POZNAN/STARNBERG, June 20, 2025

Czech Dalibor Svrcina and Austrian Filip Misolic will meet in the final of the 2025 Enea Poznan Open, set to take place on Saturday at the Park Tenisowy Olimpia. Remarkably, both semifinals ended with the identical scoreline: 6–3, 6–4. Svrcina, the tournament’s third seed, defeated Argentine Thiago Agustin Tirante, while fourth-seeded Misolic overcame Chilean Cristian Garin.

Svrcina Shows Grit and Composure

The first semifinal promised high-quality tennis, pitting two in-form players—second-seeded Tirante and third-seeded Svrcina—against each other. This was their third career meeting, with each having won once in the past. Tirante had lifted the Cordoba Challenger title earlier this year, while Svrcina claimed trophies in Pune and Barletta.

The match delivered on expectations, with long and intense rallies from both players. Svrcina kept his cool at 3–3 in the first set, patiently waiting for errors from his opponent. His steadiness paid off, and he secured the opening set in 48 minutes. Riding that momentum, he broke Tirante early in the second and moved up 3–1.

Though Tirante remained aggressive, Svrcina’s consistency and counterpunching were decisive. The Argentine had three break points in the sixth game but failed to convert. At 5–3, the Czech had four match points on his serve, but Tirante saved them all with spectacular defense. He even saved two more in the following game, but Svrcina finally sealed the win on his seventh match point.

The roar of relief

On his seventh match point, Dalibor Svrcina overcomes Tirante 6-3, 6-4 to reach the final in Poznan#ATPChallenger | @poznanopen pic.twitter.com/pGRbBjNB0N

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) June 20, 2025

“I really wanted to close it out in that game,” said Svrcina after the match. “He was defending those match points incredibly and gaining momentum. It was crucial for me to finish on my serve before the match could shift. I’m happy I did it in the tenth game.

“My strategy was to be as aggressive as possible and to target his backhand. His forehand is unbelievable—if I let him use it too much, the match could have easily gone the other way,” he added.

“I feel great, extremely focused. My goal is to break into the top 100, and reaching the final gives me extra motivation. This is a big moment for me, and I’m doing everything I can to play my best,” said the Czech, who could become the fifth player from his country to win the Poznan Challenger. The last Czech to triumph here was Jan Hajek in 2006.

Misolic Overpowers Garin to Secure Final Spot

The second semifinal featured two top contenders: former top-20 player Cristian Garin and Austria’s Filip Misolic, ranked World 140. Garin had dropped just one set en route to the semifinals, in a grueling second-round battle against Sumit Nagal, while Misolic had cruised through the draw without losing a set, spending significantly less time on court.

Garin started strong, breaking early in the third game and threatening a second break soon after. However, Misolic fended off the danger and immediately broke back. That shift in momentum proved crucial, as the Austrian raised his level, improving both his serve and return, and went on to take the set 6–3.

The second set was all about Misolic. The opening games were tightly contested, but a lapse in concentration from Garin in the third game handed the Austrian a break he would not relinquish. Frustration crept into Garin’s game, and visible signs of tension appeared as he began talking to himself and his coach. Misolic capitalized, confidently serving out the match in just under 90 minutes.

“I’m very happy to be in the final,” said Misolic. “I played a very good match. I knew it would be tough against Cristian, but I was well-prepared tactically. I had to stay focused on every point and avoid unforced errors. Playing aggressively was key today.”

Final Showdown Set

Saturday’s final promises to be an exciting affair between two players who know each other well. Svrcina and Misolic have met twice before and share a 1–1 head-to-head record. Their most recent encounter came earlier this year in Monza, Italy, where Misolic came out on top.

“He’s an incredible player,” said Misolic. “It’s going to be a tough match. I’ll prepare as best I can. I’m really looking forward to playing him again.”