ATP Challenger: Roman Safiullin wins title in Koblenz
Roman Safiullin is the winner of the 2023 Koblenz Open powered by Montabaur. The number two seeded Russian defeated Canadian Vasek Pospisil 6-2, 7-5 in the final of the ATP Challenger Tour 100 event on Sunday.
by Florian Heer
last edit: Feb 05, 2023, 05:40 pm
In front of a well-filled ranks in the CGM Arena, the spectators experienced an exciting match with an open outcome until the end. Safiullin got the better start, convincing with solid shots and dominating most of the baseline duels. The 25-year-old from Podolsk took serve from Pospisil in the fifth and seventh game and grabbed the first half after 34 minutes of play.
In the second set, Pospisil tried to put more pressure on his opponent with more aggressive returns, but couldn't take his chances to break. Safiullin, on the other hand, remained ice cold and took the serve from the Canadian in the seventh game. However, Pospisil didn't give up, managed the re-break and indeed the number 100 in the world came under pressure again. When the score was 4:5, Safiullin had to fend off two set balls before he was able to benefit from his enormous effectiveness again and Pospisil broke again. After an hour and 34 minutes of play, Safiullin finally served the match.
Safiullin celebrates fourth win on the ATP Challenger Tour
“I tried to act with a lot of pressure. I was able to do that well in large phases of the match,” said Safiullin, describing the key to success. After four tough three-set games, it was Safiullin's first win of the week without going the full distance. "I was always focused on winning today, even when Vasek fought back."
After his triumphs in Cherbourg, France in 2020, as well as in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan and Chicago in the United States last season, the right-hander clawed his fourth trophy overall on the ATP Challenger Tour. In addition to a prize check of 16,020 euros, Safiullin will receive valuable 100 ATP world ranking points, which will take him to 82nd place in the ranking, equivalent to a new top position.
"There is still a lot to improve," said Safiullin modestly, but also feels ready to take the next step on the big ATP tour. “I would like to finish in the top 50 in the next six months. But I will now put in a training week before I go to Rotterdam and Dubai.”
Pospisil doesn't make the dozen (yet).
Pospisil, who already won the doubles title at the All England Championships on the sacred turf of Wimbledon alongside American Jack Sock in 2014 and achieved his highest placing to date with position 25 in the individual world rankings, is now on his 12th place. success at challenger level will have to wait a while longer.
"Roman played very well today and he was simply the better player," said Pospisil at the award ceremony that followed, which was also attended by Dietloff von Arnim, President of the German Tennis Association, and Jan Hanelt, President of the Rhineland-Palatinate Tennis Association.
Koblenz Open: To be continued
A total of almost 10,000 visitors attended the Koblenz Open powered by Montabaur this week. The ATP Challenger Tour event will return next year: From January 28th to February 4th, 2024 there will be top tennis again at the Deutsches Eck.