RENNES/STARNBERG, September 17, 2022
Dominic Thiem of Austria and Frenchman Ugo Humbert will compete in Sunday’s singles final of the Open Blot Rennes. The 2020 US Open champion, who was awarded a wild card into the main draw of the €67,960 ATP Challenger Tour hard-court event, edged out top seed Hugo Gaston 6-2, 7-5 in the stage of the last four on Saturday.
Vintage THIEM 🤩
🇦🇹 @domithiem reaches his first final since 2020 with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Gaston in Rennes 🔥#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/jWrNwGYrVY
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) September 17, 2022
Thiem struck 11 aces and won 71 per cent of his first-service points to succeed in one hour and 42 minutes. “It was a great match, high level from the first point,” said Thiem. “It was a pleasant match with a lot of good rallies, lobs, drop shots, runs, slides…”
Earlier in the day, Humbert defeated second-seeded German Peter Gojowczyk 6-3, 6-4. The 24-year-old Metz native saved all six break points he faced and capitalized on two of his own six break-point opportunities to prevail after one hour and 19 minutes.
“I’m super proud of my game, it was a really solid match, because Peter is playing really well,” said Humbert. “He had already beaten me twice, so I took the match very seriously. I stayed focused from the first to the last point. The atmosphere was incredible, fantastic like every day but today was the stands were packed. I feel good in these conditions and I’m happy to be in the final.”
World No. 216 Thiem is bidding for his first title since his triumph at Flushing Meadows and third ATP Challenger career crown. The 29-year-old lifted the trophies on Moroccan soil in 2013 in Kenitra and Casablanca. Hubert is seeking his seventh Challenger career title, his first since Brest in 2019. The pair will meet for the first time.
Eysseric/Pel win doubles title
In other action, Jonathan Eysseric of France and Dutchman David Pel were crowned doubles champions. The top seeds defeated second-seeded Frenchmen Dan Added and Albano Olivetti 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 19 minutes.
“It was a great match against a tough team with Albano serving very well and Dan returning very well,” said Eysseric. “It worked out really well for us from start to finish. We managed to break twice early in both sets, but also managed to hold our serves. It’s very good that it ended like this and that we could avoid the super tie-break.”
By winning their first team title, Eysseric and Pel split €3,950 in prize money and earned 90 ATP Doubles Ranking points.
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