SIBIU, September 26, 2020
Following his run into the semi-finals of the Generali Open ATP 250 event in Kitzbühel two weeks ago, Marc-Andrea Huesler has also built up momentum on the ATP Challenger Tour. The 24-year-old Swiss captured the title of the Sibiu Open held at the Tennis Club Pamira in Sibiu, Romania.
Huesler, who fought past Carlos Gomez-Herrera of Spain, winning 7-6(5), 6-7(6), 6-4 in the semi-finals, defeated Tomas Martin Etcheverry from Argentina by the score of 7-5, 6-0 in Saturday’s championship match. In the pair’s first meeting, the No. 3 seed of the €44,820 clay-court event sent down two aces and won 68 per cent of his first-service points to secure victory in one hour and 32 minutes.
“It wasn’t easy today, as conditions were pretty tough with a lot of wind,” Huesler said. “My opponent was also very strong. I struggled to stay in the match but in the important moments I ended up pretty well.”
It has been the Swiss’ first time in Romania. “It’s not easy during this time of the pandemic. I would have loved to see more of the city but the organization was great. The hotel was also very good, located in the city centre with a lot of places to get some good food. I had a great experience here this week.”
Huesler has lifted his second Challenger career trophy following his maiden triumph at the San Luis Open in Mexico last year. Etcheverry has clinched five titles on the ITF World Tennis Tour and was seeking his first Challenger crown.
Huesler took away from Transylvania €6,190 in prize money as well as 80 ATP Ranking points, rising to a new career-high of World No. 179 on Monday.
Reese/Zielinski take doubles title
Earlier in the day, US-American Hunter Reese and Jan Zielinski from Poland lifted the doubles trophies. The unseeded duo beat Robert Galloway from the United States and Hans Hach Verdugo from Mexico 6-4, 6-2. The final took exactly 60 minutes of play.
