MUNICH, January 16, 2020 (by Dietmar Kaspar)
M25 Los Angeles USA – Francisco Cerundolo triumphs in California
Francisco Cerundolo clinched the title of the Oracle Pro Series Los Angeles, hosted at Marks Tennis Stadium, to lift his eighth career trophy on the ITF World Tennis Tour.
The Argentinean top seed stopped the run of US-American wildcard entry Emilio Nava in the stage of the last four in straight sets. Eighteen-year-old Nava was ranked No. 5 in ITF juniors and reached the final of the junior events at the Australian Open and US Open in 2019.
No. 6 seeded Alexander Ritschard emerged victorious from the all-US American semi-final battle against Brandon Holt.
Twenty-one-year-old Cerundolo did not drop a service game in the championship match and capitalized on three of his six break-point chances to seal a 6-3, 6-3 win in 62 minutes. The Buenos Aires-born celebrated his first title on hard court, following his seven singles trophies on clay.
🏆 Congratulations Champions!#OracleProSeries
Los Angeles
Singles: Francisco Cerundolo 🇦🇷
Doubles: Daniel Cukierman 🇮🇱 / Riley Smith 🇺🇸Ann Arbor
Singles: Ulises Blanch 🇺🇸
Doubles: Robert Galloway 🇺🇸 / Hans Hach Verdugo 🇲🇽
@Oracle I @ITF_Tennis I @ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/vwVlAZ8VI3— OracleTennis (@OracleTennis) January 13, 2020
“I think I played really good,” said Cerundolo. “I tried to make him play every ball and not to give him any easy balls because I know he likes to hit hard. I moved him, created angles and used the middle so he didn’t have it easy.”
“He played pretty consistent and knew what to do to beat me,” reflected Ritschard. “He locked me into my backhand side. I feel like I didn’t play to the same level I’ve played all week because I was a bit gassed from the two three setters I played in the quarterfinals and semifinals. It showed me that I really need to work on the fitness.”
M15 Manacor ESP – Carlos Alcaraz prevails in Mallorca
The Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar World Tennis Tour by LG concluded with the championship of teenager Carlos Alcaraz.
The No. 6 seed, who is based at the Equelite Sport Academy from former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero in Alicante, emerged victorious from the all-Spanish semi-final clash versus qualifier Alberto Barroso Campos in straight sets.
French No. 5 seed Evan Furness booked his spot in the final by defeating No. 7 seeded Alvaro Lopez San Martin from Spain in three sets.
Sixteen-year-old Alcaraz converted five of his 10 break-point opportunities without facing a break point in the title match to advance 6-0, 6-2 in 65 minutes. Following his maiden title in Denia last season, the El Palmar native lifted his second career trophy on the ITF World Tennis Tour.
¡Tenemos CAMPEÓN! Carlos Alcaraz 🏆 ha derrotado a Evan Furness 6-0, 6-2 y conquista el Torneo @ITF_Tennis #WorldTennisTour by @lgespana disputado en la #RafaNadalAcademyByMovistar. ¡ENHORABUENA! 👏🏻👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/emzlQZG8dl
— Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar (@rnadalacademy) January 12, 2020
M15 Monastir TUN – Lucas Catarina captures another trophy on hard court
Lucas Catarina triumphed at the Magic Tours tournament, which was held at Magic Hotel Skanes Family in Monastir.
The No. 4 seed from Monaco was the only seeded player to reach the stage of the final four, edging out Frenchman Thomas Laurent in three sets.
Boris Pokotilov from Russia battled through the bottom half of the draw with a straight-set win against Clement Tabur from France, who ras ranked 10th as a junior.
In the championship match, Catarina won 76 per cent of his first-service points to seal a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 win after about two hours. The 23-year-old, who entered the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters 2019 by wild card, celebrated his fifth singles title on the ITF World Tennis Tour, all of them won on hard court.
M15 Antalya TUR – Favourite Javier Barranco Cosano seals win
The Club Megasaray Cup Series 1, hosted at Club Megasaray in Belek, concluded with the championship of Javier Barranco Cosano.
The Spanish top seed knocked off Italian No. 4 seed Fabrizio Ornago in the semi-finals in three sets.
No. 6 seeded Marco Bortolotti from Italy took the last step to the final by beating Swedish Dragos Nicolae Madaras in straight sets.
Almeria-born Barranco Cosano dropped one service game in the title match and capitalized on four of his 12 break-point chances to prevail 6-4, 6-4 in 89 minutes. The lefty lifted his seventh career trophy on the ITF World Tennis Tour.
M15 Hong Kong HKG – Yuta Shimizu prevails in the final of the youngsters
No. 3 seed Yuta Shimizu took the trophy of the M15 Hong Kong tournament, held at Victoria Park Tennis Courts.
The 20-year-old Japanese rallied down No. 2 seed Arthur de Greef of Belgium in the stage of the last four in two clear sets.
No. 6 seed Yu Hsiou Hsu from Cinese Taipei battled through the top half of the draw and defeated Japanese Naoki Nakagawa in the semi-finals in straight sets.
Both players in the final reached a career-high World No. 5 as a junior June 2017. Left-handed Shimizu made seven points less than his rival of same age but secured a 5-7, 7-6, 7-6 victory after two hours and 42 minutes. The Konan native celebrated his seventh singles title on the ITF World Tennis Tour.
