ATP Challenger Biel: Jurij Rodionov beats doubles partner and celebrates fourth career title
Jurij Rodionov won his fourth career title on the Challenger Tour at the ATP Challenger event in Biel. In the final, the Austrian defeated his doubles partner from Switzerland, Kacper Zuk from Poland, 7:6 (3) and 6:4.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Mar 27, 2022, 02:59 pm
Jurij Rodionov crowned a strong week at the ATP Challenger event in Biel (Switzerland) by winning the title. The Austrian kept his nerve in the final and defeated his doubles partner from Biel, Kacper Zuk, 7:6 (3) and 6:4. In pair skating, the Polish-Austrian duo had already failed in the first round.
The start of the final was characterized by safe service games, the two servers allowed practically nothing. The logical consequence: A tie-break had to make the decision in round one. In this both servers wobbled, but Kacper Zuk a little more towards the end: Rodionov secured two mini-breaks in front and won the first set 7:6 (3).
Fourth Challenger title for Rodionov
The second round began in a similar way to the first set: Once again, the setbacks had little to do, Rodionov safely served himself up in front to make it 5:4. And then benefited from a renewed lack of concentration at Kacper Zuk. The Pole made a few minor mistakes, the Austrian struck ice cold - and fixed the 7: 6 (3) and 6: 4 success with a break to zero.
For Jurij Rodionov it is the fourth title at Challenger level in his young career. Most recently, however, the 22-year-old got a taste for title honors around two years ago, in 2020 Rodionov triumphed in Morelos (Mexico) and Dallas (USA) on hard court. Born in Nuremberg, he celebrated his first title in 2018 in Almaty (Kazakhstan) on sand. With the 80 points from Biel, the 22-year-old is now also on the way up in the world rankings, from Monday Rodionov will be in 162nd place.