Former world no. 10 Lucas Pouille conquered his third Challenger title and the second of the season at Open de Vende in Mouilleron le Captif. The Frenchman had been dealing with personal issues, almost quitting tennis a couple of years ago.
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However, he started all over and rediscovered his love for the game, starting the 2024 season outside the top-300 and standing on the verge of the top-100 following the most recent triumph. Pouille overpowered Manuel Guinard in the quarter-final and stood strong in the final two matches to lift the trophy.
The former Major semi-finalist faced his compatriot Quentin Halys in the title clash and delivered a rock-solid 6-4, 6-4 triumph in an hour and 15 minutes on an indoor hard court. Lucas hit fewer aces than his opponent, but there was nothing wrong with his performance in the service games.
The more experienced Frenchman denied both break points and kept the pressure on the other side.
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Lucas Pouille secured his second Challenger title at Open de Vende in Mouilleron le Captif.
The top seed, Halys, took only seven points fewer than his rival but could not prolong the battle, playing against four break points and giving serve away once in each set to settle with the runner-up prize.
Quentin held at love in the first game of the encounter and painted a beautiful volley winner two games later for a 2-1 lead. Lucas missed a running forehand in the fourth game, facing a break point and denying it after the rival's slice error.
Halys netted a routine forehand, allowing Pouille to lock the result at 2-2. The 4th seed found the rhythm on the return in the fifth game, causing the rival's mistake with a deep return and moving in front. The former top-10 player cemented the advantage with a service winner in game six before experiencing a break point at 4-3.
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Lucas denied it with a powerful serve and held with a backhand down the line winner that pushed him 5-3 up.
Pouille served for the opener at 5-4 and held at love, wrapping up the first part of the duel in 34 minutes and gathering a boost.
Halys denied a break point in the first game of the second set with a service winner before facing more issues at 1-1. The younger netted a slice, losing serve and falling a set and a break behind. Lucas held at 15 for a 3-1 lead and grabbed the sixth game from 0-30 with an ace that kept him in front.
The former top-10 player secured the eighth game with an unreturned serve and passed his rival at the net with a backhand down the line winner in the next one for a match point. Quentin denied it after a questionable hold and held, prolonging the action.
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Pouille served for his third Challenger title at 5-4 and drew the rival's mistake, lifting his second trophy of the season and moving closer to a top-100 return.
