Enriquez Wins Fourth Career Title at 25th Atlanta Open

Guatemala’s Alejandro Enriquez claimed his fourth career title at the 25th Atlanta Open, beating wildcard Zahed Salem to lift the title. 

Salem is a former World No.14 who has only played four events in the last 18 months, but one of those was the Atlanta Open last year, where he went all the way to lift the trophy, beating Japan’s Ryunosuke Tsukue. 

Despite having since fallen outside the world’s top 400, Salem was given a wildcard to this year’s event, and knocked out the No.1 and 5 seeds en route to the final, where a second successive title was within reach. 

But standing in his way was second seed Enriquez, who has enjoyed somewhat of a breakout season, winning the 12k SACC Costa Rica Open in the second half of 2023 and moving up inside the world’s top 100. 

He was also coming into this final on much fresher legs, having had a walkover in the semi-finals due to an injury to Muhammad Ashab Irfan, and perhaps that freshness proved to be the difference in the final. 

After taking games one and two 11-7, 11-6, Enriquez cruised through game three, dropping only two points to wrap up a 24-minute win, clinching his third title of the season, and the fourth of his career. 

Victory also moves Enriquez up to a career-high ranking of No.84 in the world, while Salem’s runner-up finish sees him jump from No.492 to No.262. 

Result:
[2] Alejandro Enriquez (GUA) bt [WC] Zahed Salem (EGY): 7-11, 6-11, 2-11 (24m)