2021 witnessed Benjamin Bonzi in scorching scorching kind on the Challengers circuit. With a run that started in February of that 12 months, the Frenchman notched up six title wins on the tour, three of which got here in consecutive tournaments, making him the primary since Mikhail Youzhny in 2016 to emulate this uncommon feat. His total tally put his identify alongside Facundo Bagnis (2016), Juan Ignacio Chela (2001) and Younes El Aynaoui (1998) as the one gamers to have lifted six singles trophies in a single season in ATP Challenger historical past. For Bonzi, the run may have began precisely a 12 months again had he not misplaced to James Duckworth in straight units on the 2020 Bengaluru Open last. However with yet one more excellent run within the nation, the world no.60, who admitted “Each time is an effective time in India”, goals to go a notch greater and seize his maiden ATP title on the Tata Open Maharashtra.
Bonzi defeated Chun-Hsin Tseng 6-0, 6-3 in his opener on the Mhalunge Balewadi Tennis Advanced in Pune earlier than stunning final 12 months’s finalist Emil Ruusuvuori, seeded third within the event, within the spherical of 16. Late on Thursday evening, the 26-year-old continued his chic kind to take down world no.54 Filip Krajinović 7-6 (5), 6-4 within the quarters. He created extra break-point alternatives within the opening set earlier than holding his nerve within the tie-breaker. Bonzi remained the higher out of the 2 within the second set, breaking serve thrice to make the semis at Tata Open.
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“It was a tricky match. I had a number of events to interrupt, a number of break factors. It was robust within the first set. I did it with the brand new balls. Then I needed to serve for the set, however he got here again and we had a tricky tie-break. The identical occurred within the second set, the place there have been a number of lengthy rallies from the baseline. It was robust, however ultimately, I received the match and one other one tomorrow,” he mentioned in an interplay with Hindustan Occasions after the match.
In 2022, Bonzi had reached his maiden ATP semi-final on the Open 13 in Marseilles earlier than shedding to Andrey Rublev. Just a few months later, he scripted an unbelievable run to the semis in Mallorca Championships, with out dropping a set, however was denied but once more by eventual winner Stefanos Tsitsipas.
“I really feel good right here with the situations. This was my first time on the Centre Court docket. Each time is an effective time in India. I used to be a finalist in Bengaluru three years again, now I’m a semi-finalist on this ATP occasion. That is nice,” Bonzi mentioned as he goals to develop into third-time fortunate.
“I need to win one event this 12 months. I have no idea if that is going to be the one. I discovered rather a lot from final 12 months and I’m extra harmful this 12 months in these tournaments. Let’s maintain combating and for positive it has been an incredible begin to the season.”
Bonzi, who has received seven Challengers Trophies in his profession, then defined the distinction within the stage of tennis in ATP tour occasions.
“Challengers are very robust to win. The massive distinction with the ATP occasions is that you would face the perfect gamers even within the first spherical. You can’t get into such tournaments with dangerous kind. It’s important to play these tournaments with emotion, with confidence and with expertise,” he mentioned.
Bonzi will subsequent face second seed Botic van de Zandschulp, to whom he has misplaced twice earlier than – 6-7(6), 6-7(1) at Winston Salem final 12 months and 4-6, 7-5 at a Challenger occasion in Hamburg in 2020. Exhibiting immense respect for his opponent’s skills, Bonzi expects nothing lower than a tricky semi-final battle.
“It’s nice to be within the semis. We all know one another very properly, we practiced just a few occasions collectively. Final 12 months he beat me. I do know he’s a really robust participant and performs from the baseline very properly. He does every thing fairly very properly. It is going to be a troublesome match nevertheless it’s a semi-final.”