ORTISEI/STARNBERG, November 14, 2021
Oscar Otte of Germany has strengthened his bid for a main draw spot at the 2022 Australian Open by winning the €44,820 Sparkasse Challenger Val Gardena Südtirol, hosted by the Tennis Club Ortisei.
The top seed of the ATP Challenger Tour 80 hard-court tournament defeated second-seeded US-American Maxime Cressy 7-6(5), 6-4 in the singles final on Sunday morning.
Otte, who didn’t drop a set all week and even didn’t lose one service game, struck 13 aces and won 82 per cent of his first-service points. The World No. 125 saved all eight break points he faced and capitalized on one of his own seven break-point chances to seal victory in one hour and 33 minutes.
No. 1️⃣ vs. No. 2️⃣
🇩🇪 Oscar Otte and 🇺🇸 Maxime Cressy will face off for the singles title in Ortisei on Sunday!
📸: Marco Corriero | @tennisortisei pic.twitter.com/7fVM7fKTUE
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) November 14, 2021
“We all knew how hard it would be against Max,” said Otte after his third win over Cressy in as many meetings this season. “He served very well and had a lot of break balls. But we both defended very well. I made my break in the second set and knew that from then on I just had to hold my own serve. It worked. I won the tournament without a break. That doesn’t happen often, but the serve is one of my strengths.”
The 28-year-old from Cologne has become the fifth top seed to lift the trophy at South Tyrol’s most important tennis tournament, as well as the second German following the triumph of Benjamin Becker in 2012.
By winning his fourth ATP Challenger career crown, Otte pocketed €6,190 in prize money and earned 80 ATP Ranking points. He is projected to rise to World No. 117 on Monday.
“I played my best tennis today, but it wasn’t enough to win,” Cressy said. “Compliments to him. He played phenomenal. I am happy with my week here, even if I have now lost my second final in a row.” The 24-year-old from California, who finished runner-up to Daniel Masur at the Challenger Eckental last week, earned €3,650 in prize money and took away 48 ATP Ranking points.
