ANTALYA/STARNBERG, December 5, 2021
Nuno Borges of Portugal captured his first ATP Challenger career title by lifting the trophy of the Megasaray Hotels Open hosted by the Megasaray Tennis Academy in Antalya, Turkey. The No. 6 seed of the €31,440 clay-court tournament defeated Ryan Peniston from Great Britain 6-4, 6-3 in Sunday’s singles final.
Borges won 84 per cent of his first-service points and broke his rival four times to prevail after one hour and 18 minutes. The World No. 253 beat Ergi Kirkin and Yanki Erel of Turkey, Nick Hardt from the Dominican Republic as well as Spaniard Eduard Esteve Lobato en route to the championship match. Borges only lost 30 games this week.
🗣 “I don’t know how to express how happy I am.”
👏💪 @nunoborges97 pic.twitter.com/FsmSEhV1hI
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) December 5, 2021
“I have come to Antalya for the second time. I am very happy to be here. Accommodation, transportation and organization were really good. I had a great week. I couldn’t be happier. Hopefully this will get me to the Australian Open,” Borges said.
The 24-year-old, a winner of 10 ITF Pro Circuit titles, pocketed €4,400 in prize money as well as 50 ATP Ranking points. Borges is scheduled to play home tournaments in Maia the upcoming two weeks to end his season.
Italians triumph in doubles
In other action, Riccardo Bonadio and Giovanni Fonio took the doubles the title. The all-Italian duo rallied past Yu Hsiou Hsu and Chun-Hsin Tseng of Chinese Taipei 3-6, 6-2, 12-10. The encounter lasted one hour and 18 minutes.
Bonadio and Fonio split €1,700 in prize money and collected 50 ATP Doubles Ranking points.
