Challenger Rennes: Tristan-Samuel Weissborn wins double title
Even if the venue and the partner were different this year, Tristan-Samuel Weissborn has successfully returned to Rennes. The 28-year-old Austrian was able to successfully defend his double title in northwest France and is full of a dozen successes on the ATP Challenger Tour. Alongside Croatian Antonio Sancic , Weissborn won the final of the Open Blot Rennes on Sunday against Teymuraz Gabashvili from Russia and Lukas Lacko from Slovakia 7: 5, 6: 7 (5) and 10: 7.
by Florian Heer
last edit: Jan 26, 2020, 08:34 pm
By Florian Heer from Rennes
The duo at number 1 showed excellent comeback qualities in the final of the hard court tournament endowed with 46,600 euros. Weissborn and Sancic both had a break in both sets, but ended up winning after an hour and 30 minutes.
"We made every effort to give everything regardless of the score," said Weissborn after winning the season's first title. "It paid off. In the end, of course, a little bit of luck is also part of it. ”The Austrian had already won a tournament in Rennes last year, at the time still at the side of the Dutch Sander Arends.
“I think the city is great. There is always something going on and I feel really comfortable, ”commented Weissborn on his return to Brittany. In 2019 it was against Sancic in the final. This year the two will go side by side.
With a permanent partner in the new season
“We decided at the end of November last year that we would contest the new season together. I have been to Zagreb twice to prepare together. We spent good weeks together, tried to study things together and we get on very well outside of the field. We therefore started the new year with a good feeling. This paid off this week. "
Weissborn, who was unable to pursue his individual career due to health problems and has concentrated on doubles for a good four years, is on the tour with his training colleague Roy Krawcewicz this season. “He took over the strength area for me and acts as a touring coach. The chemistry of the two seems to be right, which can also be seen on the outside in the form of a common hair color in a somewhat extravagant gray-blue tone.
Season goal: ATP tour
Weissborn and Sancic will next go to the United States. The ATP Challenger tournaments in Newport and Dallas will be the stations in the coming weeks. In the long term, however, the goal is to establish yourself on the big ATP tour.
“I have been able to sniff the ATPs now and then in the past few years. The top 50 must be cracked this year in order to get into the bigger tournaments and take the next step. ”
Should Weissborn make this leap, the dream of running for Austria is also within reach. “For me, the Davis Cup is a huge thing. I was part of the team in Moscow last year and it was an excellent experience, ”said the Viennese, who would love to represent his country on the court.
Rinderknech celebrates first win
There was also reason to celebrate for the home crowd during the evening. In the Le Liberté Arena, which was completely sold out with 3,000 spectators, local hero Arthur Rinderknech won the individual final against British veteran James Ward 7-5, 6-4 in an hour and 33 minutes.
For the 24-year-old Frenchman who lives and trains in Rennes, it was the first success on the ATP Challenger Tour.
“It was an extraordinary week for me. At the beginning of the tournament I could never have imagined myself to be the winner here, ”Rinderknech was overjoyed and took the winner's check of 6,190 euros and 80 ATP world ranking points from his home event.