Frenchman Constant Lestienne and Argentine Pedro Cachin built upon their formidable ATP Challenger Tour season this past weekend by adding to their title haul in 2022. Lestienne, who has reached four Challenger Tour finals post-Wimbledon, claiming three titles, triumphed in Vancouver, Canada. Cachin collected his Challenger Tour-leading fourth title of 2022 on Sunday in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Both players have won a Challenger Tour-best 38 matches this year.
Four out of Lestienne’s five matches in Vancouver went three-sets as the Frenchman extended his hot streak to 19-2 from his past 21 matches when he defeated countryman Arthur Rinderknech 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 to win the Odlum Brown VanOpen.
“I’ve continued working and fighting, and everything went on my side. I cannot believe that I’ve won so many matches in the last few weeks,” Lestienne said.
The Vancouver title marks the 30-year-old’s sixth Challenger Tour title and third this season (Malaga and Pozoblanco) and lifts him to a career-high No. 75 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.
“Arthur (Rinderknech) is a great server, so I knew the key was to return his serve and try to engage the rally and I would have more chances to win the point. In the first set, he didn’t serve too well, I won 6-0, then it was really tight.”
Rinderknech, 27, had a gruelling week in Canada, where he rallied from a set down in his first two matches, including a second-round win against Elias Ymer after the Frenchman saved three match points. In his semi-final, the former Texas A&M University standout ousted home favourite Vasek Pospisil to set up the all-French final. Rinderknech rises to No. 58 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, 10 spots shy of his career-high mark, which he reached in January after he was a finalist at Adelaide-2 (l. Kokkinakis).
Only two players have more Challenger titles than Lestienne in 2022: Cachin and Jack Draper (tied with four).
After rain postponed play in Santo Domingo for several hours, Cachin defeated countryman Marco Trungelliti shortly after 1am, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 to claim the Republica Dominicana Open at Santo Domingo, presented by Milex.
Pedro Cachin in action Sunday in the Santo Domingo Challenger final.” />
Pedro Cachin has reached seven Challenger finals this year, winning four titles. Credit: David A. Martinez.
Cachin, who started the season as World No. 245, has reached seven Challenger finals this year and has been crowned champion in Madrid, Prague-2,…
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