Fratangelo wins Cleveland Open on USTA Pro Circuit

Bjorn Fratangelo won his fourth ATP Challenger title by defeating Jenson Brooksby, 7-5, 6-4, in an all-American final at the 2021 Cleveland Open on Saturday. 

The 27-year-old Pittsburgh native, who trains with coach Eric Nunez at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Florida, dropped just one set in five matches on the week. He kicked off his run with a straight-sets upset of No. 7 seed Thai-Son Kwiatkowski, and was later pushed to three sets by University of Illinois senior Alex Kovacevic in the semifinals.

In the final, Fratangelo converted on four of 11 break points to edge the 20-year-old Brooksby, a former Baylor Bear. He sealed the title with a forehand winner on match point.

"I'm super happy. It was a long road back to full health for me," Fratangelo, who struggled with plantar fasciitis beginning in the summer of 2019, said during the trophy ceremony. "I'm thrilled with how this week went. I feel like I'm back on track to where I know I belong. Hopefully I can build on this week."

While the American played through his injury for much of 2019 and into 2020, the COVID-19 suspension gave him a chance to fully recover. His ranking dropped to a low of No. 286 entering Cleveland, but the title lifted him up to No. 233 as he trends back towards his career-high spot of No. 99, achieved in 2016.

Next up for the Cleveland champ is Miami Open qualifying, where he will take on Dmitry Popko of Kazakhstan.

In addition to the strong performances from Fratangelo, Brooksby and Kovacevic, Americans Christopher Eubanks and Michael Redlicki reached the quarterfinals in Cleveland, making it five Americans among the final eight.

There was a second all-American final in the doubles event, where champions Rob Galloway and Alex Lawson topped Evan King and Hunter Reese by the slimmest of margins, 7-5, 6-7, [11-9]. The No. 2-seeded champs also scored a match tiebreak victory in Round 2.

For complete draws and more information, visit the USTA Pro Circuit homepage.

Pictured above: Bjorn Fratangelo with the Cleveland Open men's singles trophy. Photo courtesy of the Cleveland Open.