Sela puts it all together, captures first title of 2011

After winning just two of 10 matches in the first 4 months of 2011, Sela chose to forgo the French Open and much of the European claycourt season.

By ALLON SINAI
Dudi Sela 311 (R) (photo credit: REUTERS)
Dudi Sela 311 (R)
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Dudi Sela’s decision to take a break from the ATP Tour to regain some much-needed confidence and ranking points on the Challenger circuit paid off on Sunday when he claimed the $75,000 Busan tournament in South Korea with a 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-3 victory over Japan’s Tatsuma Ito.
After winning just two of 10 matches on the main tour in the first four months of 2011 and dropping to No. 147 in the world, Sela chose to forgo the French Open and much of the European claycourt season in the hope of finally stringing together a run of victories.
He is expected to climb at least 30 places in the rankings following his triumph in Korea.
“I was very consistent throughout the week and I’m very happy to pick up these ranking points,” said Sela, who will play in the Challenger event in Fergana, Uzbekistan this week.
“I hope to continue this form this week and pick up some confidence and points in the hope that the remainder of the year will be good.”
Sela’s 10th career Challenger tour title also significantly improves his chances of making the main draw of Wimbledon without having to play qualifiers, something he will be especially desperate to achieve after deciding to skip Roland Garros, ending his run of playing in the last 14 Grand Slam tournaments.
Sela is set to be the top seed and only player in the top-200 to play in Uzbekistan this week.
The No. 1 seed in Busan, Yen-Hsun Lu (51), lost to Ito (130) in the semis.
Also, Shahar Pe’er will play in the Brussels Open this week in what will be her final tune-up event ahead of the start of the French Open next week.
Pe’er faces Australia’s Casey Dellacqua in the first round.