MANILA, January 24, 2016
Mikhail Youzhny continues his successful run on the ATP Challenger Tour, taking his third title of the season and improves to 15 wins in a row. The 33-year-old Russian defeated Marco Chiudinelli 6-4, 6-4 in Sunday’s final of the $75,000 Philippine Open at the Memorial Tennis Centre in Manila.
Youzhny withstood nine aces from his opponent, hitting seven of his own and saved all of the three break points he faced. The former world number eight broke two times to capture the title after one hour and 42 minutes.
“I just focused on my game and enjoyed every minute,” Youzhny, who ranks No. 84 in the world, told during the post match interview. “ This is a tough tournament and I really found myself giving my best.”
Youzhny was the tournament’s second seed and arrived from Bangkok, where he lifted two consecutive trophies during the last two weeks. In Manila, he takes away $10,400 in prize money as well as 90 ATP ranking points. With this victory, Youzhny will be back inside the top 100 and will return on the ATP World Tour, playing the ATP 250 Garanti Koza Sofia Open next.
In the doubles final, second seeds Johan Brunstrom and Frederik Nielsen beat wild cards Francis Casey Alcantara and Christopher Rungkat, winning 6-2, 6-2 in 43 minutes.
The tournament in Manila has been the first ATP Challenger event since 1994. 22 years ago Australia’s Michael Tebbutt claimed the title here, beating future world number 4 Tim Henman in the final in straight sets.
