SHENZHEN/STARNBERG, October 15, 2023
The ATP Challenger Tour returned to Shenzhen, China for the first time since 2019 for the fourth edition of the Shenzhen Longhua Open. Aleksandar Kovacevic from the United States emerged victorious of the $130,000 hard-court event held at the Mission Hills Ecological Sports Park. The No. 6 seed defeated third favourite Nuno Borges from Portugal 7-6(4), 7-6(5) in Sunday’s singles final.
Kovacevic battled his way to the championship match with wins in the bottom half of the draw over Philipp Sekulic of Australia, Alibek Kachmazov from Russia, Denis Yevseyev of Kazakhstan and second-seeded Argentine Pedro Cachin. The 25-year-old New York native struck five aces in the final and won 76 per cent of his first-service points to secure victory in one hour and 44 minutes.
What a week 🙌
Aleksandar Kovacevic wins the title in Shenzhen without dropping a set, defeating Borges 7-6(4), 7-6(5) in the final#ATPChallenger | @usta pic.twitter.com/onnZ2fbyj5
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) October 15, 2023
Kovacevic captured his third ATP Challenger career title following his triumphs on home soil in Cleveland and Waco earlier in the season. He pocketed $17,650 in prize money as well as 100 ATP Ranking points.
Erler/Miedler earn doubles title
Earlier in the day, Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedler took the doubles title. The top seeds from Austria defeated Piotr Matuszewski of Poland and Australia’s Matthew Christopher Romios 6-3, 6-4 in the final, which lasted 61 minutes.
Erler and Miedler won their second ATP Challenger team title of the season in addition to their three ATP Tour doubles titles in Acapulco, Mexico, Munich, Germany and Acapulco, Mexico. The pair split $7,590 in prize money and earned 100 ATP Doubles Ranking points.
