Kachmazov beats Friend to claim title at Challenger 50 in Yinchuan

Alibek Kachmazov beat Jay Friend 4-6, 7-6, 7-6 in the final of the Yinchuan Open 3 in Yinchuan to claim the title.

Tiebreaks decide the final

Kachmazov lost the opening set 4-6 but leveled the match by winning the second set in a tiebreak, 7-6. The deciding set also went to a tiebreak, which Kachmazov won 7-6. After Friend had the advantage early in the match, the closing stages of the next two sets decided the outcome.

According to api.tennis, Kachmazov began his run through the main draw with a 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 win over Charles Broom. He then beat Evan Zhu 7-6, 7-6, Fajing Sun 6-3, 6-4, and Yuta Jasika 7-6, 6-3. Tiebreaks featured at almost every step of his run before the final.

Friend reached the final without dropping a set. In the main draw, he beat Yuta Kikuchi 6-1, 6-4, Mitsuki Wei Kang Leong 6-3, 6-3, Ryan Seggerman 7-6, 6-2, and Keisuke Saitoh 6-2, 6-1.