WINNIPEG, July 17, 2017

Blaz Kavcic is the champion of the $75,000 Winnipeg National Bank Challenger. The tournament’s top seed from Slovenia defeated second favourite Peter Polansky of Canada in Sunday’s final 7-5, 3-6, 7-5.

Kavcic fired 12 aces, winning 73 per cent of his first service points. The 30-year-old Ljubljana native won three points less than his opponent but gained one break more to prevail after two hours and 33 minutes.

“The Canadian people, they are really educated about tennis,” said Kavcic. “They also clap for me when I make good points. Of course they will cheer for him more, but they were not one sided so it was easy to play.”

Kavcic captured his 15th ATP Challenger career title, lifting his first trophy since Bangkok 2016. He earns $10,800 in prize money as well as 80 ATP ranking points, getting him back into the Top 100.

“Last year I had surgery on my foot. Before going to surgery I didn’t know if I could play tennis anymore,” Kavcic told. “Winning the title here is amazing, so I made the main draw at the US Open.”

On Saturday, top seeds Luke Bambridge from Great Britain and Ireland’s David O’Hare defeated the all-Japanese combination of Yusuke Takahashi and Renta Tukoda 6-2, 6-2 to clinch the doubles crown. The final lasted 50 minutes.

Dolehide Wins Women’s Final

Caroline Dolehide (photo: Morgan Coates)

Earlier in the day, US-American teenager Caroline Dolehide won the $25,000 ITF Women’s tournment. The only 18-year-old beat Mayo Hibi of Japan 6-3, 6-4. Dolehide broke serve three times to secure victory in one hour and 41 minutes.

The World No. 233 captured her second trophy of the season following her triumph in Surprise. Dolehide takes away $3,919 in prize money.