Volandri Wins ATP Challenger Tour Finals

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 19th November 2013

The Kremlin Cup tennis tournament in Moscow

Volandri Wins ATP Challenger Tour Finals

epa03910715 Filippo Volandri of Italy in action against Paolo Lorenzi of Italy during their tennis match at the Kremlin Cup tennis tournament in Moscow, Russia, 15 October 2013. EPA/YURI KOCHETKOV |

At the age of 32, Filippo Volandri was by far the oldest contestant in the ATP Challenger Tour Finals but the Italian still came out on top in Sao Paolo, Brazil and won the title by overcoming Colombian Alejandro Gonzalez (eight years his junior) in the final.

Volandri, once ranked 25th in the world, enjoyed a 20 place ranking rise as a result of his 12th title on the second tier Challenger circuit. He also pocketed $84,900 with the title and added 110 points, taking him inside the world’s top 70 for the first time since April of last year.

Gracious in defeat, Gonzalez said of the 16 year touring veteran who he beat four days previously in the round robin group stage: “Volandri is an amazing player. He deserved this title.”

And the goodwill was reciprocated. “I want to congratulate Gonzalez on the tournament,” said Volandri who won the St. Poelten title on the main ATP World Tour in 2004 and followed up two years later by hoisting the trophy in Palermo. “It was a great final and a very special moment for me. “Day by day I was playing better.

“I’m getting older and I can’t miss these opportunities. I know that Gonzalez will have many other opportunities to win titles.”

Volandri concluded his 2013 ATP Challenger Tour campaign on a 29-6 run since mid-July. His three titles are a career-high in a single season, having also prevailed in Milan and Orbetello.

Gonzalez’s efforts mean he enters the world’s top 100 for the first time and becomes only the sixth Colombian to do so. He enjoyed a 16 place elevation to be ranked 91st and earned $46,200.

He added: “After reaching the Top 100, I feel that I have more responsibilities. From now on, I have to work harder and keep on rising in the circuit. I know that I can go far.”

This was the third edition of the ATP Challenger Tour Finals and first contested on the clay. All three events have been staged in Sao Paolo but the previous two years saw the competition staged indoors on hard court with Germany’s Cedrick-Marcel Stebe and Guido Pella of Argentina taking the title.

Topics: 10sballs, Alejandro Gonzalez, Atp, Atp World Tour, Filippo Volandri, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News