MAIA, November 24, 2019

Jozef Kovalik lifted the final trophy on the ATP Challenger Tour this season by winning the inaugural Maia Open in Portugal. The No. 10 seed from Slovakia defeated Constant Lestienne 6-0, 6-4 in Sunday’s singles final at the Complexo Municipal de Tenis da Maia.

Kovalik advanced to the championship match with wins over Pavel Kotov from Russia, Hungarian Attila Balazs, Italian veteran Paolo Lorenzi and top seeded compatriot Andrej Martin. The World No. 172 saved eight of the nine break points he faced and capitalized on five of his 12 own break point chances to seal victory in one hour and 20 minutes.

For one last time in 2019, we crown a champion. 👑

Jozef Kovalik takes the title in Maia, his second of the year. Did not drop a set all week. pic.twitter.com/oLzBQFYrP3

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) November 24, 2019

“I’m very happy and I didn’t expect, when I got here, that I could win the tournament,” Kovalik said. “I want to dedicate the title to two special people for me, my daughter and my wife, who watched the match on television.”

Kovalik claimed his second ATP Challenger crown of the season following his triumph at the Szczecin Open in Poland in September. The 27-year-old from Bratislava took away from Portugal €6,190 in prize money as well as 80 ATP Ranking points.