With the ATP Challenger Tour Finals now drawn, Ubitennis takes a look at the draws, and previews the players of the tournament.
Group A
Paolo Lorenzi
Daniel Munoz-De La Nava
Inigo Cervantes
Farrukh Dustov
Paolo Lorenzi: Lorenzi is the only player in Group A who has played this event before, having exited at the group stage in 2012. This year has seen the thirty-three year-old dominate the Challenger tour, with four titles, beginning with Eskisehir and Cortina, and ending with back-to-back title in Pereira and Medellin. He owns a 2-0 record against his group opponents 1-o vs Cervantes, 1-0 vs Munoz-De La Nava, 0-0 vs Dustov. This and the fact that Lorenzi enters with the highest ranking of all entrants suggests he is the favourite to progress past the group stages this time.
Daniel Munoz-De La Nava: The Spaniard arrives with three Challenger titles on the year from six finals, a very encouraging year, and reward with his career-high ranking of eighty-two in October. Wins in Napoli, Moscow and Meknes (all on clay) means that Munoz-De La Nava is well placed to do well in Sao Paulo. He does come into the event having not played since the latter stages of October. He could be fresh, or maybe a lack of match practice will prove to be his undoing. 0-1 vs Lorenzi, 0-1 vs Cervantes 0-0 vs Dustov in 2015.
Inigo Cervantes: The second Spaniard in Group A joined the Top 100 for the first time just last week after a strong run in Montevideo (lost in Final to Pella). It has been a massive year for the twenty-five year old, who started the year ranked 248. His year is highlighted by three titles from five finals. Like his opponents, his form is mainly found on clay, with titles in Ostrava, Vicenza, and Marburg. His run to the final of Montevideo saw him dismiss Diego Schwartzmann, making him the man to watch in the group. 1-0 vs Munoz-De La Nava, 0-1 vs Lorenzi, 0-0 vs Dustov.
Farrukh Dustov: The man from Uzbekistan is the underdog in more than one capacity. He is the lowest direct entry into the tournament, and has no wins on clay in any capacity this year. In fact, his last appearance on the red stuff was in September as he lost in straight sets to Jack Sock in Davis Cup.
Group Predictions: Cervantes 3-0, Munoz-De La Nava 2-1, Lorenzi, 1-2, Dustov 0-3
Group B
Guido Pella
Marco Cecchinato
Radu Albot
Guilherme Clezar
Guido Pella: The second seed behind Lorenzi, Pella is another smooth operator when it comes to clay. Four titles including Porto Alegre, and Sao Paulo, account for his involvement this year. His title win in Montevideo, defeating fellow finalist Inigo Cervantes, shows that Pella means business, and if form is considered the main indicator, should be considered the favourite in Sao Paulo. 1-0 vs Clezar, 0-0 vs Cecchinato, 0-0 vs Albot in 2015.
Marco Cecchinato: The Italian is another who has enjoyed a breakthrough year, starting the year ranked at 157, Cecchinato comes into this event at 87. Just one title in Turin and one other final, but a remarkable ten other semi-finals means he more than merits his place in the year-ending championships. 1-0 vs Clezar, 0-0 vs Pella, 0-0 vs Albot in 2015.
Radu Albot: The Moldavian reached a career-high ranking of 68 this year, and is not far off that ranking now, at 75 in the world. A title on the hard courts of Kolkata and three finals on clay show a little more variety to his game than the average participant. That might hinder him in a field full of obstinately clay specialists. No head-to-heads with any other group players in 2015.
Guilherme Clezar: The local wildcard is sure to be the darling of the crowd this year again, after a shock run to the final last year. Unfortunately for Clezar, that is as good as things have got recently, failing to build on that excellent run in 2015. One final in Santiago, but has failed to progress past the quarter-finals of any other Challenger event all year. 0-1 vs Pella, 0-1 vs Cecchinato, 0-0 vs Albot 2015.
Group Predictions: Pella 2-1, Cecchinato 2-1, Albot 1-2, Clezar 1-2
