ECKENTAl, November 3, 2018

Ruben Bemelmans and Antoine Hoang will compete in Sunday’s singles final of the Challenger Eckental. Hoang emerged victorious from the all-French encounter with qualifier Gleb Sakharov 6-4, 6-2.

The World No. 178 from Toulon converted four of his eight break point opportunities to advance to his second title match on the ATP Challenger Tour after one hour and 17 minutes. Hoang, who finished runner-up to Slovenian Aljaz Bedene at the Open d’Orléans in September, is seeking his first Challenger trophy. The 22-year-old clinched his fourth ITF Pro Circuit title in Poitiers earlier this season.

Later in the evening, Bemelmans won the match between the last two seeded players left in the draw against Russia’s Evgeny Donskoy. The 2014 Eckental champion won 60 per cent of the total points played to secure a 6-2, 6-3 victory in one hour and two minutes. Bemelmans could claim his sixth Challenger crown, his first since Koblenz 2014. The 30-year-old from Belgium, who hoisted four of his five trophies on German soil, and Hoang will meet for the first time.

Sunday’s action at the House of Sports will start with the doubles final, when the all-German combination of Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies will take on Hugo Nys of France and Jonny O’Mara from Great Britain.