SAVANNAH, May 1, 2018
On the first day of main draw action at the 2018 St. Joseph’s/Candler (SJ/C) Savannah Challenger, Thomaz Bellucci upset No. 2 seed Peter Polansky 6-3, 6-1, to advance to the second round.
In the first set, the 30-year old Brazilian started slow, but started to find his rhythm later in the set breaking Polansky twice and taking the opening set 6-3. In the second set, he was a force to be reckoned with, firing in six aces and only allowing Polansky one hold of serve. Bellucci defeated the Canadian 6-3, 6-1 in a hour and fifteen minutes.
“I didn’t start the first few games playing well, but after a few games I was more confident,” said Bellucci. “I am very happy to beat Peter. He is a great player and it is a great victory for me.”
Bellucci is currently ranked No. 217 in the world, but in 2010 he reached a career-high ranking on No. 21 in the world. The Brazilian holds four singles titles on the ATP World Tour, with his most recent coming in 2015 on the clay of Geneva. Content with his victory on Monday, Bellucci realizes he has a long way to go until he is at his former level and is ready for the next match.
“I need more victories to find my best tennis and my best level. So I think today was a huge opportunity
to get more confidence and play better in the next round.”
Next up, Bellucci will take on the winner of Jay Clarke and fellow Brazilian Joao Pedro Sorgi. Sorgi, a finalist at the SJ/C Savannah Challenger in 2017 is looking to build on a tough start to the year, while #NextGenATP star Clarke is ready to build on a solid few weeks.
Play gets underway tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. with US-Americans Evan King, Denis Kudla, Noah Rubin, Michael Mmoh, and Donald Young all in action on center court.
