PARMA/STARNBERG, October 8, 2022
Timofey Skatov from Kazakhstan and Slovakia’s Jozef Kovalik have reached the singles final of the Parma Challenger presented by Iren.
Skatov edged out Italy’s Gianluca Mager 7-6(5), 6-2 on Saturday. The World No. 209 withstood seven aces and broke his opponent’s serve three times to secure victory in one hour and 38 minutes.
“I am very happy. I haven’t been in a final for more than a year,” said Skatov, who will appear in his second championship match on the ATP Challenger Tour after finishing runner-up to Zizou Bergs on home soil in Almaty last season. “I am playing well, doing a good job on the court and I enjoy every day here in Parma.
“Every week is tough. I have to face really good opponents here, playing long points and long matches. But I am just thinking to continue to do my job, keep pushing every point and running as much as I can. In the end I am still here.”
Later in the afternoon, Kovalik defeated Vit Kopriva from the Czech Republic 6-3, 7-5. The World No. 156 sent down four aces and won 70 per cent of his first-service points to prevail after almost two hours of play.
Game, set and match 🇸🇰 Jozef #Kovalik 👏
⏰ Final tomorrow 11:00 am#tennis #ATPChallenger #ParmaChallenger @ATPChallenger @ComuneParma @parmawelcomeoff pic.twitter.com/YR7Q3BCtEG
— MEF tennis events (@meftennisevents) October 8, 2022
Kovalik is bidding for his seventh ATP Challenger career title, his second of the season after Tulln in Austria in September. Following three triumphs on the ITF Pro Circuit, Skatov, a former junior World No. 1, could earn his first Challenger crown. The pair will meet for the first time.
Brkic/Cacic triumph in doubles
Earlier in the day, Tomislav Brkic from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Nikola Cacic of Serbia captured the doubles title. The top seeds beat Luis David Martinez from Venezuela and Slovakia’s Igor Zelenay 6-2, 6-2 in 54 minutes.
By winning their second Challenger team title after Forli in Italy two years ago, Brkic and Cacic split €7,870 in prize money and collected 125 ATP Ranking points.
🏆 DOUBLES CHAMPIONS 🏆
🇧🇦 #Brkic and 🇷🇸 #Cacic claim the title in Parma 👏
📸 Daniele Combi#tennis #ATPChallenger #ParmaChallenger @ATPChallenger @ComuneParma @parmawelcomeoff pic.twitter.com/xyKQGWPZNk
— MEF tennis events (@meftennisevents) October 8, 2022
