Sebastian Ofner joins the Challenger Final of Ortisei / Ortisei
Sebastian Ofner reached the final of the ATP Challengers of Ortisei / Ortisei (Italy) on Saturday. The 23-year-old defeated local hero Luca Vanni in two tight sets 7: 6 (4), 7: 6 (3).
by Lukas Zahrer
last edit:
Nov 16, 2019, 02:17 pm
The current number 173 in the ATP ranking fended off two breakballs in the fifth game in the first set, apart from that neither of the players had problems with their own serve. In the tiebreak, Ofner got the first set with mini-breaks for 4: 2 and 7: 4.
Also in the second round both players were able to bring their serve through. Ofner, who struck 19 aces over the entire match, came in the state of 4: 5 in his view, for the first time in distress, but he was able to fend off two break and set balls. In his next serve, he again fended off three breakballs for Vanni and turned his wide match ball an hour and 46 minutes later.
In the final, Ofner will face Antoine Hoang (France) or newly crowned ATP NextGen Finals winner Jannik Sinner.
It is the best result for the Steirer since his victory in Puerto Vallarta (Mexico) in May. He already has 48 ATP points, in the ATP live ranking he made up another 20 places and is in the top 160. This could go for Ofner a settlement in qualifying for the Australian Open.
Ofner had retracted since the beginning of September only three wins (one task) in seven defeats. On Sunday he plays for his third title on the Challenger Tour.