The 2016 ATP Challenger Tour calendar contained 166 tournaments, with prize money ranging from $40,000 up to $125,000. It was the 40th edition of Challenger tournaments cycle, and eighth under the name of “ATP Challenger Tour”. Tennis TourTalk is having a review of the season in eleven parts to close the year.
Five tournaments were held in the first week of June with Paolo Lorenzi celebrating a triumph on home soil. The Italian veteran clinched the title of the €106,500 Citta’ Di Caltanissetta. The top-seed, who entered the main draw with a wild card, fought past fellow countryman Matteo Donati in the final, saving one match point to seal a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 victory.
Steve Darcis rallied back from a set down to defeat Thiago Monteiro 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 to win the €64,000 Open Sopra Steria de Lyon.
Top seed Mikhail Kukushkin took the title of the second edition of the $75,000 Hoff Open held on the clay courts in Moscow. The Kazakh ousted Steven Diez of Canada 6-3, 6-3 in the final.
Adam Pavlasek was the champion of the €42,500 Sparta Prague Open, winning the title match against Stephane Robert 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
“Winning a title is always great, but to do it on home soil is even greater,” Pavlasek told after lifting his second trophy on the ATP Challenger Tour. En-route to the titel, the youngster knocked out fellow countryman and tournament top-seed Lukas Rosol. “I hope that I can keep up my level of play in order to proceed step by step.”
Yen-Hsun Lu of Taipei triumphed on grass at the €42,500 Aegon Surbiton Trophy. He defeated Marius Copil from Romania 7-5, 7-6.
Five more tournaments took place in the following week. Yen-Hsun Lu captured another grass court title, winning the final of the €42,500 Aegon Ilkley Trophy 7-6, 6-2 over Frenchman Vincent Millot.
Carlos Berlocq lifted the trophy of the €42,500 Internationaux de Tennis de Blois. The Argentine eased past Steve Darcis from Belgium 6-2, 6-0.
Horacio Zeballos is the champion of the €42,500 Poprad Tatry Challenger Tour, winning the final against Gerald Melzer 6-3, 6-4.
“My service was key today and I served very well in the important moments, especially at the end of the match. When I felt a bit nervous, my serve helped me a lot, giving me a lot of confidence,” Zeballos told afterwards and enjoyed his stay in Poprad.
“I played a good match, not only today but the entire week. I have been spending a nice time here with friendly people in the club.”
Nicolas Kicker captured the €42,500 Blu Panorama Airlines Tennis Cup in Perugia. The Argentine battled past Blaz Rola of Slovenia 2–6, 6–3, 6–0.
Radu Albot gained his second title on the ATP Challenger Tour within three weeks. The 26-year-old from Moldova emerged victorious from the final of the $50,000 Fergana Challenger, winning 6-4, 6-2 over top-seed Konstantin Kravchuk from Russia.
Marco Cecchinato became the champion of the lone tournament, executed the week of June 20. The fifth seed seed from Italy clinched the €42,500 Aspria Tennis Cup, held at the Harbour Club Milano. Cecchinato defeated Laslo Djere 6-2, 6-2 in the final. “I always enjoy playing in Italy, although the competition is very tough,” Cecchinato told afterwards.
The €42,500 Marburg Open closed the month with Jan Satral from the Czech Republic taking the title. Satral edged past Marco Trungelitti from Argentina, winning 6-2, 6-4.