Rei Sakamoto, 18, closes Challenger season in historic style | ATP Tour

Challenger

Sakamoto, 18, closes Challenger season in historic style

Dzumhur wins season-leading sixth Challenger title

December 03, 2024

Japan’s Rei Sakamoto completed the 2024 season in good style Sunday when he made historical past in entrance of his residence followers.

The 18-year-old gained his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title and have become the second-youngest Japanese winner at that degree. Solely Kei Nishikori, former World No. 4 within the PIF ATP Rankings, gained a Challenger title at a youthful age in 2008.

Sakamoto was competing as a wild card in simply his sixth Challenger outing. The #NextGenATP teen downed German qualifier Christoph Negritu 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 within the last. Sakamoto, who gained this yr’s Australian Open boys’ singles title, is the third-youngest Challenger champion this season. Solely Joao Fonseca and Joel Schwaerzler have been youthful once they lifted trophies.

Youngest Japanese Challenger Champions

Sakamoto’s triumph additionally caps a historic season for Japanese gamers on the Challenger Tour. Eight Japanese gamers mixed for 10 Challenger titles this yr, marking a document for the Asian nation. Following Sakamoto’s title, he’s as much as a career-high No. 412 within the PIF ATP Rankings.

Sakamoto was not the one Challenger titlist to make historical past this previous week. Hady Habib grew to become the primary Lebanese champion in Challenger historical past, together with his victory on the
Challenger Dove Males+Care Temuco. Lebanon is the eighty fifth completely different nation or territory with a Challenger title.

Hady Habib is topped champion on the Temuco Challenger.” type=”width:100%;” src=” Habib is topped champion on the Temuco Challenger. Credit score: Challenger Dove Males+Care Temuco

Habib, 26, survived Argentine Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-4, 6-7(3), 7-6(2) in an exciting two-hour, 34-minute last. The previous Texas A&M College standout held his nerve regardless of failing to serve out the championship match at 6-4, 5-4.

“Proper now I feel I’ve the largest dopamine rush that I feel I’ve had your entire yr. Ending the yr like that is unimaginable, making historical past for my nation,” Habib stated. “I am puzzled.”

Damir Dzumhur gained a season-leading sixth Challenger title on the Maia Open, the place he raced previous Italian Francesco Passaro 6-3, 6-4 within the last. Dzumhur dropped the opening set of his marketing campaign and infrequently regarded again to gather his 14th Challenger crown.

“It was the very best end to the yr for me,” Dzumhur stated. “I’m so comfortable. It means quite a bit to me. Most likely one of many outcomes that I can say means probably the most for me in my profession. Profitable ATP tournaments is a superb feeling, enjoying Grand Slams with the large gamers, profitable in opposition to some nice gamers is a superb feeling, however as soon as you’re coming again, you recognize every thing extra. Because of this I recognize this consequence much more.”

Damir Dzumhur in motion on the Maia Challenger.” type=”width:100%;” src=” Dzumhur in motion on the Maia Challenger. Credit score: FPT/Maia Open

The 32-year-old Dzumhur will end the season contained in the High 100 of the PIF ATP Rankings, which he returned to in August for the primary time in 4 years.

German Mats Rosenkranz triumphed on the Manzanillo Open in Mexico to say his first Challenger title. The 26-year-old was competing in simply his third match at that degree this season. Rosenkranz defeated Gonzalo Oliveira 6-3, 6-4 within the title match and rose 109 spots within the PIF ATP Rankings, climbing to World No. 373.

Mats Rosenkranz celebrates profitable the Manzanillo Challenger.” type=”width:100%;” src=” Rosenkranz celebrates profitable the Manzanillo Challenger. Credit score: Toño Torres Téllez