BRAUNSCHWEIG, July 8, 2016
With Thomaz Bellucci and Inigo Cervantes, the two top-seeds of the €106,500 Sparkassen Open will compete in Saturday’s ATP Challenger final in Braunschweig.
Bellucci fought past Teymuraz Gabashvili 6-7, 6-4, 6-4. The world number 62 from Brazil converted five of his 10 break point chances to advance to his second final of the season after he finished runner-up to Victor Estrella Burgos at the ATP 250 Ecuador Open in Quito in February. The encounter lasted two hours and 53 minutes.
Thomaz Bellucci
“It was a very tough and long match. It was also mentally not easy for me, as the first set was very close and I lost it. I was also a break down in the third. So the key of the match was to be concentrated,” Bellucci told and added: “Nonetheless, I will be at 100% for tomorrow.”
Bellucci’s highlight of the season will obviously be the Olympic Games in his home country. The 28-year-old is looking forward to it.
“I am very excited to represent my country at this huge competition in Rio. It is maybe one of the most important tournament in my life, so it is good to gain confidence playing a lot of matches ahead of the Olympics. This week will help me to get a good rhythm.”
In the second semi-final, the tournament’ last local player in the draw Tobias Kamke fell to second seed Inigo Cervantes 7-5, 6-3. The 26-year-old Spaniard sent down five aces and capitalized on four of his seven break point opportunities to prevail in one hour and 29 minutes. Cervantes celebrated his first victory over the German in the pair’s third meeting.
Inigo Cervantes
“The match was tougher than the scoreboard might tells. I am very pleased to reach the final here,” told Cervantes.
Bellucci and Cervantes will square off for the first time. The Spaniard eyes on claiming his sixth ATP Challenger career. He also lifted the trophy at the Challenger season finale last year. For Bellucci, a triumph at the Sparkassen Open would represent his ninth Challenger title, his first on this level since 2013 in Montevideo. He emerged victorious in Braunschweig four years ago.
