Top seed and world No.64 Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) and world No.86 [8] Dudi Sela will play off for the East Hotel Canberra Challenger 2017 title at 11am tomorrow, Saturday 14 January.
Both players are in top form and have taken the competition by storm.
“Struff is a very good player,” Sela said. “It’s going to be a tough match tomorrow but I’m going to give my best and try to win.”
Tomorrow will be Sela’s 28th ATP Challenger Tour singles final round appearance.
Former world No.29, Sela holds 20 Challenger Tour titles and is Israel’s No.1 tennis player. A legend in the Jewish community, Sela has a mammoth following and is thought of as a ‘king’ in Israel.
A participant in all four Grand Slams for the past three years, Sela will compete at the Australian Open next week where he will face world No.37 Marcel Granollers (ESP) in the first round.
The 31-year-old is a stalwart in Israel’s Davis Cup team, having played in 47 ties over his career. Tomorrow will be Sela’s 27th Challenger Tour final match appearance.
Sela’s road to the Canberra final included taking out Canberra crowd favourite Sam Groth (VIC) in the quarterfinal and then unseeded Alejandro Falla (COL) in a three set semifinal showdown 6-4, 2-6, 6-1.
“It was a tough match today,” Sela said. “[It was] very windy and he is a tricky player.”
Tomorrow won’t be the first time Sela and Struff have come head-to-head, having come face to face at the 2016 and 2015 Australian Open.
“I played him twice and I won twice,” Sela said. “But it doesn’t mean anything. He’s improved a lot and it’s going to be a tough match.”
Now the East Hotel Canberra Challenger 2017 Doubles Champion, Struff hasn’t let the hot conditions stop him from tearing his way through the tournament.
The 26-year-old confidently eliminated four opponents to make the final round in Canberra, including an ace at deuce on match point and 14 aces in total during the semifinal against sixth seed and world No.86 Steve Darcis (BEL).
In 2016, the five-time singles Challenger Tour title holder has won Challenger Tour titles in the Netherlands and Belgium and was a finalist twice in Germany. The world No.63 played at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open last year and will be heading to the Australian Open next week with a tough round 1 draw against eighth seed Dominic Thiem (AUT).
The East Hotel Canberra Challenger 2017 singles final will be Struff’s 17th Challenger Tour final round appearance.
Coming off the back of his doubles final win today with partner and fellow German Andre Begemann, Struff is sure to play a quality match against Sela tomorrow.
The East Hotel Canberra Challenger 2017 entry has been free all week, with a gold coin donation request on finals day. A free water station is provided and shaded tiered seating available for spectators.
Watch the Canberra Pro Tour Live Stream and keep up to date with live scores using the Pro Tennis Live App.
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