Tennis Atlantic

March Challenger Tour Recap: Millman and Mannarino Win Second 2013 Challenger Titles

Kyoto Challenger (March 4-March 10, 2013)

Aussie John Millman won his second challenger title this year on the fast indoor surface of Kyoto, Japan and is now at a career high ranking of 130. Millman beat Swiss veteran Marco Chiudinelli in 3 sets after beating Hiroki Moriya in the semis. Chiudinelli beat Matt Barton to make the final.

Santiago Challenger (March 4-March 10,2013)

In Santiago, Chile, on clay, 23-year-old Argentine Facundo Bagnis, who is coached by former ATP pro Martin Vassallo Arguello, took the title over Thiemo De Bakker in straights. Bagnis is back inside the top 200 and is on the rise again while De Bakker is knocking on the door of the top 100 after being formerly in the top 50. De Bakker beat Antonio Veic in the semis while Bagnis beat compatriot Marco Trungelliti.

Sarajevo Challenger (March 11-March 17, 2013)

In Sarejevo, Adrian Mannarino won his second challenger title of the year at the BH Telecom Indoors in straight sets over Dustin Brown after besting Nikola Mektic in the semis. Brown beat Karol Beck in the semis. In one other notable match, the only teenager in the top 250, Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic, knocked off top seed and ATP regular Blaz Kavcic in the 1st round.

Rimouski Challenger (March 18-March 24, 2013)

South African Rik De Voest, who had to go through qualifying, won the 7th edition of the Rimouski indoor hard court challenger in Quebec, Canada over Canadian Vasek Pospisil in straight sets. De Voest beat Aldin Setkic in the semis while Pospisil beat Bobby Reynolds.

Le Gosier Challenger (March 26-March 31, 2013)

Benoit Paire swooped down to the Le Gosier challenger on outdoor hard courts and took the title in 3 tough sets over Sergiy Stakhovsky. Paire was the top seed and beat Matthias Bachinger in the semis while Stako beat Lukas Rosol in a tight 3 set match.

Pereira Challenger (March 26-March 31, 2013)

Colombian veteran Santiago Giraldo won at home on clay over Paul Capdeville in straight sets. Giraldo beat Joao Souza in the semis while Capdeville upset top seed Paolo Lorenzi.

San Luis Potosi Challenger (March 26-March 31, 2013)

35 year old Alesso Di Mauro of Italy qualified and came out of nowhere to take the clay court challenger title in Mexico over American Daniel Kosakowski in 3 sets. Di Mauro upset 5 seed Malek Jaziri in the 2nd round and also beat another American, Tennys Sandgren in the semis while Kosakowski beat Marco Chiudinelli after previously upsetting top seed John Millman in round 2.

—S. Kirby