MEERBUSCH, August 17, 2019

Top seed Pedro Sousa and third favourite Pedja Krstin will compete in Sunday’s singles final of the Tennis Open Stadtwerke Meerbusch. Sousa fought past Carlos Taberner from Spain, rallying 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday afternoon.

The World No. 148 from Portugal converted five of his seven break point opportunities to prevail after two hours and three minutes. “It’s always tough to play against a strong player like Carlos is,” Sousa said. “In the second as well as third set I have played my best tennis this week so far.”

Earlier in the day, Pedja Krstin had less problems to beat Briton Jan Choinski 6-4, 6-1. The 24-year-old from Serbia saved all seven break points he faced, capitalizing on four of his own six chances to secure victory in one hour and 14 minutes.

“Pedja didn’t make many mistakes today,” Choinski had to admit. “I played a lot of matches over the last couple of weeks, so it was mentally tough for me. I didn’t convert my chances and didn’t serve well.”

Sousa won the only previous meeting with Krstin at the ATP Challenger in Alphen aan den Rijn 2017.  The 31-year-old Lisbon native is vying for his second ATP Challenger title of the season following his triumph in Blois, France. Krstin could lift his second Challenger career trophy. The Mokrin resident clinched his maiden title in San Luis Potosi, Mexico three years ago.

Sunday’s action will start at the GWR Büderich with the doubles final when N. Sriram Balaji and Vishnu Vardhan of India will take on Andre Begemann of Germany and Romanian Florin Mergea followed by the singles championship match.