Di Wu Looks To Become First Chinese ATP Challenger Tour Champion

Di Wu (photo: Mike Mock)

LAHAINA, January 31, 2016

Top-seed Kyle Edmund and Di Wu will play the final of the $50,000 Sportmaster Tennis Championships of Maui. The 21-year-old Brit benefited from a walkover on Saturday when third seed James Duckworth was forced to withdraw from the semi-finals match due to an elbow injury.

After taking 12 ITF Futures titles, Di Wu looks to become the first Chinese ATP Challenger champion on Sunday. The world number 243 from Shanghai defeated Noah Rubin, winning 6-7, 6-1, 6-2. Di Wu withstood 10 aces, hitting six of his own to prevail in one hour and 35 minutes.

Later the day, Jason Jung and Dennis Novikov beat Alex Bolt and Frank Moser 6-3, 4-6, 10-8 to claim the doubles title after 78 minutes.

Doubles finalists: Jung-Novikov (right) and Bolt-Moser (photo: Mike Mock)

Doubles finalists: Jung-Novikov (right) and Bolt-Moser (photo: Mike Mock)

In the women’s draw the tournament’s top-seed also advanced to the final when Christina McHale battled back to overcome Naomi Broady 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 in two hours and 26 minutes. The 23-year-old US-American will take on her compatriot Raveena Kingsley, who outlasted Jessica Pegula 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 in two hours and two minutes.

Asia Muhammad and Maria Sanchez clinched the doubles title, winning the all-US-American-final against Jessica Pegula and Taylor Townsend 6-2, 3-6, 10-6 in 69 minutes.

Doubles finalists: Muhummad-Sanchez (left) and Townsend-Pegula (photo: Mike Mock)

Doubles finalists: Muhummad-Sanchez (left) and Townsend-Pegula (photo: Mike Mock)