James Duckworth was coming with a reputation of having won four titles out of six final appearances and was in fine form after having reached the last four of the ATP 250 in Pune last week. He stayed true to form and won the Bengaluru Open ATP Challenger title
Bengaluru: It took just 68 minutes for Australian fourth seed James Duckworth to stop the French juggernaut Benjamin Bonzi to lift the $ 162,500 Bengaluru Open title at the KSLTA Stadium courts in Bengaluru on Sunday (February 16). Although the match lasted for only two sets, the spectators were treated to some fine attacking tennis that Bengaluru has not witnessed in a long time.
The evening began with an emotional farewell to Indian tennis legend Leander Paes and one expected the proceeding to follow suit of a somberness that preceded the match.
Also read: Leander Paes in final
Duckworth was coming with a reputation of having won four titles out of six final appearances and was in fine form after having reached the last four of the ATP 250 in Pune last week.
Meanwhile, his opponent Bonzi had felled four seeds en route to the final including India’s No. 1 and defending champion, Prajnesh Gunneswaran. So, when the two talented men met on the court, it was fireworks all the way.
James Duckworth completes the sweep in India!
Three months after lifting the 🏆 in Pune, takes the title in Bengaluru. CHAMPION at the .
A fifth title in less than a year for the 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/ojawo7vyyh
“I was aware he had beaten some good players in this tournament. I was kind of prepared for this and luckily I played my best today,” said Duckworth.
Both matched stroke for stroke, but it was the Frenchman who had the first jibe, breaking his opponent in the fourth game. The opponents broke each other’s serve for the next three games before Duckworth held his serve in the eighth game after saving two break points to level scores at 4-4. A break in the ninth game ensured that Duckworth won the set at 6-4 but not before Bonzi had some good answers to his serves.
The past 12 months have been 🔥 for .
FIVE 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 and now a new career-high of No. 71 in the FedEx ATP Rankings. pic.twitter.com/xcua71pVbg
In the second set, both served and returned well, holding their respective serves until the fourth game. Duckworth achieved a break in the 5th game to go 3-2 up. The rivals then broke each other in the next two games before their held their respective serves for Duckworth to win at 6-4.
“I have had a good run on Indian soil these two weeks. I may think of applying for citizenship,” joked Duckworth after his victory. “I am very happy to win here. It was a quality field and organised very efficiently. This win has given me the confidence to try and get to the top 50,” said the winner.
Result
Singles final
[4] James Duckworth (AUS) bt Benjamin Bonzi (FRA) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles final (played on Saturday)
[4] Purav Raja (IND)/Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND) bt Matthew Ebden (AUS)/Leander Paes 6-0, 6-3