Tennis Atlantic

July 2013 Challenger Recap: Haider-Maurer, Huta Galung and Gonzalez Take Two; Veterans Mayer, Russell, Volandri, Sela and Becker Win Titles; Vesely, Carreno-Busta Continue Strong Play

Braunschweig Challenger (July 1-July 7, 2013)

Top seed Florian Mayer beat Jiri Vesely on German clay in three sets for the title. Maximo Gonzalez fell to Mayer in the semis, while Filip Krajinovic lost to Vesely.

Manta Challenger (July 1-July 7, 2013)

Top seed Michael Russell was the lone American to head down to South America for a hard court challenger and it paid off. He took the title over Aussie Greg Jones in three sets. Alejandro Gonzalez was a semifinalist, and Facundo Arguello was the other semifinalist.

Portoroz Challenger (July 1-July 7, 2013)

Top seed Grega Zemlja defeated Martin Fischer in straight sets to win the hard court challenger in Slovenia. Aljaz Bedene lost to Zemlja in three sets in the semis, while Fischer beat Adrian Menendez.

Timisoara Challenger (July 1-July 7, 2013)

On Romanian clay, Andreas Haider-Maurer took out veteran Ruben Ramirez-Hidalgo in three sets for the trophy. Haider-Maurer beat Victor Crivoi in the semis, while RRH knocked out qualifier Milijan Zekic.

Todi Challenger (July 1-July 7, 2013)

Pere Riba won in three over Santiago Giraldo to earn the Italian clay challenger championship. He beat home fave Paolo Lorenzi in the semis, while Giraldo beat Thomas Fabiano, who en route to the semis took out top seed Albert Ramos.

Beijing Challenger (July 8-July 14, 2013)

Top seed Rendy Lu defeated 2nd seed Go Soeda to take another hard court challenger winner in Asia. Lu beat Hiroki Kondo in the semis, while Soeda beat Ze Zhang.

Istanbul Challenger (July 8-July 14, 2013)

Veteran Benjamin Becker would defeat fellow veteran Dudi Sela for the hard court honors in Turkey. The 32 year old remains right on the cusp of the top 100 and he beat Adrian Menendez in the semis, a win that was Menendez’s second straight semifinal showing. Sela defeated Teymuraz Gabashvili, another vet, in the other semi.

San Benedetto Challenger (July 8-July 14, 2013)

Andrej Martin defeated another in form player, Joao Sousa, on clay in Italy for the honors. The 23 year old Slovak, Martin is up to a career high in the rankings and is inside the top 130. He beat Stefano Travaglia, a wild card, in the semis, while top seed Sousa beat an in-form Thomas Fabbiano.

Scheveningen Challenger (July 8-July 14, 2013)

Jesse Huta Galung has roared back to his career high of 110 in the world, and was propelled by a victory at home on clay in an all Dutch final as he took out top seed Robin Haase to win. He did so in three sets after beating Marc Gicquel in 3 sets, while Haase beat Thomas Schoorel, a Dutch wild card. Haase has had a solid July.

Binghamton Challenger (July 15-July 21, 2013)

In the race for the US Open Wildcard, Alex Kuznetsov, who won the French edition of the wild card challenge, took another early lead on hard courts this time. He beat Bradley Klahn for the title and did so in three sets. AK beat Rhyne Williams in the semis, while Klahn beat Austin Krajicek.

Eskisehir Challenger (June 15-June 21, 2013)

“David Goffin won a tennis tournament” was the reaction of one noted tennis tweeter, as the Young Belgian did in fact beat Marsel Ilhan in three for the title. After a rough year, it was good to see D Goff have a week of success. He slayed Marco Chiudinelli in the semis, while Ilhan beat Teymuraz Gabashvili, who continues his solid showings in select hard court challengers.

Granby Challenger (July 15-July 21, 2013)

In Quebec on hard courts, Frank Dancevic defeated Lukas Lacko in three sets for the home nation prize, and previously beat Philip Bester in an All-Canadian semi, while Lacko beat Hiroki Moriya. Bester upset 2 seed Nicolas Mahut, who was coming off the ATP Newport title, en route to the semis.

