BIELLA, May 23, 2021
Thanasi Kokkinakis has won his first title in three years by lifting the trophy of the €31,440 Biella Challenger 6 Outdoor held on clay at the Tennis Comunale in Biella, Italy. The 25-year-old Australian defeated No. 3 seed Enzo Couacaud of France 6-3, 6-4 in Saturday’s singles final.
Kokkinakis advanced to the championship match with wins over Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan, Italian wild card entry Stefano Napolitano, Alexandre Muller of France and No. 2 seed Zhizhen Zhang of China.
The Adelaide native sent down five aces and won 93 per cent of his first-service points to prevail after one hour and 14 minutes.
Sealed with an ace 💥
🇦🇺 Thanasi Kokkinakis claims the singles title in Biella, defeating Enzo Couacaud 6-3, 6-4@TKokkinakis | #ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/r6P3Mbzyup
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) May 22, 2021
By winning his fourth ATP Challenger career title, his first since Las Vegas, United States in 2018, Kokkinakis pocketed €4,400 in prize money as well as 50 ATP Ranking points. It is his second clay-court title, having previously also won in Bordeaux, France in May 2015. Currently ranked World No.198, Kokkinakis’ ranking is projected to return to the Top 180.
Kokkinakis now turns his attention to Roland Garros next week, where he’ll compete in qualifying.
King/Lenz prevail in doubles
On Friday, US-American Evan King and Julian Lenz of Germany captured the doubles title. The top seeds fought past Karol Drzewiecki of Poland and Sergio Martos Gornes from Spain 3-6, 6-3, 11-9 in the final. The encounter lasted one hour and 19 minutes.
King and Lenz split €1,700 in prize money and earned 50 ATP Doubles Ranking points.
The 🔝 seeds triumph in Biella!
🇺🇸 Evan King & 🇩🇪 Julian Lenz defeat Drzewiecki & Martos Gornes 3-6, 6-3, 11-9 to claim their first team title#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/kULRfFUvN8
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) May 21, 2021
