GUANGZHOU/STARNBERG, May 5, 2024
Tristan Schoolkate has clinched the title of the 2024 Guangzhou Nansha International Challenger. The 23-year-old Australian defeated his compatriot and No. 3 seed of the $82,000 hard-court tournament, Adam Walton, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in Sunday’s singles final.
Schoolkate battled his way into the championship match with wins in the top half of the draw over Denis Yevseyev of Kazakhstan, eighth-seeded Italian Mattia Bellucci, Yu Hsiou Hsu of Chinese Taipei and No. 7 seed Maxime Cressy from the United States.
The World No. 241 fired 11 aces in the title match and won 81 per cent of his first-service points to seal victory in two hours and 11 minutes.
A champion is born 🙌
Tristan Schoolkate captures his first Challenger title after getting past Walton 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in Guangzhou#ATPChallenger | @TennisAustralia pic.twitter.com/B2u1vElk5N
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) May 5, 2024
“We are very good friends. We know each others game very well. We have the same coach and it’s never easy to play against a friend,” Schoolkate said about playing against Walton.
“I have been working extremely hard. I think I deserved this title. I have improved a lot over the last year, in particular the last months. I am very happy the way I played in singles and doubles. I am happy with my stay here.”
Following two triumphs on the ITF World Tennis Tour, Schoolkate lifted his maiden trophy on the ATP Challenger Tour. He earned $11,200 in prize money as well as 75 ATP Ranking points.
The Perth native also triumphed in doubles alongside fellow Australian Blake Ellis. The pair beat No. 3 seeds Jisung Nam of South Korea and Finland’s Patrik Niklas-Salmi in Saturday’s final.
The ATP Challenger 75 event was held at the Guangzhou Nansha International Tennis Center. Guangzhou, located in southern China, is a vibrant metropolis known for its rich history, bustling markets, and modern skyline. As the capital of Guangdong province, Guangzhou is a major cultural and economic hub with a population of over 15 million people.
The city has a long history dating back over 2,000 years and has been an important trading port since ancient times. Today, it is a thriving center for commerce, manufacturing, and technology, attracting businesses and visitors from around the world.
