A LOOK BACK
Dunlop Srixon World Challenge (Toyota, Japan): Seventh seed Yoshihito Nishioka capped a strong 2015 campaign with a dominant run in Toyota, capturing his second ATP Challenger Tour title 6-3, 6-4 over Alexander Kudryavtsev. The 20 year old is projected to rise to a career-high World No. 117 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, becoming the third-highest ranked Japanese behind only Kei Nishikori and Taro Daniel. Nishioka, who reached the quarter-finals at the ATP World Tour 250 event in Delray Beach and won his first Grand Slam match at the US Open, is the fourth different Japanese player to lift a trophy on the Challenger circuit this year (Daniel, Yuichi Sugita & Go Soeda).

Andria E Castel Del Monte Challenger (Andria, Italy): Ivan Dodig concluded his 2015 campaign in impressive fashion after reaching the doubles semi-finals at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. The Croat needed a strong finish on the indoor hard courts of Andria to end the year in the Top 100 of the Emirates ATP Rankings and secure his place in the Australian Open main draw. He would run away with his third title in as many months and sixth overall on the Challenger circuit, downing Michael Berrer 6-2, 6-1 in 65 minutes on Sunday. In September, he won his first title in four years in St. Remy and a month later lifted the trophy in Brest. Projected to rise inside the Top 90, Dodig finishes with his sixth consecutive year-end Top 100 spot.

ATP Challenger Tour Finals (Sao Paulo, Brazil): Inigo Cervantes won his fourth title of the year, saving two match points to defeat Daniel Munoz-de la Nava in Sao Paulo. Read full report

WHAT’S AHEAD
That’s a wrap for the 2015 ATP Challenger Tour season. The circuit will be on a five-week hiatus before resuming with events in Argentina, Thailand, Australia and New Caledonia in January.

Inigo Cervantes survived a thrilling conclusion to the ATP Challenger Tour Finals, saving two match points to defeat countryman Daniel Munoz-de la Nava 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(4) on Sunday in Sao Paulo.

“I’m glad that I won such an important and special final,” said Cervantes.

Cervantes became the first undefeated champion in the five-year history of the Challenger season finale, taking home $91,200 in prize money and 125 Emirates ATP Rankings points, which will see him soar to a projected career-high World No. 72. The Spaniard had just entered the Top 100 for the first time last week with a run to the Montevideo final.

Watch Top 5 Final Hot Shots

The Spaniard, who notched his second victory of the week over Munoz-de la Nava after earning a round robin win on Wednesday, is just the third player in ATP Challenger Tour history to claim 50 match wins in a season. His 50-20 win-loss mark puts him in the record books alongside Carlos Berlocq and Boris Pashanski. Berlocq won 57 matches in 2010 and Pashanski captured 51 in 2005.

“These numbers show how excellent my year was. Two years ago I was in a wheelchair without being able to play tennis or walk because of two hip surgeries. Now I have my best ranking. Next year I’ll have even bigger goals and I hope to get better and better.”

MOST MATCH WINS IN A SEASON

Cervantes looked to be in control from the start, breaking in the first game of the match with a perfectly executed drop shot. Two unforced errors from his compatriot gave the Spaniard a second break for 5-2. He would close out the first set in 30 minutes, behind consistent shotmaking.

Munoz-de la Nava received a walkover in his semi-final match after Guido Pella withdrew with a torn adductor muscle, and the 33 year old’s extra energy showed in the second set. He would break for 3-1 and forced a decider, opening the court with a more aggressive court position.

The third set featured a wild shift in momentum as a forehand winner from Munoz-de la Nava secured a break in the first game and he looked to be in position to run away with the title, reeling off eight straight points to consolidate for 2-0. But the Madrid native took his foot off the gas while serving for the match at 5-4. Cervantes saved two match points and converted his fourth break point of the 12-minute game to draw level. On serve at 5-4 in the ensuing tie-break, Cervantes blasted a forehand winner off a Munoz-de la Nava short ball and captured the title a point later after two hours and 10 minutes.

