PORTOROZ, August 11, 2017

Italy’s #NextGenATP player Matteo Berrettini and third seed Sergiy Stakhovsky will compete in Saturday’s singles final of the €43,000 Zavarovalnica Sava Slovenia Open.

In Friday’s opening match on Portoroz’s centre court, Berrettini defeated Aldin Setkic from Bosnia and Herzegovina 6-2, 6-4. The 21-year-old from Rome saved the only break point he faced, converting three of his own to secure victory in one hour and 21 minutes.

Stakhovsky rallied back from a set down to overcome Greek teenager Stefanos Tsitsipas 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. The 31-year-old from the Ukraine sent down six aces, winning 75 per cent of his first service points to prevail after just under two hours of play.

Stakhovsky will play in his first ATP Challenger final since lifting the trophy in Seoul in May last year. Berrettini returns to his third title match of the season. The Italian youngster finished runner-up to Thomas Fabbiano in Quanzhou in March and celebrated his maiden triumph at Challenger level in San Benedetto last month. The pair will meet for the firt time.

Andrei Vasilievski and Hans Podlipnik – Castillo celebrate at trophy ceremony after winning the doubles final (photo: Vid Ponikvar / Sportida)

Podlipnik-Castillo/Vasilevski Win Doubles Title

Elsewhere, Hans Podlipnik-Castillo from Chile and Andrei Vasilevski of Belarus captured the doubles title with a 6-3, 7-6 win over Lukas Rosol from the Czech Republic and Croatian Franko Skugor.

The final lasted one hour and 24 minutes. It was their third team title in 2017, following their triumphs in Koblenz and Shymkent.