South Australians Luke Saville and Alex Bolt won their first ATP Challenger doubles title as a team this week.
Australia, 10 September 2023 | Leigh Rogers
Australia was well represented in the second week at the US Open, led by top-20 stars Alex de Minaur and Matt Ebden.
Rinky Hijikata, Hayden Jones, Pavle Marinkov and Heath Davidson all recorded career-best results at Flushing Meadows too.
For many Aussie players competing in tour events elsewhere across the world, it proved a week to remember as well.
Childhood friends Alex Bolt and Luke Saville, who grew up in South Australia’s Riverland region, achieved a major milestone. They teamed up at an ATP Challenger in China to win their first professional doubles title as a team.
“I think we played our first doubles tournament together when we were five,” Bolt related earlier this season when they made their Grand Slam debut as a team at Australian Open 2023.
“We’ve known each other for a long time and we’re great friends … It’s kind of a dream come true to play with one of your best mates.”
Chris O’Connell completed an Australian sweep at the Shanghai tournament with victory in the singles event. It was the world No.69’s first title of the season.
This week’s most outstanding performers include:
Chris O’Connell: The 29-year-old did not lose a set during a title-winning run at an ATP Challenger in Shanghai (China). O’Connell defeated world No.85 Yosuke Watanuki in the final to win his fifth career title at this level.
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Top seed Christopher O’Connell wins his 5th career Challenger title after defeating Watanuki 6-3, 7-5 in Shanghai!#ATPChallenger | @TennisAustralia pic.twitter.com/WNeG30xBj8
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) September 10, 2023
Alex Bolt and Luke Saville: The Aussie duo claimed the doubles title at the ATP Challenger in Shanghai. This is 30-year-old Bolt’s eighth career ATP Challenger doubles title and 29-year-old Saville’s 18th at this level.
Li Tu: The 27-year-old was a singles semifinalist at the ATP Challenger in Shanghai. This was Tu’s best result at ATP Challenger level this season.
Adam Taylor: The 32-year-old made the doubles semifinals at an ATP Challenger in Cassis (France) with Brit Billy Harris. It was Taylor’s ninth doubles semifinal appearance of the season.
John-Patrick Smith: The 34-year-old teamed with Indian Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan to reach the doubles semifinals at an ATP Challenger…
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