PRAGUE, July 31, 2016
Santiago Giraldo is the champion of the second ATP Challenger event held in Czech’s capital city of Prague. The world number 150 from Colombia won Sunday’s final of the €42,500 Advantage Cars Prague Open by Zenova held at Česky Lawn Tennis Klub Praha located on Štvanice Island.
In light drizzle Giraldo battled past Uladzimir Ignatik 6-4, 3-6, 7-6. The sixth seed withstood nine aces, smashing four of his own. He won 51% of the total points played and eventually prevailed in two hours and 42 minutes.
The former world number 28, who dropped to 150th position, appeared in his first final of the season and lifted his first trophy since his 2013 triumph in his home town of Pereira. It was Giraldo’s first title win on European soil, where he earns €6,150 in prize money as well as 90 ATP ranking points.
On Saturday, top seeds Julian Knowle and Igor Zelenay claimed the doubles title, winning 6-4, 7-5 over Facundo Arguello and Julio Peralta. The encounter lasted one hour and 17 minutes.
Lottner Claims Women’s Trophy
In the all-German-women’s final of the $75,000 ITF event, qualifier Antonio Lottner defeated Carina Witthoeft 7-6, 1-6, 7-5. The only 19-year-old hit eight aces and capitalized on five of her 12 break points to seal victory in two hours and 15 minutes. It was Lottner’s second title of the season after she had clinched the trophy in Versmold.