CARY/STARNBERG, September 19, 2021

Two US-Americans have booked a spot in the singles final of the Atlantic Tire Championships, an ATP Challenger Tour hard-court tournament being held at Cary Tennis Park in Cary, North Carolina.

Defending champion Mitchell Krueger returns to the championship match by ousting his compatriot and No. 2 seed Denis Kudla 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(2) on Saturday. The No. 6 seed from Texas fired 17 aces and won 85 per cent of his first-service points to secure victory in two hours and 34 minutes.

The second semifinal was also decided in three sets with Bjorn Fratangelo being the victor against Australian Aleksandar Vukic 6-7(2), 7-6(4), 6-2. The No. 8 seed converted five of his eight break-point opportunities to prevail after two hours and 13 minutes.

Krueger is seeking his third ATP Challenger career title. Fratangelo could lift his fifth trophy, his second of the season following his triumph on home soil in Cleveland in March. Fratangelo emerged victorious from eight of the 11 previous meetings between the two.

The singles final is scheduled for 2:00 pm (local time) on Sunday.

Doubles champions crowned 

US-American college tennis standouts William Blumberg and Max Schnur captured the doubles title. The unseeded duo defeated Stefan Kozlov from the United States and Canadian Peter Polansky 6-4, 1-6, 10-4. The encounter lasted one hour and 18 minutes.

Saturday, September 18 – Results

Singles – Semifinals

[6] M. Krueger (USA) def. [2] D. Kudla (USA) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(2)

[8] B. Fratangelo (USA) def. A. Vukic (AUS) 6-7(2), 7-6(2), 6-2

Doubles – Final

W. Blumberg (USA) / M. Schnur (USA) def. S. Kozlov (USA) / P. Polansky (CAN)  6-4, 1-6, 10-4

Day 7 – All American Final! Join us this afternoon, 2:00 pm start time.#USTA #ProCircuit pic.twitter.com/16uwWLAM4T

— Atlantic Tire Champ (@AtlanticTireCh) September 19, 2021