Svrcina wins Maha Open Challenger in Pune

Maha Open Challenger

Unseeded Dalibor Svrcina of the Czech Republic capped a fine run by beating sixth seed Brandon Holt of USA 7-6(3), 6-1 in the final of the Pune Metropolitan $160,000 Maha Open Challenger tennis tournament at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune on Sunday.

It was the sixth singles title in the professional circuit for the 22-year-old Svrcina, and third on Indian soil.

The champion won 100 ATP points and $22,730. The runner-up got 50 points and $13,350.

Svrcina, who had made the semifinals in Chennai and the second round in Delhi in the current series in India, had won his last two titles in Bhubaneswar and Mumbai in $25,000 events.

The Czech, who had lost the third round of the qualifying event at the Australian Open this year, converted four of seven break point chances, as against two of six by his American opponent.

It was a commendable run by the 26-year-old Holt, currently ranked a career-best 153, as he had beaten the top seed Billy Harris along the way.

Son of former World No.1 and two-time US Open women’s champion Tracy Austin, Holt was looking for his second title of the season following the one in Nonthaburi, Thailand, and the tenth of his career.