BENDIGO/STARNBERG, January 9, 2022
The first two champions of the new season on the ATP Challenger Tour were crowned Down Under. World No. 167 Ernesto Escobedo captured the title of the $58,320 Bendigo International hard-court tournament hosted by the Bendigo Tennis Association in Victoria, Australia.
The No. 8 seed from the United States rallied from a set down to overcome 10th-seeded Frenchman Enzo Couacaud 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 in Sunday’s singles final. In the pair’s third meeting, Escobedo struck 10 aces, won 71 per cent of his first-service points and broke his rival’s serve three times to secure victory in two hours and 36 minutes.
Congrats to Ernesto Escobedo on his first title in two and a half years. Wins the Bendigo Challenger, taking out Enzo Couacaud 5-7, 6-3, 7-5. 🏆 Up to #141 after his great week. 👏🏼
🎥: ATP Challenger/Livestream pic.twitter.com/rb2LvHSMzE
— Chad (@CCSMOOTH13) January 9, 2022
By lifting his fourth career trophy, his first since 2019 Granby, Canada, Escobedo earned $7,200 in prize money as well as 80 ATP Ranking points. The 25-year-old from Los Angeles, coached by Javier Nalbandian, brother of former pro David, is projected to return to the Top 150 on Monday.
Machac takes Traralgon International title
Tomas Machac claimed the title of the Traralgon International held at the venue of the Traralgon Tennis Association. The No. 4 seed of the $58,320 hard-court event defeated US-American No. 5 seed Bjorn Fratangelo 7-6(2), 6-3 in the championship match.
After a first-round bye, Machac advanced to the final with wins over Harold Mayot of France, Australian Akira Santillan, Mikhail Kukushkin from Kazakhstan and Dutchman Jesper de Jong. The World No. 143 outpointed Fratangelo 81-68 to prevail after one hour and 45 minutes.
Machac pocketed $7,200 in prize money and collected 80 ATP Ranking points.
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The doubles title was won by Manuel Guinard of France and Zdenek Kolar from the Czech Republic. The third seeds beat the tournament’s No. 4 seeds Marc-Andrea Huesler and Dominic Stricker from Switzerland 6-3, 6-4.
The encounter lasted 52 minutes.
