TENNIS – TOP seed Marton Fucsovics of Hungary powered into the men’s singles second round yesterday in the Bahrain Ministry of Interior (MOI) Tennis Challenger 2025, currently being hosted by the kingdom at the Public Security Officers Club in Gudaibiya.
The world number 97 outclassed his 214th-ranked opponent Nicolas Mejia of Colombia 6-1, 6-1 to claim his spot in the last 16.
There, Fucsovics will face off with Tunisian Aziz Dougaz, ranked 223rd in the world. Dougaz needed to dig deep and go the maximum against British alternate Charles Broom for a 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (3) win yesterday.
Fucsovics and Dougaz are scheduled to lock horns today morning at 11am as part of an exciting fourth day of play in the tournament.
The Bahrain MOI Tennis Challenger 2025 is part of this year’s ATP Challenger Tour calendar, under the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). The ATP Challenger Tour is the second-highest tier of international tennis competitions, behind only the ATP Tour.
The kingdom’s event, being held for a fourth time, is organised by the Public Security Sports Association. It offers a cool $200,000 in prize money, and it has attracted a host of prominent tennis players from all over the world.
Also winning yesterday and advancing his title bid was third seed Jesper de Jong of the Netherlands, ranked 107th in the world. De Jong battled back from a set down to defeat unseeded Russian Aslan Karatsev, the world number 219, 2-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2.
De Jong will next take on another Russian in Marat Sharipov, a qualifier in the competition, who beat Beibit Zhukayev of Kazakhstan 6-4, 7-6 (4) yesterday.
Meanwhile, Ilia Simakin, another Russian qualifier, upset fifth seed Yasutaka Uchiyama of Japan 7-6 (2), 6-4 in their first-round clash yesterday. Simakin set up a meeting with Canadian Alexis Galarneau, who was another player who needed three sets and more than two-and-a-half hours to oust his opponent. Galarneau triumphed 7-6 (1), 6-7 (7), 6-3 against Denis Yevseyev of Kazakhstan.
Others to take victories yesterday and march forward to round two were Norwegian wild card Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, Briton Daniel Evans, Romanian Filip Cristian Jianu, Italian wild card Andrea Vavassori, and Coleman Wong of Hong Kong.
In men’s doubles action on day four, the third-seeded duo of American Vasil Kirkov and Dutchman Bart Stevens claimed a hard-earned 6-1, 7-6 (3) victory over Mejia and Uchiyama. The result booked their place in the quarter-finals, where they are awaiting their opponents.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))