CAGLIARI/STARNBERG, May 6, 2023
Fans at the ATP Challenger Tour 175 event in Cagliari, Italy are in for a treat Sunday, when World No. 70 Laslo Djere of Serbia and 77th-ranked Frenchman Ugo Humbert will battle for the singles title.
Djere and Humbert both earned hard-fought victories in Saturday’s semi-finals at the inaugural Sardegna Open being held at the Tennis Club Cagliari. Fourth-seeded Djere rallied from a set down to overcome #NextGenATP US-American and No. 2 seed Ben Shelton 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. The 27-year-old Senta native struck four aces and won 72 per cent of his first-service points to seal victory in two hours and 10 minutes.
One match at a time for Laslo Djere 💪#ATPChallenger | @federtennis pic.twitter.com/5LmD0AiLD7
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) May 6, 2023
Humbert, No. 6 seed of the €200,000 clay-court event, beat Daniel Elahi Galan of Colombia 6-2, 7-6(3). He fended off four break points and capitalized on three of his own five break-point chances to advance in one hour and 41 minutes.
“I was just trying to do my best every point, even if I was serving for the match,” Humbert said in his post-match press conference. “You have to stay focused and wait for a good opportunity.”
Djere, a two-time champion on the ATP Tour, is seeking his third Challenger career title, his first since Milan 2018. Humbert, who lifted three tour-level trophies, could celebrate his eighth triumph on the ATP Challenger Tour, his first since winning on home soil in Rennes last year. The pair will meet for the first time.
