MALLORCA/STARNBERG, September 3, 2022
Zizou Bergs of Belgium and Italian youngster Luca Nardi have reached the singles final of the €45,730 Rafa Nadal Open by Sotheby’s International Realty.
Fourth-seeded Bergs stopped the run of Jordanian teenager Abedallah Shelbayh, who appeared in his first semi-final on the ATP Challenger Tour, with a 6-4, 6-4 win on Saturday at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor. The World No. 154 struck eight aces and won 84 per cent of his first-service points to secure victory in one hour and 26 minutes.
Earlier in the day, Nardi battled past Bulgarian qualifier Alexandar Lazarov 6-7(1), 6-3, 6-1. The 19-year-old Pesaro native converted five of his seven break points to advance in two hours and one minute.
Luca Nardi is on 🔥
The 🇮🇹 #NextGen Nardi beats 🇧🇬 Lazarov to reach the final of the #RafaNadalOpen by @sothebysrealty pic.twitter.com/ifNyhDh6Gd
— Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar (@rnadalacademy) September 3, 2022
Bergs is seeking his fifth Challenger career crown, his second of the season following his triumph on grass in Ilkley, United Kingdom. Nardi could lift his third trophy. The World No. 175 captured the titles on home soil in Forli as well as in Lugano, Switzerland earlier this year. The pair will meet for the first time.
Bhambri and Myneni earn fifth doubles title of the season
In other action, Indians Yuki Bhambri and Saketh Myneni claimed their fifth doubles title of the season. The No. 3 seeds defeated the all-Czech combination of and Marek Gengel and Lukas Rosol 6-2, 6-2 in only 59 minutes.
Bhambri and Myneni split €2,670 in prize money and collected 80 ATP Doubles Ranking points.
The 🇮🇳 team = unstoppable 😎
They are now tied for the most team titles in 2022 🏆#ATPChallenger | @rnadalacademy pic.twitter.com/zQBSNHbw8v
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) September 3, 2022