The 2016 ATP Challenger Tour calendar contained 166 tournaments, with prize money ranging from $40,000 up to $125,000. It was the 40th edition of Challenger tournaments cycle, and eighth under the name of “ATP Challenger Tour”. Tennis TourTalk is having a review of the season in eleven parts to close the year.
Paolo Lorenzi (photo: ATP Challenger Caltanissetta)
Five tournaments were held in the first week of June with Paolo Lorenzi celebrating a triumph on home soil. The Italian veteran clinched the title of the €106,500 Citta’ Di Caltanissetta. The top-seed, who entered the main draw with a wild card, fought past fellow countryman Matteo Donati in the final, saving one match point to seal a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 victory.
Steve Darcis rallied back from a set down to defeat Thiago Monteiro 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 to win the €64,000 Open Sopra Steria de Lyon.
Top seed Mikhail Kukushkin took the title of the second edition of the $75,000 Hoff Open held on the clay courts in Moscow. The Kazakh ousted Steven Diez of Canada 6-3, 6-3 in the final.
Adam Pavlasek was the champion of the €42,500 Sparta Prague Open, winning the title match against Stephane Robert 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
“Winning a title is always great, but to do it on home soil is even greater,” Pavlasek told after lifting his second trophy on the ATP Challenger Tour. En-route to the titel, the youngster knocked out fellow countryman and tournament top-seed Lukas Rosol. “I hope that I can keep up my level of play in order to proceed step by step.”
Yen-Hsun Lu of Taipei triumphed on grass at the €42,500 Aegon Surbiton Trophy. He defeated Marius Copil from Romania 7-5, 7-6.
Five more tournaments took place in the following week. Yen-Hsun Lu captured another grass court title, winning the final of the €42,500 Aegon Ilkley Trophy 7-6, 6-2 over Frenchman Vincent Millot.
Carlos Berlocq lifted the trophy of the €42,500 Internationaux de Tennis de Blois. The Argentine eased past Steve Darcis from Belgium 6-2, 6-0.
Horacio Zeballos is the champion of the €42,500 Poprad Tatry Challenger Tour, winning the final against Gerald Melzer 6-3, 6-4.
“My service was key today and I served very well in the important moments, especially at the end of the match. When I felt a bit nervous, my serve helped me a lot, giving me a lot of confidence,” Zeballos told afterwards and enjoyed his stay in Poprad.
“I played a good match, not only today but the entire week. I have been spending a nice time here with friendly people in the club.”
Nicolas Kicker captured the €42,500 Blu Panorama Airlines Tennis Cup in Perugia. The Argentine battled past Blaz Rola of Slovenia 2–6, 6–3, 6–0.
Marco Cecchinato (photo: Aspria Tennis Cup)
Radu Albot gained his second title on the ATP Challenger Tour within three weeks. The 26-year-old from Moldova emerged victorious from the final of the $50,000 Fergana Challenger, winning 6-4, 6-2 over top-seed Konstantin Kravchuk from Russia.
Marco Cecchinato became the champion of the lone tournament, executed the week of June 20. The fifth seed seed from Italy clinched the €42,500 Aspria Tennis Cup, held at the Harbour Club Milano. Cecchinato defeated Laslo Djere 6-2, 6-2 in the final. “I always enjoy playing in Italy, although the competition is very tough,” Cecchinato told afterwards.
The €42,500 Marburg Open closed the month with Jan Satral from the Czech Republic taking the title. Satral edged past Marco Trungelitti from Argentina, winning 6-2, 6-4.
