MUNICH, July 25, 2019 (by Dietmar Kaspar)

M15 Kramsach AUT – Ronald Slobodchikov dominates in Tyrol

The 19th edition of the Sparkasse ITF World Tennis Tour presented by VW Autohaus Strasser was held at the idyllic venue of the Tennisclub Kramsach in Tyrol.

Ronald Slobodchikov was the dominating player without losing a set during the tournament. En route to the final, the 25-year-old Russian started the competition with a victory against Austrian wildcard entry Lukas Krainer. Following wins against Italian junior entry Davide Tortora and Patrik Hartmeier from Switzerland, No. 4 seeded Slobodchikov knocked off German Sebastian Prechtel in the semi-finals. 23-year-old Prechtel made big progress in the last months with his new coach Marc Meigel.

The home crowd was delighted by the sensational run of local hero Sandro Kopp. The 19-year-old Austrian, who is coached by Hakan Dahlbo from the Estess Tennis Academy in Seefeld, advanced from the bottom half of the draw to the final. After beating No. 3 seeded Alessandro Petrone from Italy in the opening match in three sets, he rallied past Australian qualifier William Ma in straight sets. In the stage of the final eight, wildcard entry Kopp battled past his trainings partner Mick Veldheer from the Netherlands in a tough three-set encounter with two tiebreaks, followed by a clear two set-victory versus Austrian No. 2 seed David Pichler.

The championship match in front of 300 spectators was a clear matter for Slobodchikov. Capitalizing on five of his six break point chances without dropping a service game, he claimed a 6-2, 6-0 win after 58 minutes. The Krasnoyarsk native lifted his fifth clay-court trophy on the ITF World Tennis Tour.

During the championship ceremony, a happy Slobodchikov stated: „Congratulations to Sandro for an amazing week. I know you are the home favourite. Thanks to the crowd for an amazing atmosphere. I will definitely come back to this wonderful place.“

M25 Lima PER – Francisco Cerundolo clinches his fifth clay-court title of the season

Following his final appearance in Buenos Aires last week, Francisco Cerundolo triumphed at the M25 Lima tournament, which was hosted at Club de Regatas Lima Filial San Antonio.

The 20-year-old Argentinian battled past Brazilian No. 8 seed Oscar Jose Gutierrez, who claimed the title at the same place last week, in the stage of the last four in straight sets.

Tournament’s No. 5 Nicolas Alvarez from Peru advanced from the bottom half of the draw in beating Facundo Juarez from Argentina in two sets.

Breaking the service of his 23-year-old rival for six times by dropping one service game, No. 3 seeded Cerundolo got the final win with 6-2, 6-1, lasting 68 minutes. The Buenos Aires native celebrated his fifth season trophy and his seventh overall title on the ITF World Tennis Tour, all of them won on clay court.

M25 Iowa City USA – Alex Rybakov prevails in Iowa

Alex Rybakov clinched the title of the Old Capitol Tennis Championships, held at Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex in Iowa City.

The 22-year-old US-American emerged victorious from the all-left handed semi-final encounter versus No. 5 seeded Aziz Dougaz from Tunisia in straight sets.

No. 4 seeded John McNally from the United States advanced to the final in defeating Argentinean No. 6 seed Axel Geller, who was ranked ITF No. 1 as a junior, in three sets.

The championship match was an epic battle, lasting three hours and 15 minutes. No. 3 seeded Rybakov outpointed his 20-year-old opponent by the score of 120-117, to celebrate a 7-6, 5-7, 7-6 victory. The Florida native lifted his fourth overall trophy on the ITF World Tennis Tour.

M25 Gandia ESP – Jaume Pla Malfeito captures his maiden title

The Orysol ITF Playa de Gandia, hosted at Club Tenis Gandia, concluded with the victory of Jaume Pla Malfeito.

The 24-year-old Spaniard rallied down his 18-year-old countryman Pedro Vives Marcos, who entered the competition by his current ITF ranking, in the stage of the final four in straight sets.

No. 6 seeded runner-up from Jordan Correia from Brazil stopped the way of French top seed Hugo Gaston in the semi-finals in two clear sets.

