ATP Challenger: Rodionov’s dream week ends in semi-finals

Yuriy Rodionov had to admit defeat in the semi-final of the ATP-Challenger tournament in Ningbo (China) Mikhail Youzhny. However, a new career high should quickly bring a good mood back to the 18-year-old Austrian.

From qualification to the final round! After his 3:6, -4:6 defeat against former number eight in the world, the best tournament week of the aspiring youngster ends with the Hartplatz-Challenger in Ningbo.

Rodionov had qualified for his first semi-finals in the tennis lower house with a terrific comeback in the previous round. Even though the dream of reaching the final against the experienced Russian Mikhail Youzhny burst, the talented left-hander can look forward to a new career high. Rodionov is expected to be ranked 498th in the new world ranking on Monday.

Gerald Melzer was also in the semi-final. At the Sandplatz-Challenger in Cali (Colombia), Federico Delbonis (Argentina/2) from Lower Austria, who had placed fifth, lost 1:6,2:6.

In doubles, however, two Austrians can still dream of the title. Philipp Oswald and his Belarusian partner Max Mirnyi will face Juan Sebastian Cabral/Denys Molchanov in the final of the ATP World Tour 250 tournament in Moscow after a 7:6 (5), -6:4 win against Juan Sebastian Cabral/Denys Molchanov. There, the top seeders will meet Damir Dzumhur and Antonio Sancic.

At the indoor tournament in Stockholm Oliver Marach also reached the final with Mate Pavic. The Wimbledon finalists defeated the Austrian-Brazilian pairing Alexander Peya/Bruno Soares 3-6,7-6 (3), 10-8.