ALPHEN AAN DEN RIJN, September 13, 2015
Damir Dzumhur took his second title of the season, winning the 16th edition of the € 42,500 ATP Challenger TEAN International Tennis Tournament in Alphen.
The top-seeded Bosnian defeated local hero Igor Sijsling, who appeared in his first final of the season, in the pair’s first tour meeting 6-1, 2-6, 6-1. Dzumhur won 66% of his first service points and converted five of his 11 break point chances to seal victory in one hour and 18 minutes.
The world number 98 from Sarajevo captured his fifth ATP Challenger title in his career, all on clay. “After a few weeks of bad luck, when I got difficult draws or problems with my game, this has been a great week for me right from the beginning. I really liked the conditions here. The weather was great, but not too hot, ” told Dzumhur, who took away € 6,150 in prize money as well as 80 ATP ranking points. “Sijsling played great in the second set and I could only hope that it wouldn’t go on like this. But I also felt the support of the Bosnian fans, which gave me energy.”
Sijsling was also pretty satisfied with his week. “I am delighted that I eventually made it into a final again. The last couple of weeks I wanted to look how my knee felt after the injury. But unfortunately I have a new injury on my arm now. I am pleased with my level and in the coming weeks, I will have some practice preparing for the indoors season, which I am looking forward to,”
First seeded German pair of Tobias Kamke and Jan-Lennard Struff claimed the doubles title, winning the final 7-6, 3-6, 10-7 against the Romanian tandem of Victor Hanescu and Adrian Ungur in one hour and 36 minutes.
Marie Benoit took the title in the women’s competition. The unseeded Belgian overcame Croatian Tena Lukas, winning 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