Barcelona native Pla Malfeito converted four of his five break point chances to secure a 6-1, 7-6 win after one hour and 50 minutes. The No. 7 seed celebrated his first title on the ITF World Tennis Tour.

M25 Taipei TPE – Fifth title of the season for Yan Bai

In-form Yan Bai clinched the title of the Formosa Cup, held at Taipei Tennis Center.

The 30-year-old Chinese, who defeated Japanese No. 7 seed Rio Noguchi in the semi-finals in straight sets, faced Yu Hsiou Hsu from Chinese Taipei in the title match.

20-year-old Hsu was previously ranked No. 5 in ITF Juniors.

Lasting two hours and 14 minutes, top seeded Bai outpointed his rival with 79-64 to claim a 6-4, 6-4 victory. The Shanghai resident lifted his 19th overall trophy on the ITF World Tennis Tour, the fivth in 2019.

M15 Parnu EST – Jurgen Zopp delights home crowd with favourite win

Top seed Jurgen Zopp got the crown of the Merko Estonian Open 2019, which was hosted at Pärnu KesklinnaTenniseklubi.

The 31-year-old Estonian, who accepted a wildcard by the organizer, took the last step to the final in beating Ukrainian young gun Nikita Mashtakov in straight sets.

The tournament’s No. 6 Bogdan Bobrov got victorious from the all-Russian semi-final encounter versus No. 8 seeded teenager Alexander Shevchenko in two sets.

Capitalizing on two of his three break point opportunities in the title match without losing a service game, Tallinn native Zopp claimed a 6-4, 6-3 victory after 74 minutes. The former No. 71 in ATP rankings lifted his 15th singles trophy on the ITF World Tennis Tour additional to his three titles on the ATP Challenger Tour.

M15 Uriage FRA – Alexis Gautier celebrates his maiden title

The Uriage eau thermale, held at Tennis Club Uriage, ended with Alexis Gautier winning the championship title.

In the all-French semi-finals, the 22-year-old defeated wildcard entry Gianni Mina, who was ranked ITF No. 1 as a junior, in two sets.

No. 5 seeded runner-up Gabriel Petit rallied past Ugo Blanchet, who entered the tournament by wildcard, in straight sets.

Paris resident Gautier withstood the 11 aces from his 23-year-old rival in the championship match, to seal a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 win after two hours and six minutes. He lifted his first trophy on the ITF World Tennis Tour.

M15 Gubbio ITA – Gonzalo Villanueva triumphs in Italy

Gonzalo Villanueva is the big champion of the Torneo Citta di Gubbio, hosted at Circolo Tennis Gubbio. Alongside his singles title, the Argentinian clinched the doubles trophy with his partner Kirill Kivattsev from Russia.

The No. 3 seed battled past Adelchi Virgili from Italy in the stage of the final four in three sets.

Italian teenager Francesco Passaro, who entered the tournament by his current junior ranking, emerged victorious from the semi-final encounter versus No. 4 seeded Facundo Diaz Acosta in straight sets.

24-year-old Villanueva converted four of his six break point chances without dropping a service game to get the final win with 7-5, 6-2 after 75 minutes. The Parana native celebrated his third trophy on the ITF Word Tennis Tour.

M15 Cancun MEX – Justin Roberts claims his maiden title

Unseeded Justin Roberts from the Bahamas clinched the title of the Cancun Tennis Cup, which was held at Cancun Tennis Academy. After his triumph in the doubles competition at the same place last week, he lifted his first singles trophy on the ITF World Tennis Tour.

The 22-year-old stopped the way of top seeded British teenager Jack Draper in the stage of the last four in three tough sets. 17-year-old Draper was ranked No. 7 in ITF Juniors last year.

US-American qualifier Kalman L. Boyd knocked off No. 5 seeded and last week’s Cancun-champion Nicolas Mejia from Colombia in the semi-finals in straight sets.

Outpointing his 22-year-old rival with 105-97, Nassau native Roberts secured a 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 victory, lasting two hours and 35 minutes.

