Dancevic hopes win is part of his return to Top-100 tennis rankings

Frank Dancevic was happy to win the $50,000 National Bank Challenger tennis tournament for the third time.

He was happy that the 90 points he earned take him a step or two closer to a return to the top 100 in the ATP Tour rankings.

But mostly he was happy that he survived a gruelling week in good health.

“This week was a good test,” the 28-year-old from Niagara Falls, Ont., said Sunday after he upset top-seeded Lukas Lacko of Slovakia 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-4 in the final. “I had a long day yesterday when I had to play twice and I had a long match today, but I feel good.”

Dancevic has been plagued with back problems in recent years, but he moved well and served even better. He had 24 aces, many of them at crucial times in the match.

“My serve has always been a big part of my success and today I was happy that I came up with big serves when I needed them,” said Dancevic.

Lacko said he was frustrated because he felt he played better than Dancevic but was unable to take advantage of eight break-point opportunities.

“I’m disappointed because I had my chances but he came up with the big serve when he needed it,” said Lacko, who hadn’t lost more than five games in any match leading up to the final.

Dancevic came into the tournament ranked No. 193 and should jump into the top 160 with the win.

“I think I’m playing top100 tennis and if I play like this, I’ll get back there,” said Dancevic, who hit a careerhigh No. 65 in 2007. “I only have 10 points to defend be- tween now and January so any points I pick up are a bonus.”

The victory was worth $7,200 for Dancevic while Lacko pocketed $4.240.

Dancevic, who won here in 2003 and 2006, had a busy day Saturday. He beat Filip Peliwo, the 2012 Wimbledon junior champion from Vancouver in a quarter-final which has been washed out Friday night and advanced to the final with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Philip Bester of North Vancouver.

Lacko only had to play his semifinal match, and defeated seventh-seeded Hiroki Moriya of Japan, 6-2, 6-3.

In the final of the companion $25,000 ITF women’s event, Risa Ozaki of Japan rallied to beat third-seeded Briton Samantha Murray 0-6, 7-5, 6-2.

Canadians featured prominently in the doubles finals Saturday.

The third-seeded team of Erik Chvojka of Kirkland, and Peter Polansky of Thornhill, Ont., captured the men’s doubles title. They defeated American Adam El Mihdawy and Ante Pavic of Croatia 6-4, 6-3. The winners split $3,100 while the losing team collected $1,800.

Carol Zhao of Richmond Hill, Ont., and her U.S. part- ner Lena Litvak won the women’s doubles with a 6-4, 7-5 win over top-seeded Coin and Briton Emily Webley-Smith.

Dancevic’s win gave Canada back-to-back men’s titles here. Vasek Pospisil of Vancouver, won in 2012 and has established himself as a top 100 player. Pospisil reached his first ATP World Tour semifinal last week before losing to hometown favourite Alejandro Falla Saturday at the Claro Open Colombia in Bogota.