CAMPINAS/STARNBERG, October 9, 2023
After 10 years, Brazil once again has a champion at the Campeonato Internacional de Tênis ATP Challenger Tour clay-court event in Campinas. On Sunday, Thiago Monteiro from Ceará claimed his biggest title on Brazilian soil, marking his 9th Challenger victory in his career. He replicated the achievement of Guilherme Clezar from Rio Grande do Sul, who won the tournament in 2013.
After defeating Italian player Luciano Darderi in the morning, World No. 150 Monteiro returned to the court hours later to face an equally determined opponent, Argnetine Camilo Ugo Carabelli, who also had a significant victory in the morning session. Despite the high humidity once again in Campinas, Monteiro had to show resilience to turn the match around after a slow start.
Relying on variations and powerful forehand shots, Carabelli dominated the first set and closed it with a break, winning 6-3. However, in the beginning of the second set, the Brazilian lefty started intensely, and his 24-year-old rival’s intensity dropped. Quickly, Thiago took a 4-0 lead, but he couldn’t maintain the advantage. The Argentine broke back twice, equalizing the set at 4-4. Yet, when it mattered most, the home favourite received support from the enthusiastic crowd at he João Lima Court and won the set 6-4.
In the decisive set, there was more tension. Fatigue was setting in, and both players made errors, but this didn’t diminish the intensity of the game. At 5-4, Monteiro maintained consistency from the baseline and benefited from a double fault to celebrate his first title in 2023.
Pure emotion 🙌
In a tough battle, @dThiagoMonteiro fights past Ugo Carabelli 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to claim the title in Campinas!#ATPChallenger | @cbtenis pic.twitter.com/Si0YqqoIkQ
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) October 8, 2023
“This week will be forever etched in my memory. The support from the crowd gave me goosebumps, especially in the third set. Camilo is a very solid player and had an excellent week, so I needed to stay strong in the points to keep him from getting comfortable,” said Monteiro about the match.
Since his victory against World No. 4 Holger Rune in the Davis Cup, Monteiro has remained undefeated on the circuit. Exhausted after the two-hour and 55-minute match, the 29-year-old could finally savor his first ATP Challenger Tour title at home, and ninth overall.
“With the support of a crowd like this, the least I could do was give my best on the court. It’s a spectacular week that crowns my hard work. With Pablo (Fuentes, his coach), my other coach in Argentina, my psychologist, my family, there’s a whole team behind all of this. It greatly helps me regain confidence and pursue my goals, which primarily include returning to the top 100. But regarding this week, I can say: this title stays here in Brazil,” concluded Monteiro.
In the upcoming weeks, Monteiro will compete in the Buenos Aires and Santa Fé Challengers and will represent Brazil in the Pan-American Games in Santiago, Chile. With the title win at Sociedade Hípica De Campinas, he is expected to rise nearly 30 positions in the ATP Rankings, making him the second-best Brazilian singles player, trailing only behind Thiago Wild.
Thiago Monteiro’s way to the title
First Round – d. Gustavo Heide (BRA), 6/3, 1/0 RET.Second Round – d. Facundo Diaz Acosta (ARG) [3] 3/6, 6/1, 6/3Quarterfinal – d. Hugo Dellien (BOL) [6], 6/7(5), 6/4, 6/3Semifinal – d. Luciano Darderi (ITA), 6/2, 6/1Final – d. Camilo Ugo Carabelli (ARG) [8], 3/6, 6/4, 6/4
