By Glenys Furness
- Jay Clarke claimed the ATP Challenger title in Morelos
- Brit was the third seed
MORELOS, MEXICO – Jay Clarke claimed the title in the ATP Challenger event. The Brit was the third seed and defeated the eighth seed in the semi-final.
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Brit of the Week
Jay Clarke entered the ATP Challenger event in Morelos, Mexico and was the third seed. The Brit drew Viktor Durasovic in the first round. Clarke and Durasovic stayed toe to toe in the first set, before the Brit finally secured the break of serve to take the lead. The second set was much closer, and with neither player giving way it looked to be heading to a tiebreak. However, the Norwegian secured the break of serve right at the end to level up the match. In the final set the Brit managed to break the Norwegian early in the set and booked a spot in the second round 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.
In the second round the Brit was against German qualifier Elmar Ejupovic. The German pushed all the way in the first set, forcing a tiebreak. Ejupovic got the better of the Brit in the tiebreak and took the lead. Clarke re-grouped in the second set and managed to break serve to level the match up. The final set was very tight, just like the first, and once again went to a tiebreak. This time however, it was the Brit who edged ahead and didn’t look back booking a spot in the quarter-final 6-7(3), 6-3, 7-6(4).
The quarter-final saw the Brit against Roberto Quiroz. The third seed had little trouble in the first set getting ahead as he broke the Ecuadorian and took the lead. The second set was a little closer as Quiroz tried to get back into the match. However, Clarke was just too good and secured the break of serve to take the match in straight sets and book a spot in the semi-final 6-3, 6-4.
In the semi-final, the Brit was against eighth seed Rinky Hijikata. Clarke dominated the first set as the Australian struggled to hold serve. The third seed soon took the lead. The second set was much closer as Hijikata started a fightback. However, Clarke held his nerve and broke serve right at the end to seal the win 6-2, 7-5.
The final saw the Brit against Adrian Menendez-Maceiras. Clarke dominated the first set, as the Spaniard was unable to handle what the third seed threw at him. The second set however, was much closer. Menendez-Maceiras broke serve of the Brit and levelled up the match. The final set saw neither able to break serve and a tiebreak ensued. The third seed just edged through and took the title, his third challenger singles title, and first since 2019 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(5).
Challenger & ITF Round Up
Jack Draper was defeated by Giulio Zeppieri in the second round in Rome 6-1, 6-4.
Ryan Peniston was defeated by Evan Furness in the final in Ostrava 4-6, 7-6, 6-1.
Felix Gill was defeated by Fausto Tabacco in the first round in Santa Margherita di Pula 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3.
Felix Mischker was defeated by Johannes Haertels in the first round in Santa Margherita di Pula 5-7, 6-3, 6-1.
Millen Hurrion was defeated by Liam Draxl in the quarter-final in Vero Beach 6-2, 6-2.
Yuriko Lily Miyazaki was defeated by Aliona Bolsova in the second round in Istanbul 6-1, 6-1.
Katie Swan was defeated by Mihaela Buzarnescu in the second round in Istanbul 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.
Yasmina El Sayed was defeated by Oceane Babel in the first round in Cairo 6-0, 6-0.
Emilie Lindh was defeated by Paige Hourigan in the first round in Monastir 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.
Anna Brogan was defeated by Nigina Abduralmova in the first round in Monastir 6-3, 2-6, 6-0.
Next week Brits play in Madrid, Aix-En-Provence, Prague, Nottingham, Italy, Saint Malo, Germany, USA, Slovenia, Spain & Tunisia.
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