Last year it didn’t work out, this year it did. Dalibor Svrcina won the final of the Prostejov Challenger

The highlight of Saturday’s tennis programme for Czech fans is the women’s Roland Garros final between Karolina Muchová and Iga Świąteková. But before that, the title match at the best-attended men’s tournament in the Czech Republic took place in Prostějov. Dalibor Svrčina defeated Tomáš Macháč in the final event of the ATP Challenger Tour.

The final match had a purely Czech line-up again after a year. Last year, Vít Kopřiva dominated the UniCredit Czech Open after winning twice 6:2 against Svrčina.

He was originally not guaranteed a start in the main competition this year, but in the end he did not have to enter the qualification. The 232nd player in the world went through the tournament via Italian Luciano Darderi, Swede Elias Ymer, who canceled the match, compatriot Jakub Mensik and Slovak Lukas Klein.

Tomas Machac did not lose a set in four matches. The world number 127 tennis player defeated the Portuguese Frederic Ferreira Silva, the Hungarian Mate Valkus and two Argentines Roman Andrés Burruchaga and Francisco Comesana.

Svrcina and Machac were scheduled to meet twice in 2022, namely in Prague and Andria, Italy. However, the duels did not take place each time due to the withdrawal of one of the players. Given the ranking position, Macháč was the favourite on the clay centre court in Prostejov.

It was his medical indisposition that momentarily interrupted the first set at 3::2 from the opponent’s point of view. The native of Beroun had his pressure measured by the doctor, but he continued the match.

After almost an hour of play, the 20-year-old Svrcina worked out a set point on the serve of his two years older teammate. He managed to take advantage of it and won the opening set 6:4.

The second act had a clearer course. Machac lost his serve twice, and the second break was the last that the encounter offered. Svrcina won the set 6:2.

The young tennis player from Ostrava celebrated not only the tournament triumph, but also a move up 40 places in the ATP singles rankings. In Monday’s new edition of the rankings his name should be at 192nd place. Despite the loss, Machac also improved his ranking to 110th.

On Friday afternoon, the doubles competition in Prostějov also culminated with the Czech also winning the title. Adam Pavlásek, who has become a doubles specialist, defeated the Italian-Spanish duo Marco Bortolotti – Sergio Martos Gornés 7::5 and 6::4 in the final alongside Uruguayan Ariel Behar.

The organizers prepared a bonus for the spectators on Saturday morning in the form of an exhibition. Tomas Berdych returned to the court, beating 17-year-old Jakub Mensik 3:2 in a shortened match.

Source: ATP, UniCredit Czech Open