From NY To Shanghai: O'Connell Wins Challenger Crown, Reaches Career-High

Following Christopher O’Connell’s second-round appearance at the US Open, where he pushed finalist Daniil Medvedev to four sets, the Australian made the long journey from New York to Shanghai, where he competed at the ATP Challenger 100 event, the Road to the Rolex Shanghai Masters.

Despite the lengthy trip, the 29-year-old did not drop a set en route to the title, which lifted him to a career-high No. 53 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. O’Connell, who is one of six Challenger champions this week, defeated Japan’s Yosuke Watanuki 6-3, 7-5 in the final. Despite Watanuki's 20 aces, O'Connell held the edge on second serve, winning 68 per cent of his second-serve points, compared to his opponent’s 32 per cent.

“I loved playing here. As soon as I arrived here, I felt pretty comfortable. It was a tough trip coming from the US Open, playing a tough match against Medvedev,” O’Connell said. “I continued playing some really good tennis. I love the conditions here, the humidity. I’ve been training prior to the US Open in Florida with conditions similar to this, so that really helped with how I played this week.”

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The ATP Challenger Tour made its long-awaited return to China three weeks ago after a near four-year absence on the calendar. Starting next week, China will host four tour-level tournaments in as many weeks. O’Connell looks to maintain his form in Asia. He will next play the Guangzhou Challenger before competing at the ATP 250 event in Chengdu.

“My goal is to finish the season inside the Top 50. Playing here is going to put me in really good stead for the Masters [1000 event] in a couple weeks' time,” O’Connell said.

In other Challenger action, Thiago Seyboth Wild captured his second consecutive trophy, extending his winning streak to 10 by winning the AON Open Challenger in Genoa, Italy. The 23-year-old defeated five Italians en route to the title and downed home favourite Fabio Fognini 6-2, 7-6(3) in the final.

^{Thiago Seyboth Wild wins the Challenger 125 event in Genoa, Italy. Credit: AON Open Challenger}

Following his triumph, Seyboth Wild surged to a career-high No. 76 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, marking his Top 100 debut.

“It feels great to be in the Top 100. I started the year outside the Top 400, so this is an important step for me,” said Seyboth Wild, who leads the ATP Challenger Tour with four titles and 38 match wins this season. “I’ve been working hard all year with my team and I hope to continue to climb the rankings.”

The Brazilian No. 1 has enjoyed a standout season, with a breakthrough moment coming at Roland Garros. Seyboth Wild advanced through qualifying and upset Daniil Medvedev in the opening round en route to a third-round appearance. He became the lowest-ranked player (then-No. 172) to beat a second seed in the first round at Roland Garros since 1998.

Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena successfully defended his title on the unique yellow clay at the LX Copa Sevilla. The top seed cruised past Frenchman Calvin Hemery 6-3, 6-1 in the final to lift his 11th Challenger trophy and first of this season.

^{Roberto Carballes Baena collects back-to-back titles at the Seville Challenger. CredIt: Manuel J. Pérez/Copa Sevilla}

The 30-year-old, who in April won the ATP 250 event in Marrakech, joins Arthur Fils as the only players to win a tour-level and Challenger title this season. Carballes Baena is the third player to defend a Challenger crown in 2023, alongside Jurij Rodionov and Hugo Dellien.

Mattia Bellucci is one spot shy of tying his career-high No. 142 following his title run at the Cassis Open Provence by Cabesto in France. The Italian lefty overcame Czech Tomas Machac 6-3, 6-4 in the final to win his third Challenger trophy and first of the year.

“I’m really, really happy because I was not feeling well on court the first six months of the year. I qualified at the Australian Open and really raised my expectations, I was just rushing and not believing in time,” Bellucci said. “This is a good step for me also because I think I played well.”

^{Mattia Bellucci wins his third Challenger title in Cassis, France. Credit: All In Group}

Vit Kopriva was crowned champion at the NO OPEN powered by EVN in Tulln, Austria. In the final, the Czech ousted Indian Sumit Nagal 6-2, 6-4 after winning 80 per cent of his first-serve points. The 26-year-old has won 11 of his past 12 Challenger matches, including a title run in Verona in July.

^{Vit Kopriva wins the Challenger 100 event in Tulln, Austria. Credit: Manfred Binder}

Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur collected the title at the Istanbul Challenger TED Open, where the 31-year-old defeated Slovakian Lukas Klein 7-6(5), 6-3 in the final to win his first trophy at any level since 2018. A three-time tour-level titlist, the former World No. 23 earned his maiden hard-court Challenger crown by ending his five-match skid in finals at that level.

^{Damir Dzumhur wins the Challenger 75 event in Istanbul, Turkiye. Credit: Istanbul Challenger TED Open}