POPRAD TATRY, June 24, 2018

Jozef Kovalik is the champion of the fourth edition of the €64,000 Poprad Tatry Challenger. The No. 4 seed from Slovakia eased past Arthur de Greef of Belgium in Saturday’s singles final 6-4, 6-0.

Kovalik saved all three break points he faced, capitalizing on four of his own chances to secure victory in one hour and nine minutes. By lifting his third ATP Challenger trophy, his first since Napoli 2016, the 25-year-old earns €9,200 in prize money and 90 ATP rankings points.

“I improved match by match. It was pretty difficult but my confidence started to grow,” said Kovalik, who has become Poprad’s first champion from Slovakia. “I played a very good match today and winning at home, that’s great.”

Earlier in the day, Tomislav Brkic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croat Ante Pavic took the doubles crown. The duo fought past Nikola Cacic of Serbia and Swiss Luca Margaroli 6-3, 4-6, 16-14. The encounter lasted one hour and 35 minutes.