Poznan Challenger (July 15-July 21, 2013)

In Poland on clay, Andreas Haider-Maurer would win title number 2 for the month of July. This time, it was in three over Damir Dzumhur. AHM beat Pablo Carreno-Busta in the semis, while Dzumhur, who upset 2 seed Guillaume Rufin in the opening round, beat Stephane Robert in the semis.

Recanati Challenger (July 15-July 21, 2013)

On hard courts in Italy, Italian Thomas Fabbiano would finally break through, defeating David Guez for the title. He knocked out Albano Olivetti in the semis, while Guez beat the continually well performing Adrian Menendez.

Astana Challenger (July 22-July 28, 2013)

Dudi Sela picked up a chunk of change and 110 points for going out of his way to Kazakhstan to win a hard court challenger. He did so over Kazak Mikhail Kukushkin in a 3rd set tiebreak. Sela beat Konstantin Kravchuk in the semis while Kuku beat Andrey Golubev in a three setter.

Guimaraes Challenger (July 22-July 28, 2013)

Joao Sousa won at home on hard courts in Portugal, in straights over Marius Copil. Sousa beat Flavio Cipolla in the semis, while Copil beat the well named qualifier Andres Artunedo Martinavarr, a 19 year old ranked inside the top 400 now. He upset Benjamin Becker, the 2 seed, en route to the semis.

Lexington Challenger (July 22-July 28, 2013)

In Lexington, Kentucky, on hard, Brit James Ward would surprise in three over James Duckworth, the promising Aussie. Ward beat Filip Peliwo, a promising Canadian in the semis, while Ducky beat Bradley Klahn, who added to his US Open Wild Card Challenge points total. He has a final and a semi to his name.

Medellin Challenger (July 22-July 28, 2013)

In Colombia on clay, Alejandro Gonzalez would win his first of two titles this month in straights of Guido Andreozzi, after beating Victor Estrella in the semis. Andreozzi beat Carlos Salamanca.

Oberstaufen Challenger (July 22-July 28, 2013)

In Germany on clay, Guillaume Rufin, who otherwise hasn’t made much noise, took the title over Peter Gojowczyk. Rufin beat Dominik Meffert in the semis, while Gojo beat Oleksandr Nedovyesov. Top seed JL Struff lost to qualifier Thiago Monteiro in an opening round upset.

Orbetello Challenger (July 22-July 28, 2013)

Fillipo Volandri won on clay in Italy over Pere Riba, who had a great month. Volandri beat Roberto Carballes Baena in the semis, while Riba took out Pablo Carreno-Busta in what was the Spaniards second semi of July.

Tampere Challenger (July 22-July 28, 2013)

In Tampere, Finland on clay, Jesse Huta Galung would win again, this time over Maxime Teixeira, while previously beating Jurgen Zopp in the semis. The other semifinalist, Blaz Rola of Ohio State, lost to Teixeira.

Liberec Challenger (July 27-August 4, 2013)

Jiri Vesely beat Federico Del Bonis in three sets for the title this week on clay in the Czech Republic. Both Del Bonis and Vesely are on the rise, and a red hot Pere Riba, along with Blaz Kavcic, were the semifinal losers.

Sao Paulo-3 Challenger (July 29-August 4, 2013)

The third challenger held in or around Sao Paulo, Brazil, this one on clay, would be one by Alejandro Gonzalez over Eduardo Schwank. Schwank used a protected ranking and used it well to make the final after beating Jose Hernandez in the semis, while Gonzalez beat Blaz Rola, who made his second straight semifinal in a challenger.

Segovia Challenger (July 29-August 4, 2013)

Pablo Carreno-Busta would take another title in what has been a record setting year, winning over Albano Olivetti on hard courts in Spain in front of home fans. PCB handled Marco Chiudinelli in the semis, while Olivetti defeated wildcard Roberto Ortega-Olmedo.

Vancouver Challenger (July 29-August 4, 2013)

In Vancouver, Vasek Pospisil, a British Columbia resident, would save three match points to defeat Dan Evans in an up and down three sets. Vashy previously beat Jimmy Wang in the semis, while Evans beat Bobby Reynolds. Evans is at a career high ranking now, while Pospisil took his second challenger title this year.

—Steen Kirby