MAIA/STARNBERG, November 30, 2024
Francisco Cabral from Portugal concluded his 2024 season on a high note by celebrating his third victory at the Maia Open, an ATP Challenger 100 event organized by the Portuguese Tennis Federation and the Maia Municipality, wrapping up this Sunday with the singles final between Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur and Italy’s Francesco Passaro.
Cabral, a doubles specialist, teamed up with Frenchman Theo Arribage in Saturday’s final to defeat Belgium’s Kimmer Coppejans and Spain’s Sergio Martos Gornes, 6-1, 3-6, 10-5. This win repeated Cabral’s doubles triumph from 2021, achieved with Nuno Borges. Champions in Braga a month and a half earlier and finalists in Rovereto the previous week, Cabral and Arribage clinched their third title in four tournaments as partners.
Francisco Cabral fecha 2024 com mais um título — o segundo em três finais disputadas nos quatro torneios que fez ao lado de Theo Arribage.
6-1, 3-6 e 10-5 contra Kimmer Coppejans e Sergio Martos Gornes para vencer o #MaiaOpen pela terceira vez, mas primeira como Challenger 100. pic.twitter.com/yKHI0Fj4td
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) November 30, 2024
“It was a highly competitive match,” reflected Cabral. “We started clearly on top but missed opportunities early in the second set, and our momentum dropped. The crowd was crucial in giving us a push, and before the match tiebreak, we reminded ourselves to bring more energy as the opponents were gaining ground.” Cabral, ranked 79th in doubles and a former top-50 player, noted that this title would move him up three places in the rankings to close the year.
For Cabral, the victory marks his 13th ATP Challenger Tour career title and 28th overall, including two wins from five finals at tour-level. Looking ahead, he expressed aspirations for a return to consistent competition at higher levels: “My main goal would be to win another ATP tournament. I’m currently ranked 76th in the world, but I believe my level is higher than my ranking suggests. I’ve already played all Grand Slam tournaments, but I want to compete more consistently in bigger events like ATP 500 and Masters 1000 tournaments.”
Singles final set
Dzumhur and Passaro, both aiming for career milestones, will compete for the singles title. Dzumhur secured his spot with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Federico Coria, overcoming an early 4-2 deficit in the opening set. This result assured him direct entry into the Australian Open.
World No. 106 Dzumhur reflected on the mental challenge: “At 4-1 in the second set, I remembered a similar match I lost, which stayed with me for months. But now, that’s behind me.” His campaign in Maia could earn him a sixth trophy this year and a return to the ATP top 100.
Passaro, ranked 114th and pursuing his first top-100 entry, rallied past Andrej Martin 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 in 80 minutes. The 23-year-old Italian is two wins away from achieving a place in the Australian Open main draw and his first entry into the top 100. “I know I can achieve both goals simultaneously, but even if not tomorrow, I’m confident I’ll reach the top 100 soon. It’s just a matter of time,” said Passaro, emphasizing his optimism for a promising phase in his career.
The Maia Open final will serve as the third encounter between Dzumhur, who has 12 ATP Challenger Tour career titles and three ATP-level championships, and Passaro, a three-time Challenger winner seeking his fourth trophy. Their head-to-head record is currently tied, with Passaro winning their only clay-court meeting.
