UMAG, March 26, 2017
Yannick Vandenbulcke has clinched his first ITF Pro Circuit title in three years, winning Sunday’s final of the $15,000 Istarska Rivijera held at the Umag Tennis Academy.
Yannick Vandenbulcke and Naoki Nakagawa
The 26-year-old from Belgium eased past Japanese lucky loser Naoki Nakagawa, sealing a 6-1, 6-2 victory. Vandenbulcke won 79 per cent of his first service points and capitalized on five of his seven break point opportunities to prevail in one hour and 10 minutes.
By claiming his fourth career trophy, Vandenbulcke takes away $1,944 in prize money as well as 18 ATP Ranking points. The Anwerp native, who is currently ranked World No. 653, lifted his last trophy on home soil in 2014.
Kolar/Serdarusic Win Doubles Title
Doubles ceremony in Umag
On Saturday, top seeds Zdenek Kolar from the Czech Republic and Croatian Nino Serdarusic took the doubles crown, beating the all-Argentine-combination of Hernan Casanova and Juan Pablo Ficovich 7-5, 6-0. The final lasted 66 minutes.
The four weeks ITF clay court swing in Istria will conclude by the end of next week at the local Tennis Club in Opatija.
The tournament’s top seed will be World No. 196 Laslo Djere from Serbia. Slovakian Andrej Martin has also decided to play the event but entered too late and has to go through the qualifying, where is joined by former top 100 Pere Riba. Martin is currently ranked World No. 154.
