ATP Tour

Dodig draws confidence from Zverev test, springboards to Braga Challenger title

Matej Dodig claimed his second ATP Challenger title of the season and third overall Sunday, when he triumphed at the Braga Open in Portugal.

The 21-year-old, who six weeks ago won in Como, rallied past Elmer Moller 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the championship match. Dodig is the second consecutive Croatian champion in Braga, joining last year’s winner Luka Mikrut.

Moller, the 2024 titlist, was playing his fifth deciding-set match of the week.

Following his title, Dodig is up to No. 145 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, meaning he will climb inside the Top 150 for the first time.

“I twisted my ankle in March in Split and after that it was a little bit tough to come back, but now I’m fully back and playing better than ever,” Dodig said. “I didn’t put so much expectation on me. I realised when I was injured how nice it is to have this life, travelling and doing what we love. I cherish every moment much more now.”

Dodig was playing his first tournament since representing his home country in Davis Cup action last month against Germany. Dodig faced reigning Roland Garros and US Open champion Alexander Zverev, testing the 29-year-old across two tight sets won by the German 6-4, 7-6(3). Zverev on Monday clinched ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours.

“Even though I lost in two sets, I played a close match and he told me after the match — which means a lot to me when a player like him tells me to keep going and ‘You can be a great player’,” Dodig said. “It’s a big boost for my confidence and I think it helps me, as you can already see this week.”

Kachmazov, Passaro & Reis Da Silva win three-set finals; Djere wins at Ferrero Academy
Alibek Kachmazov, Francesco Passaro and Joao Lucas Reis Da Silva all contested in hard-fought finals to clinch Challenger crowns.

Kachmazov, 24, survived Jay Friend 4-6, 7-6(7), 7-6(6) after a gruelling two-hour, 44-minute battle to win the Wuning Open 3. It marks Kachmazov’s maiden Challenger title. Kachmazov and Friend will play again this week, having drawn each other in the first round of the Jinan Challenger.

The 25-year-old Passaro won his fourth Challenger trophy and first of this season at the 53^ Campionati Internazionali Di Sicilia in Palermo, where he ousted Jonas Forejtek 6-3, 6-7(2), 7-6(4) in a two-hour, 36-minute final.

Reis Da Silva was victorious in the all-Brazilian final in Antofagasta, Chile, overcoming Thiago Seyboth Wild 7-6(2), 1-6, 6-2 to secure his second Challenger title.

Tour-veteran Laslo Djere won the Ferrero & Forty Challenger, held at the Juan Carlos Ferrero Tennis Academy in Villena, Spain. The former World No. 27 defeated Daniil Glinka 6-4, 6-4 in the final.