Pune will witness an intriguing generational battle in the singles final of the PMRDA Powered MahaOpen ATP Challenger 75 Men’s Tennis Championship, as Britain’s Felix Gill and Italy’s Federico Cina stormed into the title clash with commanding semifinal performances at the Shiv Chhatrapati Kreeda Sankul, Mhalunge Balewadi Tennis Stadium on Saturday.
The prestigious ATP Challenger event is being organised by the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) in association with the Department of Sports and Youth Services, Government of Maharashtra, PCMC, PMC and PMDTA, and is sponsored by the Pune Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (PMRDA).
Gill Holds His Nerve in Tight Semifinal
Felix Gill, who has steadily built momentum through the week, showcased composure under pressure to defeat eighth seed Edas Butvilas of Lithuania 6-4, 7-5 in a tightly contested encounter lasting one hour and 44 minutes.
The Brit was clinical in the decisive moments of both sets. In the opening set, Gill absorbed Butvilas’ aggressive baseline exchanges before capitalising on a late break opportunity to edge ahead 6-4. The Lithuanian, known for his heavy groundstrokes, pushed hard in the second set, stretching rallies and forcing Gill to defend deep behind the baseline.
At 5-5 in the second, Gill produced one of his most disciplined return games of the tournament, breaking serve at a critical juncture. Serving for the match, he displayed maturity beyond his years, landing first serves with consistency and closing out the contest 7-5 to seal his spot in the final.
Gill’s run to the title clash underlines his growing consistency on the Challenger circuit. Throughout the week, he has demonstrated tactical clarity mixing depth with angled forehands and showing resilience during extended rallies.
Cina Raises Intensity to Cruise Through
In the second semifinal, sixth seed and former junior World No. 4 Federico Cina of Italy delivered a statement performance against Croatia’s Duje Ajdukovic, winning 7-5, 6-2 in one hour and 15 minutes.
The opening set was closely fought, with both players holding serve comfortably through the early exchanges. Ajdukovic attempted to dictate play with flat, penetrating groundstrokes, but Cina matched him shot for shot, patiently constructing points from the baseline. At 5-5, the Italian shifted gears. Increasing the pace of his forehand and stepping inside the baseline, Cina forced errors from Ajdukovic to secure a pivotal break before calmly serving out the set 7-5.
The second set saw a clear rise in intensity from the young Italian. He began controlling rallies earlier, redirecting pace with precision and consistently targeting the Croatian’s backhand wing. A double break advantage allowed Cina to surge ahead, and he closed out the match 6-2 with authority.
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Cina’s performance highlighted his ability to elevate levels within a match a quality that has defined his transition from a successful junior career to the professional circuit.
Doubles Drama: Nam–Niklas Salminen Claim Title
Earlier in the day, the doubles final delivered a gripping contest as fourth seeds Jisung Nam of Korea and Patrik Niklas-Salminen of Finland upset the second-seeded Indo-Thai pair of Pruchya Isaro and India’s Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha to lift the doubles crown.
Nam and Niklas-Salminen prevailed 6-4, 6-7(1), 10-7 in a match that swung repeatedly in momentum. The fourth seeds took the opening set 6-4 by capitalising on a single service break and maintaining solid net positioning. Isaro and Poonacha responded strongly in the second set, raising their first-serve percentage and dominating at the net to push the contest into a tie-break, which they won convincingly 7-1.
The match was ultimately decided in a tense match tie-break. With both teams trading mini-breaks, Nam and Niklas-Salminen held their nerve in the closing stages, executing sharp returns and finishing points decisively at the net to seal the championship 10-7.
For their victory, the doubles champions received the trophy, USD 4,980 in prize money and 75 ATP ranking points. The runner-up pair earned USD 2,880 and 50 ATP ranking points.
The trophies were presented by Mr. Shravan Hardikar (IAS), MD of MMRDA, Mr. Sunder Iyer, Honorary Secretary of MSLTA, Mr. Rajiv Desai, Joint Secretary of MSLTA, and ATP Supervisor Mr. Rogerio Santos, in the presence of Leena Nageshkar.
With Gill’s composure meeting Cina’s baseline intensity, Sunday’s singles final promises a compelling tactical battle. Gill’s ability to stay patient in pressure moments will be tested against Cina’s aggressive shot-making and willingness to take control of rallies. As the tournament reaches its climax, Pune’s ATP Challenger 75 has once again underlined its importance as a platform for emerging talent to consolidate their rise on the professional circuit.
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All eyes now turn to the singles final a contest that will not only decide the champion but also signal which of these rising stars is ready to take the next step on the ATP ladder.
