SIBIU, September 23, 2019

Danilo Petrovic was the dominant player at the Tennis Club Pamira last week and consequently clinched the title of the Sibiu Open. The 27-year-old from Serbia didn’t drop a set en route to the final of the ATP Challenger clay-court event. Petrovic defeated No. 14 seed Christopher O’Connell from Australia 6-4, 6-2 on Sunday afternoon.

Petrovic struck 11 aces, won 87 per cent of his first-service points, saved the only break point he faced and converted three of his own five chances to prevail after 61 minutes.

“It was tough, as we are good friends,” said Petrovic. “We both had a pretty good season. It was tough emotionally and mentally. Physically I was feeling good. It played here six years ago and it’s always a pleasure to come back here. I am not too much into planes and travelling, so I am glad to have the opportunity to play a tournament close to my home.”

By adding a clay-court crown to his hard-court victory in Jerusalem in May, Petrovic took away from Romania €6,190 in prize money as well as 80 ATP Rankig points. The Belgrade native has cracked the Top 200 for the first time, rising 65 spots to a career-high No. 194.

“My goal is to end the season inside the Top 150,” Petrovic said.

On Saturday, Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul of France clinched the doubles crowns. The duo upset the tournament’s top seeds Ivan and Matej Sabanov of Croatia 6-4, 3-6, 10-7. The encounter lasted one hour and 33 minutes.