GRODZISK MAZOWIECKI, August 15, 2024
Antoine Escoffier continues his good run of form in recent weeks by reaching the semi-finals of the Kozerki Open. The No. 8 seed of the ATP Challenger Tour 75 hard-court tournament being held at the Akademia Tenisowa Tenis Kozerki edged past fellow Frenchman Laurent Lokoli 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 on Thursday afternoon.
Escoffier capitalized on three of his six break-point chances and won 52 per cent of the total points played to secure victory in two hours and 10 minutes.
“It’s my first time here. The facility is great for the players and in walking distance from the hotel. We have a swimming pool, weather is great. So conditions are perfect to compete,” said Escoffier, who arrived in Poland after finishing the season in fifth place in the second division of the German Bundesliga with Tennis Club SCC-Berlin.
“We stayed in the league, which was the main goal of the team. I played only three matches but it was a great experience with a great team. Team competition is always different. In the Bundesliga we have nine matches, which is more than in France, where we have only six. The teams are bigger. We spend a lot of time on the tour, being for ourselves. It’s good to spend some time with good guys around, cheering for each other. It’s a totally different experience compared to singles matches.”
Escoffier lives in Aix-en-Provence, in the south of France. The World No. 233 travels the tour with his wife, who is also his mental coach. Escoffier played back-to-back finals in Spain last month and captured his maiden title on the ATP Challenger Tour at the Open Castilla y Leon El Espinar.
“I had a couple of opportunities to win a title,” said Escoffier, who captured 15 titles on the ITF Pro Circuit before lifting his maiden Challenger trophy in Segovia. “I played one final, about eight semi-finals and 12 quarterfinals last year. It’s great to finally win my first Challenger title. I thought that I deserve it. But sometimes it takes time. I had to become 31 years old to get my first one, which is of course better than never.”
Is he currently playing the best tennis of his life? “I don’t know,” responded Escoffier, who likes to go fishing in his free time. “What I can say is that I am currently the best version of myself on the court. The mental part is the most important one. That’s why I focus on it. For me this is the start of everything. I will continue trying to do my best and staying happy.”
Next up for Escoffier will be No. 6 seed Marc-Andrea Huesler, who emerged victorious from the all-Swiss affair with fourth favourite Dominic Stricker, winning 6-3, 6-1 in 59 minutes.
Swiss timing 🇨🇭⏰
Marc-Andrea Huesler earns a semi-final spot in Kozerki 6-3 6-1 over Stricker #ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/PiRVgk5oVg
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) August 15, 2024
Naw to challenge Kopriva in semis
In the top half of the draw, Hazem Naw has reached the stage of the final four at Challenger level for the second time. The 340th-ranked Syrian knocked out Frenchman Manuel Guinard 6-4, 6-2. Naw sent down four aces and won 70 per cent of his first-service points to prevail after in one hour and 24 minutes.
Naw, 24, will next play top seed Vit Kopriva from the Czech Republic, who was 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-1 winner over Slovakian qualifier Norbert Gombos. The encounter lasted two hours and 14 minutes.
