Sweeny ends Polmans’ Canberra clay court win streak at 19

Australia’s Marc Polmans went into the ACT Clay Court International final with a 19 match win streak on the Canberra clay courts.

The world no. 272 had won back-to-back clay court titles back in March 2017. His win steak continued when he won the ACT Clay Court International #1 last week and then having reached the final, Polmans had won 19 matches on the red dirt here in Canberra.

Polmans and Sweeny met in Canberra on hard courts back in January at the ATP Challenger event, Polmans won on that occasion in straight sets.

Sweeny lost to Japan’s Yuki Mochizuki in the quarterfinals at the previous tournament as the no. 1 seed. This time around he again met Mochizuki, but in the semis after defeating Tatsuma Ito in the quarters after the Japanese player retired in the second set.

Ito had lost the final to Polmans last week in the extreme heat.

Against Polmans in the final it was a match that went back and forth with both players getting on top at certain stages.

Polmans would take the opening in a tie breaker after both players broke serve once.

In the second set it was much the same, again a break for both players and a tie breaker to decide the set. Polmans was looking in control when he was at 4-2 in the breaker, Sweeny had other ideas and was not giving in.

Some energy sapping rallies took place and it was Sweeny that came storming back to take the breaker 7-5.

The third set again saw many gruelling rallies as both players fought to take the advantage. In the end it was Sweeny that gained the upper hand to seal a memorable 6-7(1), 7-6(5), 6-4 victory and stop Polmans’ win streak at 19.

The title win sees Sweeny jump to no. 235 on the live rankings which is a career-high, unless you believe the ATP Overview information which says he was at no. 160, but that is is career-high doubles ranking.

Sweeny next heads over to Europe where he is scheduled to play in the ATP Challenger event in Barletta, Italy. That is a Challenger 75 level event.

Polmans is still working his way back up the rankings after falling to no. 787 following a spell on the sidelines after ankle surgery. His live ranking now sits at no. 233. Polmans was at no. 203 before the surgery.

Polmans sat at a career-high of no. 116 on 12 October, 2020 and was a few wins from a top-100 breakthrough. His best result since his comeback was a finals loss at the Sydney ATP Challenger in early November last year.

Next up for Polmans could be the Barletta tournament where he is listed as an alternate.