With 28 tournaments, in nearly two dozen countries stretching across four continents, being played this week, there was no shortage of action to be seen on the ITF Pro Circuit. On the women’s side, German qualifier Antonia Lottner, Wang Qiang and Michaella Krajicek all had plenty to celebrate about while on the men’s side, American Tennys Sandgren won his second title in as many weeks in Edwardsville, Illinois.

Lottner, Wang, Krajicek Return to Winner’s Circle

In Prague, Antonia Lottner capped off a stunning week in the Czech capital with a thrilling 7-6(6), 1-6, 7-5 victory over fourth-seeded compatriot Carina Witthoeft, winning five games in a row from 2-5 down to capture her second title in as many weeks. After winning a quintuplet of $10,000 and $15,000 tournaments, Lottner has made a major breakthrough this season, following up a championship-winning run at the $50,000 event in Versmold with a $75,000 victory in Prague.

Qiang Wang celebrates after winning a point during her first round victory over Sloane Stephens at the 2016 Australian Open. | Photo: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images AsiaPac
Qiang Wang celebrates after winning a point during her first round victory over Sloane Stephens at the 2016 Australian Open. | Photo: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images AsiaPac

More than 8000 km (5,000 miles) east, China’s very own Wang Qiang captured the $50,000 event in Wuhan without dropping a set, defeating Thailand’s Luksika Kumkhum 7-5, 6-2 in Sunday’s showpiece, much to the delight of the partisan Chinese crowd. This marks Wang’s 13th career ITF singles title, and sixth on home soil during a career-best season that has seen her reach a career-high of number 68 in the world.

Elsewhere, in the United States, Michaella Krajicek managed to overcome a second-set letdown to serve her way to victory, defeating Australia’s Arina Rodionova 6-0, 2-6, 6-2 to win her first title of the season. With this victory, Krajicek breaks back into the world’s top 200, still far off from her career high of number 30 in the world, which she has been working towards while fighting injury and inconsistency.

Michaella Krajicek celebrates after winning a point during her first round doubles match with Barbora Strycova at the 2015 Wimbledon Championships. | Photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Europe
Michaella Krajicek celebrates after winning a point during her first round doubles match with Barbora Strycova at the 2015 Wimbledon Championships. | Photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Europe

Other winners this week include Chilean Daniela Seguel and Ukrainian Alyona Sotnikova, the two winners of $25,000 events this past weekend, as well as Mexico’s Marcela Zacarias, one of seven $10,000 winners this week.

Sandgren, Hamou: $25K Winners This Week

On the men’s side, American Tennys Sandgren was victorious on home soil, winning the $25,000 title in Edwardsville with a 7-6(4), 1-6, 6-3 victory over South African-born Australian Marc Polmans. Despite winning four fewer points than Polmans, Sandgren played the big points in the decider beautifully, with only a late break in the eighth game of the final set proving decisive for the American from Gallatin, Tennessee.

Tennys Sandgren celebrates his win over Yasutaka Uchiyama in the qualfiying draw during the 2016 Australian Open. | Photo: Michael Dodge/Getty Images AsiaPac
Tennys Sandgren celebrates his win over Yasutaka Uchiyama in the qualfiying draw during the 2016 Australian Open. | Photo: Michael Dodge/Getty Images AsiaPac

Nearly 8000 km (5,000 miles) overseas, Frenchman Maxime Hamou delighted the locals with a come-from-behind 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Serbia’s Marko Tepavac to capture the $50,000 tournament in Ajaccio. Withstanding 17 aces from Tepavac, Hamou hit seven of his own, but it was a single break in the seventh game of the decider for the world number 418 that really proved to be decisive.

Other winners this week include qualifier Ilya Vasilyev, Johnny O'Mara, Hong Seong Chan and Lorenzo Frigerio, four of the thirteen winners who took home a $10,000 event last weekend.

Next Week on the ITF Pro Circuit

27 tournaments across four continents: that’s how many tournaments will be on the ITF calendar next week, with the biggest highlight being the $50,000 event in the Québécois city of Granby, Canada.

Aleksandra Wozniak hits a backhand return during her first round match against Sara Errani at the 2016 Rogers Cup. | Photo: Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images North America
Aleksandra Wozniak hits a backhand return during her first round match against Sara Errani at the 2016 Rogers Cup. | Photo: Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images North America

A nation on the rise in the tennis world, the Challenger Banque Nationale De Granby plays host to one of the biggest ITF Pro Circuit tournaments in Canada, with Julia Glushko, Jessica PegulaAleksandra Wozniak and Bianca Vanessa Andreescu highlighting the field.

VAVEL Logo
About the author
Max Gao
Max Gao is a sports writer specializing in tennis and the Toronto Blue Jays, who has also written on the Rogers Cup website as a guest contributor in the past.