“We had faced each other four days ago,” Cervantes added. “I think I had to deal with a little more pressure because I had won four matches and he won two, because he didn’t play in the semis.

“Tennis is tough. In the first set it looked like the match would be easy for me, 6-2. I was really calm and Daniel making more mistakes than usual. However, a break in the second turned the match around and I saved match points in the third. But I could recover and win this match, that meant so much to me.”

Cervantes is the seventh player to save at least one match point in a Challenger final this year – four more than in 2014. He takes home his fourth title of the year, in addition to crowns in Ostrava (Czech Republic), Vicenza (Italy) and Marburg (Germany) and sixth overall.

MATCH POINTS SAVED IN A FINAL IN 2015

Munoz-de la Nava, meanwhile, falls to 3-4 in finals in 2015. He finishes the season with a 46-18 match record. “Congratulations to Inigo for such a great week. He’s a friend on the tour and really had an amazing year. Today’s match could have gone to any of us, but he left with the win and he deserved it.”

Andy Murray is about to bring the Davis Cup back to Great Britain. The World No. 2 is leading Belgium’s David Goffin 6-3, 7-5 in the fourth rubber of the Davis Cup Final.

A Murray win would put the tie out of reach, 3-1, and give the visitors their first team title since 1936, when Fred Perry led the way against Australia on the grass of Wimbledon. Belgium and Great Britain last met at this stage in 1904, when the Brits swept the tie 5-0.

If Goffin can rally, then the fifth and deciding rubber will be contested later today.

Inigo Cervantes will look to clinch the third 50-win season in Challenger history when he faces countryman Daniel Munoz-de la Nava in Sunday’s final at the ATP Challenger Tour Finals.

Cervantes beat home hope and eighth seed Guilherme Clezar 6-3, 7-6(9) to book a spot in his sixth final of the year. The Spaniard, who is projected to rise to at least a career-high Top 85 position in the Emirates ATP Rankings, fired 17 aces and saved both break points faced during the one-hour and 47-minute affair in Sao Paulo. He remains on track to wrap up the first undefeated campaign in the five-year history of the Challenger year-end championships.

“There was only one break during the match,” said Cervantes. “Then a very close tie-break. Clezar is a very dangerous player here. Not only because we’re in Brazil, but also because it’s indoors and fast conditions. His serve is pretty strong so I’m glad that I won the match.”

MOST WINS IN A SEASON

The all-Spanish final clash will be the second of the week between the two compatriots. If the title match is as close as their thrilling round robin encounter in Group A, won by Cervantes 4-6, 7-6(3), 7-5, fans will be in for a treat. It was Cervantes’ second three-set win of the year in the FedEx ATP Head2Head, after prevailing in qualifying of the ATP World Tour 500 event in Hamburg.

“It’s been only a few days since our last match and it was tough, almost three hours,” added Cervantes. “It will be difficult, I’m sure, but we know each other really well and if I play like today, I have a good shot for the title.

“Maybe physically he’s a bit more fresh than me. He had a day of rest and I played almost two hours. But I’ll face this victory in a positive way. It helps me mentally so I can be prepared and without any issues tomorrow.”

Munoz-de la Nava had already sewn up a berth in the final following second seed Guido Pella‘s injury withdrawal prior to Saturday’s semi-finals. Pella suffered a torn adductor muscle in his round robin finale in Group B against Marco Cecchinato on Friday. Madrid native Munoz-de la Nava is 46-17 this year.

Read Munoz de la Nava feature

Cervantes is 3-2 in Challenger finals this year, seeking his sixth title overall. He lifted trophies in Ostrava, Vicenza and Marburg. Munoz-de la Nava, meanwhile, is 3-3 in title matches in 2015 and will be eyeing a fourth crown overall. He won titles in Napoli, Moscow and Meknes this year.

“I leave with my head up high,” Clezar said. “I had a good tournament. The two matches I lost were more about the opponents’ merits than me playing bad.”