PADOVA, July 4, 2015

Albert Montaῆes and Andrej Martin will face each other in Sunday’s final at the ATP Challenger in Padova.

The 34-year-old Spaniard rallied back from a set down to overcome Italian qualifier Federico Gaio, winning 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. In a tight match, Montaῆes was more efficient in the decisive situations, converting four of his eleven break point opportunities to seal victory in two hours and 13 minutes.

Handshake after a tight match: Montanes and Gaio (photo: Lodovica Barbiero)

Martin also had to go the distance beating Calvin Hemery 6-7, 6-4, 6-2. The 25-year-old Slovakian won 70% of his first service points and capitalized on eight of his nine break point chances to advance to his first final of the season after two hours and 19 minutes.

Martin and Montaῆes will meet for the second time on the tour. The only previous match between the two took place in Prague earlier this season with the Spaniard winning in straight sets. For the forth seeded Catalan it is the third consecutive ATP Challenger final, following the tournaments in Fürth and Prague. In both Montaῆes finished runner-up. It would be the Spaniard’s first title since winning in Cordenons in August last year. Martin lifted his last trophy at the ATP Challenger event in Liberec last season.