TODI, August 22, 2020
After finishing runner-up to Taro Daniel in Burnie, Australia, Yannick Hanfmann of Germany has reached his second ATP Challenger final of the season at the Internazionali Di Tennis Citta Di Todi.
In front of about 100 spectators under the lights at the Tennis Club Todi 1971, the No. 7 seed of the €88,520 clay-court event fought past Italy’s Gian Marco Moroni 7-6(4), 6-1.
Hanfmann overcame a rusty start on Saturday evening, trailing 0-4 in the opening set. The 28-year-old fought back and capitalized on five of his seven break point chances to secure victory in one hour and 36 minutes.
Second @ATPChallenger final of the season for @YannickHanfmann 🇩🇪following a 7-6 6-1 win over Gian Marco Moroni 🇮🇹 at @meftennisevents in Todi.
Up next: first meeting with Bernabe Zapata Miralles 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/4rOCw2c7dj
— Florian Heer (@Florian_Heer) August 22, 2020
“It was a tough match,” Hanfmann told Tennis TourTalk afterwards. “I struggled a bit with the conditions at the beginning, as I played my previous matches during the day in the heat, and it felt different tonight. But I knew that when I find myself that I have the game to hurt him. I am happy to be through.”
Hanfmann will next take on Bernabe Zapata Miralles of Spain. The 23-year-old from Valencia continued his good run of form this week in Umbria by knocking out No. 6 seeded Frenchman Antoine Hoang 6-2, 6-3 earlier in the day. Zapata Miralles capitalized on five of his 12 break point chances to advance to his only second final on the ATP Challenger Tour after one hour and 38 minutes.
The World No. 212, who knocked out top seed Roberto Carballes Baena in the second round here in Central Italy, finished runner-up to Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp at last year’s Tennis Challenger Hamburg presented by Tannenhof in Germany.
Hanfmann and Zapata Miralles will meet for the first time. “I know him but yet we haven’t practiced together,” Hanfmann said of his upcoming opponent. “Of course I want to win but he has shown some impressive tennis this week against very good players. But I am positive and I look forward to tomorrow’s final.”
Behar/Golubev take doubles title
In other action, Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan and Ariel Behar from Uruguay captured the doubles title. The top seeds defeated the all-French combination of Elliot Benchetrit and Hugo Gaston 6-4, 6-2 in the final.
“We were together as a team and very concentrated. We used our experience, the good energy and took our chances at break points. That was very important. I am very happy for this second start of the year,” Behar told Tennis TourTalk after the match.
Golubev added that his experience at the Challenger re-start this week was pretty good. “I am a bit lucky, as I spend my time in Italy and also play club matches here. Of course, competing for ATP points at Challengers is different. There is more pressure, so I am happy that we went through this week. We have already played many times together and I hope that it is going to continue this way.”
Your @ATPChallenger doubles champions in Todi: Andrey Golubev 🇰🇿 & Ariel Behar 🇺🇾@meftennisevents pic.twitter.com/CCSIFW9AfP
— Florian Heer (@Florian_Heer) August 22, 2020
It was the pair’s second team title following their triumph at the 2016 Poprad-Tatry Challenger in Slovakia. Both had also won doubles titles earlier this season, however, with different partners. Behar and Golubev will stay together as a team for the upcoming two weeks on the Italian swing in Trieste and Cordenons.
“We both have other regular partners on the tour, but we had a couple of days ahead of the tournament to practice a little bit together. This helped us,” Ariel said.
“We didn’t come here with big expectations, so we are very pleased with the outcome,” Golubev concluded.
