BAD WALTERSDORF/STARNBERG, September 21, 2024
Jaume Munar of Spain and Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild will compete in Sunday’s singles final of the Bad Waldersdorf Trophy. Munar, top seed of the ATP Challenger Tour 125 clay-court tournament being held at the Sportaktivpark Bad Waltersdorf, Austria, rallied from a set down to overcome US-American Nicolas de Alboran 5-7, 7-6(10), 6-1 in the stage of the last four on Saturday.
In front of more than 1.500 spectators on Centre Court, Munar withstood five aces, broke his opponent’s serve three times and saved three match points to secure victory in two hours and 53 minutes.
A great escape 😤
Jaume Munar saves three match points and fights past Moreno de Alboran 5-7, 7-6(10), 6-1 to reach the final in Bad Waltersdorf #ATPChallenger | @jamunar_38 | @RFETenis pic.twitter.com/6SO4QOvoiC
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) September 21, 2024
“It was mentally and physically extremely demanding. I apologize for breaking my racket, but the emotion just had to come out. Nicolas pushed me to the limit, it was an incredible marathon,” the 74th-ranked Munar said afterwards.
Seyboth Wild only needed two sets to defeat No. 6 seed Laslo Djere of Serbia. The No. 4 seed from Brazil didn’t face a break point and capitalized on all of his three own break-point chances to prevail 6-1, 6-4 after one hour and 12 minutes.
“I had a good day today, Laslo is a very, very good player,” said Seyboth Wild, who is seeking his sixth ATP Challenger career title on Sunday. “The training here is really doing me good. And tomorrow, a tough match awaits me in front of a wonderful crowd.”
Munar could lift his 10th Challenger career trophy, his first of the season. The 27-year-old from Mallorca leads the pair’s head-to-head series 3-1.
Nouza and Rikl triumph in doubles
In other action, Petr Nouza and Patrik Rikl clinched the doubles title. The fourth-seeded Czechs outlasted the tournament’s top seeds Guido Andreozzi of Argentina and Indian N. Sriram Balaji 6-4, 4-6, 10-5 in one hour and 19 minutes.
By winning their fifth team title of the season, Nouza and Rikl split €8,450 in prize money and earned 125 ATP Doubles Ranking points.
