SAMARKAND, May 19, 2018

Luca Vanni is the champion of the $75,000 Samarkand Challenger. The 32-year-old Italian edged past Mario Vilella Martínez of Spain in Saturday’s singles final between two unseeded players.

Vanni struck seven aces, winning 90 per cent of his first service points. One break in each set led to the victory in one hour and 26 minutes.

By lifting his fifth ATP Challenger trophy, Vanni earns $10,800 in prize money as well as 90 ATP Ranking points. It has been the first triumph for the veteran since 2016.

2011 champion and local favourite Denis Istomin led the singles charge this week in Samarkand but fell in the opening round to Pedro Cachín.

Istomin’s doubles partner Mikhail Elgin from Russia was forced to withdraw from Friday’s final due to injury. N. Sriram Balaji and Vishnu Vardhan of India claimed the doubles title by walkover.