Dudi Sela takes title on ATP tour in Turkey

30-year-old Israeli is set to climb around 20 places from his previous ranking of 112 when new world rankings are released Monday.

Israeli tennis star Dudi Sela (photo credit: REUTERS)
Israeli tennis star Dudi Sela
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Dudi Sela snags Turkish ATP Challenger title Dudi Sela won his 17th ATP Challenger Tour title on Sunday, beating Blaz Kavcic 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3 in the final of the Batman tournament in Turkey.
The 30-year-old Israeli is set to climb around 20 places from his previous ranking of 112 when the new world rankings are released on Monday, returning to the top 100 after two months and securing his place in the main draw of next month’s Roland Garros in the process.
Sela’s last title came in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in October 2013, with his previous appearance in a final coming in Helsinki, Finland, last November. He hadn’t won a match in more than two months entering the Batman event.
Since reaching the third round of the Australian Open in January, the Israeli had won just one match, losing in the first round in four straight tournaments before triumphing in Turkey.
Sela squandered a 4-0 lead in the first set on Sunday, but after a rain break at the start of the second set, he seized the initiative and ultimately wrapped up the win after one hour and 50 minutes.