AIX-EN-PROVENCE, May 11, 2019

Pablo Cuevas advanced to his 17th ATP Challenger final, seeking his 14th title at the 2019 Open Pays d’Aix. The top seed of the €137,560 clay-court event defeated Hugo Nys from Monaco 6-3, 6-1 on Saturday afternoon.

Cuevas dominated the encounter, didn’t face a break point, converting four of his own 13 chances to seal victory in one hour and five minutes. The World No. 51 will next take on Quentin Halys, who beat Alexey Vatutin of Russia 7-5, 6-3.

The 22-year-old Frenchman struck five aces, winning 80 per cent of his first service points to prevail after one hour and 12 minutes. Halys could clinch his fourth ATP Challenger title. Cuevas won the only previous meeting between the two at the 2016 French Open in three sets.

Krawietz/Melzer take first team title

Later in the day, Kevin Krawietz of Germany and Austrian veteran Jürgen Melzer took the doubles title. The No. 2 seeds defeated last week’s Munich champions and tournament top seeds Frederik Nielsen from Denmark and German Tim Pütz 7-6(5), 6-2. The final lasted one hour and 18 minutes.

2019 just keeps getting better for @KrawietzKevin & @jojomelzer.

Fourth doubles title for the 🇩🇪, third for the 🇦🇹 (ATP & Challenger combined). pic.twitter.com/JIiVk909DS

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) 11. Mai 2019