-6, 7-5, 7-6. Janowicz sent down four aces and converted five of his 11 break point chances to seal victory in two hours and 47 minutes. He will appear in his first final since the ATP Challenger in Orleans in September last year.

Doubles ceremony in Genova (photo: Paolo Cresta)

Earlier the day, top seeds Julio Peralta from Chile and Argentine Horacio Zeballos claimed the doubles title, winning 6-4, 6-3 over Belarussian tandem of Aliaksandr Bury and Andrei Vasilevski. The encounter lasted exactly one hour of play.

“We are very happy to win this title here,” the champions told during the on-court ceremony. “It is a wonderful tournament and winning here is very nice. Thanks to all the spectators today, who created a special atmosphere.”