SANTA CRUZ/STARNBERG, January 30, 2022
Francisco Cerundolo was crowned champion at the inaugural Dove Men & Care Challenger Bolivia hosted by the Club de Tenis Santa Cruz. The No. 3 seed of the $53,120 ATP Challenger Tour clay-court tournament emerged victorious from the all-Argentine singles final with eighth favourite Camilo Ugo Carabelli, winning 6-4, 6-3 on Saturday evening.
Cerundolo battled his way to the title match through the top half of the draw with wins over his compatriots Facundo Diaz Acosta, Thiago Agustin Tirante, US-American Nicolas Moreno de Alboran as well as top seed and home favourite Hugo Dellien.
The World No. 127 broke Carabelli’s serve four times and won 55 per cent of the total points played to succeed after one hour and 37 minutes.
🏆 x 5⃣@FranCerundolo is the champion in Santa Cruz de la Sierra! 💪🎉
The 🇦🇷 claims his fifth #ATPChallenger title and first of 2022, continuing his push towards the Top 100. pic.twitter.com/Cjy6pCn9TA
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) January 30, 2022
Cerundolo captured his fifth ATP Challenger career crown, his fist since Cordenons, Italy in August last year. The 23-year-old Buenos Aires native pocketed $7,200 in prize money as well as 80 ATP Ranking points.
“Great week in Santa Cruz, winning another Challenger title. Very happy for the week and what I got. Congratulations to Cami, who is a great rival and above all a great friend. Also thanks to all for their daily support. We continue,” Cerundolo stated on Twitter.
Gran semana en Santa Cruz obteniendo un nuevo titulo Challenger. Muy contento por la semana y lo obtenido.
Felicitar a Cami que es un gran rival y por sobre todo un gran amigo.
Tambien agradecer a todos los que apoyan dia a dia y empujan para adelante. Seguimos💪 pic.twitter.com/USFjWyNbUY— Francisco Cerúndolo (@FranCerundolo) January 30, 2022
Hidalgo/Rodriguez take doubles title
Earlier in the day, Diego Hidalgo from Ecuador and Cristian Rodriguez of Colombia claimed the doubles title. The fourth seeds fought past the tournament’s No. 3 seeds Andrej Martin of Slovakia and Austrian Tristan-Samuel Weissborn 4-6, 6-3, 10-8. The encounter lasted one hour and 29 minutes.
By winning their third team title on the ATP Challenger Tour and second of the season following last week’s triumph in Concepcion, Chile, Hidalgo and Rodriguez split $3,100 in prize money and earned 80 ATP Doubles Ranking points.
