Brazilian Matheus Pucinelli wins Quito Challenger after difficult years

Brazilian tennis player Matheus Pucinelli de Almeida has claimed the title at the ATP Challenger tournament held in Quito, Ecuador. Pucinelli achieved the victory after a comeback win against Argentina's Hernán Casanova in a hard-fought final match at the Rancho San Francisco club.

The match saw Casanova take the first set, but Pucinelli rallied strongly to win the subsequent two sets, securing the championship with a final score of 5-7, 6-3, 6-2. This win earns Pucinelli 50 points towards his Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) ranking.

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I am happy because I am coming from a very complicated few years. Since I won my first Challenger (Chile 2023), they have been tough years. I couldn't improve my ranking much, but I maintained my level, even though my physical condition was challenging. This week, I brought a lot of confidence with me, and I think that is the most important thing.

"I am happy because I am coming from a very complicated few years," Pucinelli shared after his victory. "Since I won my first Challenger (Chile 2023), they have been tough years. I couldn't improve my ranking much, but I maintained my level, even though my physical condition was challenging. This week, I brought a lot of confidence with me, and I think that is the most important thing."

Pucinelli, 25, navigated a challenging path to the final. He defeated Johan Rodríguez of Colombia in the first round, followed by wins against Daniel Núñez of Chile, Alan Magadán of Mexico, and Samuel Heredia of Colombia in the semifinals. Casanova, meanwhile, earned 25 ATP ranking points from his performance in the tournament.

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It was a great match, very rewarding for me to be able to turn it around. I am very happy to bring this title to Brazil, for me, for my family, for my team, especially for my physiotherapist with whom I have been working for a long time on my recovery.