Gonçalo Falcão was crowned, this Saturday, March 6th, champion of the 30th doubles Faro Open alongside Turkish player Tuna Altuna, an achievement that translates into the most important title in his career for the Portuguese tennis player. This Sunday, at 11:00 am, the singles final will take place, between Frenchman Lucas Poullain and Russian Alen Avidzba.
Alongside Turkish Tuna Altuna, who in 2017 played in the final of an ATP tournament (in Istanbul) and the following year was number 169 in the world in pairs, Gonçalo Falcão beat Frenchmen Dan Added and Hugo Voljacques, by 6-3, 4 -6 and 10-6, after 1:37.
With this triumph, the 33-year-old Portuguese tennis player won the most important title of his career, as it is his first in international tournaments worth $25.000. O Faro Open joins another 13 champion trophies in the resume of Gonçalo Falcão, who had last celebrated in October 2019.
“The balance couldn't be better, it was the second tournament of the season and with a player I hadn't seen for a long time, so it's the best thing that could have happened. I've known Tuna for many years, since I was a junior, and he is a very valuable player, who was in the top 150 and played in an ATP pairs final. We had already tried to play together at the end of last season, but it didn't work, and this time we did it, so of course I'm very happy», said the Portuguese tennis player, who also spoke about the meaning of playing in Portugal.
"Competing in Portugal is always special, besides being very comfortable, and then I have to thank the Portuguese Tennis Federation a lot, because if there weren't so many tournaments in Portugal, the chances of me still playing would be very small", he said.
In singles, the decision is scheduled for 11 on Sunday and will put French Lucas Poullain and Russian Alen Avidzba face to face.
No. 514 on the ATP rankings, Poullain was the first player to book a spot in Sunday's final, beating fellow countryman Tak Khunn Wang (626th, now 265th) 6-3 and 7-6(2 ), at 1:47 am.
Afterwards, Avidzba (who is 468th and best ranked 380th in 2019) led by a clear 6-2 and 2-0 when the first seed, former top 25 ATP Mischa Zverev, give up.
"Yesterday I had a long meeting and I felt a muscle strain in the hip area that was getting worse, so I chose not to continue", explained the 33-year-old German, who left the possibility of returning to Portugal in a few weeks, to participate in the two ATP Challenger tournaments that the Portuguese Tennis Federation will organize at the Jamor Sports Complex, in Oeiras.
In Sunday's final, the 25-year-old Frenchman is looking for the fourth title in his career (the first was won in Sintra two years ago). For his part, the 21-year-old Russian is trying to reach the second trophy, the first since 2018.
Celebrating the 30th edition, the Faro Open is the longest-running international tournament in Portugal. This year, due to the pandemic, it is carried out “behind closed doors” and in accordance with all the norms of the General Directorate of Health.
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