M15 Castelo Branco POR – Eduardo Struvay crowns his perfect week

The Internacionais de Tenis de Castelo Branco, held at Riba Clube, culminated in the triumph of Eduardo Struvay. Additionally to his championship in the singles competition, the Colombian clinched the doubles title together with Marat Deviatiarov from the Ukraine.

The 28-year-old rallied past No. 7 seeded Nuno Borges from Portugal in the semi-finals in two tiebreak-sets.

17-year-old Spaniard Nicolas Alvarez Varona, who entered the tournament by his current junior ranking, advanced to the final in beating big-serving French No. 2 seed Albano Olivetti in straight sets.

Firing 12 aces in the championship match, No. 6 seeded Struvay got the victory with 6-4, 7-6 after one hour and 48 minutes. The former No. 158 of the World lifted his 11th overall trophy on the ITF World Tennis Tour additional to his 2 championships on the ATP Challenger Tour.

M15 Tanger MAR – Veteran Lamine Ouahab dominates on home soil

Lamine Ouahab prevailed at the M15 Tanger tournament, hosted at Tennis Club Municipal de Tanger, without losing a set the entire week.

The 34-year-old Algiers native, who is representing Morocco, defeated Russian No. 4 seed Kristian Lozan in the stage of the final four.

Top seed Mathieu Perchicot of France took the last step to the final in knocking off Fermin Tenti from Argentina in straight sets.

Converting six of his 13 break point opportunities by dropping one service game, Barcelona resident Ouahab finished the one-sided title match after 62 minutes by the score of 6-0, 6-2. The former No. 114 in ATP rankings celebrated his 32nd singles trophy on the ITF World Tennis Tour adding to his two triumphs on the ATP Challenger Tour.

M15 Piestany SVK – Lukas Klein clinches his fourth title of the season

The M15 Piestany tournament, which was held at the venue of the HSC Piestany finished with the victory of Lukas Klein from Slovakia.

The 21-year-old battled past Serbian teenager Marko Miladinovic, who entered the competition on position seven, in the stage of the final four in straight sets. 18-year-old Miladinovic was ranked ITF No. 2 in last year’s junior rankings.

19-year-old runner-up Fabian Marozsan from Hungary booked the spot in the final in defeating Russian No. 4 seed Artem Dubrivnyy in three sets.

Capitalizing on six of his 14 break point chances in the title match by losing two service games, top seeded Klein sealed a 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 win after 90 minutes. He celebrated his fifth singles trophy on the ITF World Tennis Tour after four championships on Egyptian soil.

M15 Tabarka TUN – Enrico Dalla Valle captures back-to-back titles in Tabarka

Top seeded Enrico Dalla Valle is the champion of the Magic Tours tournament, hosted at Thabraca Magic Hotel. Following his victory last week at the same place, he celebrated his second consecutive trophy on the ITF Pro Circuit.

The 21-year-old Italian made the last step to the final in defeating Argentinean No. 5 seed Nicolas Alberto Arreche in two sets.

No. 2 seeded teenager Sebastian Baez from Argentina, who was ranked No. 1 in ITF Juniors last year, knocked off Italian No. 4 seed Erik Crepaldi in the stage of the last four in straight sets.

Making three points less than his 18-year-old rival by the score of 90-93, Dalla Valle claimed the final victory with 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 after two hours and 22 minutes. The Ravenna native lifted his third career trophy on the ITF World Tennis Tour, all of them won in 2019.

M15 Telavi GEO – David Poljak seals favourite win

Top seeded David Poljak got the crown of the Telavi Open 2019, which was held at Telavi Tennis Club.

The 23-year-old Czech rallied down left handed teenager Yan Bondarevskiy from Russia, who entered the competition on No. 8, in the semi-finals in two close sets.

In the title match, he faced Jurabek Karimov from Uzbekistan, who was ranked ITF No. 6 as a junior.

Ostrava native Poljak won 77 per cent of the points on his first service to get the final victory with 6-4, 6-1, lasting 80 minutes. Additionally to his third singles trophy on the ITF World Tennis tour, he clinched the doubles title together with Koray Kirci from Turkey.