PRAGUE/STARNBERG, May 7, 2021
Following the Ostragroup Open in Ostrava last week, the ATP Challenger clay-court swing in the Czech Republic continues this week with the I.CLTK PRAGUE OPEN 2021 BY MONETA MONEYBANK.
The €44,820 tournament is being held at the I. Cesky Lawn-Tennis Klub Praha, situated at Štvanice, an island on the Vltava river between the Prague districts of Holešovice and Karlín.
Clay season in Prague 🤗
📸 @MSidorjak pic.twitter.com/yx1rPOdpd5
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) May 5, 2021
Saturday’s semi-finals line-up will be led by top seed Norbert Gombos. The World No. 89 from Slovakia defeated eighth seed Sumit Nagal of India 6-4, 6-2 on Saturday afternoon. Gombos converted 67 per cent of his break-point opportunities to advance after one hour and 22 minutes.
The 30-year-old from Bratislava is seeking his eighth ATP Challenger career title, his first since lifting the trophy at the Winnipeg Challenger in the United States two years ago. Up next for Gombos will be Tallon Griekspoor. The World No. 143 of the Netherlands eased past Frederico Ferreira Silva from Portugal 6-2, 6-4 in 77 minutes.
Vrbensky to face Otte
In the bottom half of the draw, Czech wild card entry Michael Vrbensky booked his place in the stage of the final four with a comfortable 6-1, 6-4 over compatriot and qualifier Vit Kopriva. The 21-year-old Nymburk native, who reached his first Challenger semi-final one year ago also on home soil in Prague, won 71 per cent of his first-service points to secure victory in one hour and 18 minutes.
Vrbensky will next take on Oscar Otte from Germany. The World No. 161 defeated US-American Maxime Cressy, who produced 15 doubles faults. Otte broke his opponent’s serve four times to prevail after one hour and 23 minutes.
In the doubles championship match, Marc Polmans from Australia and Ukrainian veteran Sergiy Stakhovksy will face No. 3 seeds Ivan and Matej Sabanov of Croatia.
