Today’s Men’s News (12/02) – ATP Challenger Tour Final

Written by: Staff on 2nd December 2012

Today's Men's News (12/02) - ATP Challenger Tour Final

epa03101722 Brazil´s Thiago Alves returns the ball to Argentina´s Maximo Gonzalez during their Brazilian Open match at Ibirapuera gymansium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 11 February 2012 Gonzalez won 6-3, 6-0. EPA/Sebastiao Moreira |

ATP Challenger Tour Final

This is one of those events we always wonder about. What exactly is the reward for winning the ATP Challenger Year-End Final? A spot in a main draw somewhere?

The answer, of course, is more points than most Challengers. But not, it would seem, enough to appeal to Thomaz Bellucci. He was the top player at this event in Brazil — but lost his first match to Guido Pella and bailed out. That left a field of Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo, Adrian Ungur, Pella, and substitute Thiago Alves in the Green Group; the Yellow Group was Paolo Lorenzi, Victor Hanescu, Aijaz Bedene, and Gastao Elias. Hanescu was first in the Yellow Group, followed by Bedene; Ungur topped the Green Group, followed by Pella. Apparently the Green Group was the strong one, even without Bellucci, because Ungur beat Bedene 6-4 6-1 in the semifinal, and Pella topped Hanescu 7-6 6-2.

The title went to Pella, 6-3 6-7 7-6, who for his two Round Robin wins and his title picks up 110 points (and $84,900). He came in at #124; it looks as if this will allow him to make the Top Hundred — just barely, but still, that should spell a spot in the Australian Open main draw.