Argentines Facundo Diaz Acosta, Mariano Navone Continue Hot Streaks With Challenger Titles | ATP Tour | Tennis

Argentines Facundo Diaz Acosta and Mariano Navone continued standout seasons on the ATP Challenger Tour this week. The lefty Diaz Acosta gained his third Challenger trophy of the season by triumphing on the Aspria Tennis Cup in Italy whereas Navone prolonged his successful streak to 10 when he was topped champion on the AAT Challenger Santa Fe on residence soil.

Prime seed Diaz Acosta defeated Italian Matthew Giant 6-3, 6-3 after warding off all seven break factors confronted within the Challenger 75 remaining. The 22-year-old dictated together with his serve and forehand to tally his thirtieth Challenger-match win this season. Following his triumph in Milan, Diaz Acosta is in place to crack the Prime 100 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the primary time subsequent Monday.

“Actually vital milestone. Anybody who begins taking part in tennis wish to attain this purpose to make a residing from this sport,” Diaz Acosta stated. “Now my job can be to keep up this degree and handle the issues to enhance.

“I knew I used to be taking part in for Prime 100, so I used to be very tense. I attempted to give attention to techniques, on play and never take into consideration exterior elements.”

Challenger Match Wins Leaders (2023)

Navone gained his second consecutive Challenger title by not dropping a set all week in Santa Fe, the place he downed Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 6-2, 6-4 within the remaining. Navone is at a career-high No. 160 within the Pepperstone ATP Dwell Rankings.

“I performed nice tennis all week, I’m very blissful,” Navone stated within the trophy presentation. “Now I wish to return residence, spend time with my household and associates, after which return to coaching. The vital factor is that I am taking part in at a very good degree. This was a really, very particular week.”

In 2022, gamers from Argentina mixed for a single-season file 23 Challenger titles. Diaz Acosta and Navone have helped Argentina attain 12 Challenger crowns up to now in 2023.

Vallejo, 19, was the primary Paraguayan Challenger finalist since 2010. He was competing in simply his sixth Challenger occasion.

In different Challenger Tour motion, American Steve Johnson claimed his first trophy at any degree since 2020. The previous World No. 21 defeated Kazakh Mikhail Kukushkin 6-4, 6-7(7), 7-6(4) after an exhilarating three-hour, 13-minute battle on the Cranbrook Tennis Classic. Johnson, 33, rallied from 2-4 within the decider to earn his eighth Challenger Tour title.

<img src="https://www.atptour.com/-/media/photos/information/2023/07/10/13/08/johnson-bloomfieldhillsch-2023.jpg" model="width:100%;" alt="Steve Johnson wins the ATP Challenger Tour event in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.” />
Steve Johnson wins the ATP Challenger Tour occasion in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Credit score: Cranbrook Tennis Classic

Kei Nishikori was additionally competing in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, however the former World No. 4 fell to Denis Kudla within the second spherical in his second match in 20 months. Nishikori, who underwent arthroscopic left hip surgical procedure final yr, returned to the Challenger Tour final month and straightaway claimed the Caribbean Open title in Puerto Rico. The Japanese star will once more be in motion at this week’s Chicago Men’s Challenger.

On the Troyes International Tennis in France, Manuel Guinard ousted Calvin Hemery 6-4, 6-3 within the remaining to say his second Challenger title. Guinard, 27, earned his maiden Challenger title a yr in the past in Roseto Degli Abruzzi, Italy.

Guinard is the eleventh totally different Frenchman to win a Challenger title this season. Gamers from France have mixed for a season-leading 13 Challenger titles.

Alejandro Tabilo gained his second Challenger title of the season on the Tennis Open Karlsruhe in Germany. Within the remaining, Italian Julius Zeppieri led 6-2 earlier than taking a tough tumble whereas operating to a forehand within the opening level of the second set. Zeppieri acquired a medical timeout and tried to proceed, however was pressured to retire after the primary recreation of the second set.

The Chilean Tabilo, who made a run to the fourth spherical at this yr’s BNP Paribas Openreached a career-high No. 64 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings final yr. The lefty has competed in three Challenger finals this yr, together with his title run in Francavilla al Mare, Italy in Could.