Tirante’s Thrilling Cancún Final Ends in Narrow Defeat

Cancún, Mexico — Argentine tennis player Thiago Tirante narrowly missed claiming the title at the Cancún Challenger 125, falling to Czech opponent Dalibor Svrcina in a grueling three-set final that lasted 3 hours and 21 minutes. The match concluded with a score of 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in favor of Svrcina.

A Week of Triumphs and Trials

Tirante, hailing from La Plata, Argentina, entered the tournament under challenging circumstances. Earlier in the week, he publicly denounced an incident of harassment and pressure upon his arrival at Cancún International Airport, Mexico’s second-busiest airport. In an exclusive interview with Infobae, the 22-year-old detailed the ordeal, which involved local military personnel questioning him over a piece of equipment essential to his profession.

Despite the setback, Tirante delivered a strong performance, securing four consecutive victories to reach his third Challenger final of the season. His path included wins over Italy’s Matteo Gigante, Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo, France’s Arthur Cazaux (the tournament’s second seed), and Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka.

A Tightly Contested Final

The championship match, held on the central court of the Cancún Country Club, began with Svrcina seizing an early break in the third game. Though Tirante fought back, earning six break-point opportunities, the Czech player held firm to take the first set 6-4.

The second set saw Tirante fall behind by two breaks before mounting a spirited comeback to level the score at 4-4. Despite squandering two set points at 5-4, he clinched the set 7-5 to force a decider.

The third set mirrored the previous two, with Svrcina racing to a 3-0 lead. Tirante once again clawed his way back to 4-4, but Svrcina secured a decisive break in the ninth game and served out the match to claim the title.

Rankings and Next Challenge

Despite the loss, Tirante will rise 18 spots in the ATP rankings to No. 117, just as he prepares to compete in the US Open qualifying rounds. His first opponent will be 17-year-old American wildcard Jack Kennedy, who is making his debut in a major tournament qualifier.

Tirante, a five-time Challenger champion, will need three wins to secure a place in the US Open main draw, the season’s final Grand Slam event.