SASSUOLO/STARNBERG, June 23, 2024
Jesper de Jong is the champion of the third edition of the Emilia-Romagna Tennis Cup, an ATP Challenger Tour clay-court tournament organized by Master Group Sport in collaboration with the Emilia Romagna Region, which concluded Saturday at the Sporting Club Sassuolo, Italy.
De Jong defeated No. 4 seed Daniel Altmaier of Germany 7-6(5), 6-1 in the singles final. The 24-year-old Dutch, who eliminated defending champion Alexandre Muller in the opening round, capitalized on five of his 12 break-point opportunities and won 57 per cent of the total points played to secure victory in one hour and 35 minutes.
Top dog in Sassuolo 🏆
Jesper de Jong becomes the first Dutch Challenger champion of 2024!#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/I6Kc33oeu3
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) June 22, 2024
“It has been a tough but fantastic week,” said de Jong. “I thank my coach, the fans in the stands, and the tournament organization, which was impeccable. My goal is to break into the top 100 by the end of the year, and this victory gives me great momentum to climb the rankings and be confident ahead of the Wimbledon qualifiers, which I will start next Monday.”
By winning his third ATP Challenger Tour career title, his first of the season, the World No. 146 collected €20,300 in prize money as well as 125 ATP Ranking points.
After two editions held in Parma, the Emilia-Romagna Tennis Cup took place in Sassuolo for the first time this year. Sassuolo is a charming town located in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. Known for its vibrant ceramic industry, it has earned a reputation as one of the leading producers of high-quality tiles and ceramics, a tradition that dates back centuries. The town combines its rich industrial heritage with beautiful architecture, including the Baroque-style Ducal Palace, which houses art galleries and museums.
