HEILBRONN, June 10, 2023
Matteo Arnaldi pulled double duty Saturday to reach the singles final of the 2023 NECKARCUP and now turns his attention to winning a third ATP Challenger Tour title of the season tomorrow. On another sunny day with temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius in Heilbronn, the 22-year-old Italian emerged victorious from the resumption of his quarterfinal match against second-seeded Spaniard Jaume Munar, winning the last two games of the third set to prevail 1-6, 6-4, 7-5.
In front of about 1,000 spectators on Center Court at the TC Trappensee, Arnaldi backed up this win against Pedro Martinez of Spain with a 7-6(4), 7-5 victory. The World No. 106 fired 12 aces and won 76 per cent of his first service-points to advance in two hours and 24 minutes.
Welcome to the final! 👏
Matteo Arnaldi 🇮🇹 played his best match of the week to overcome Pedro Martinez 7-6 7-5.
🗣 Post-match Interview 🗣#ATPChallenger #Heilbronn #NECKARCUP pic.twitter.com/C7tVYAUzJL
— NECKARCUP Heilbronn (@NeckarH) June 10, 2023
“This was my best match of the week,” Arnaldi said. “I am super happy. Pedro played a great tournament and I try to get ready for the final tomorrow.”
Diaz Acosta beats Molleker
Arnaldi will take on Facundo Diaz Acosta of Argentina in the championship match. The 22-year-old Buenos Aires native ended the run of 2018 NECKARCUP champion Rudolf Molleker from Germany, winning 7-5, 6-3. Facundo Acosta capitalized on five of his nine break-point chances and won 58 per cent of the total points played to secure victory in one hour and 37 minutes.
Into his third consecutive Challenger final! 💪💪💪
Red-hot @Facudiazacosta 🇦🇷 ends the run of Rudolf Molleker at this year’s #NECKARCUP winning 7-5 6-3.
🗣 Let’s hear from our first finalist 🗣#ATPChallenger #Heilbronn pic.twitter.com/kWwl6zmLBm
— NECKARCUP Heilbronn (@NeckarH) June 10, 2023
“Thank you everyone for coming. Not only today but all the days. I am very happy to play in front of so many people,” Diaz Acosta said during his post-match on-court interview. “I had a good start but became a bit nervous and he started to play better. It was a tough match but I kept my focus and improved.”
The World No. 137 came to the NECKARCUP with a lot of self-confidence after claiming two consecutive Challenger Tour titles in Savannah, United States, and in Oeiras, Portugal. Last week Diaz Acosta appeared in his first Grand Slam main draw at Roland Garros.
Arnaldi is seeking his fourth ATP Challenger career crown, his third of the season following his triumphs in Tenerife and Murcia, both in Spain. Acosta Diaz could also lift his fourth Challenger trophy. The Gaucho won the only previous meeting between the two at the ITF World Tennis Tour M25 event in Eupen, Belgium in September 2021.
SATURDAY RESULTS
Singles – Semifinals[5] M. Arnaldi (ITA) d P. Martinez (ESP) 76(4) 75F. Diaz Acosta (ARG) d [WC] R. Molleker (GER) 75 63Quarterfinals[5] M. Arnaldi (ITA) d [2] J. Munar (ESP) 16 64 75
Doubles – Semifinals[3] V. Cornea (ROU) / P. Oswald (AUT) d P. Martinez (ESP) / A. Pellegrino (ITA) 61 62
ORDER OF PLAY – SUNDAY, JUNE 11, 2023CENTER COURT start 13:00Doubles Final – C. Frantzen (GER) / H. Jebens (GER) vs [3] V. Cornea (ROU) / P. Oswald (AUT)Not Before 15:00Singles Final – F. Diaz Acosta (ARG) vs [5] M. Arnaldi (ITA)
