ITF World Tennis Tour Player of the Month: Gabi Adrian Boitan
Gabi Adrian Boitan has been named ITF World Tennis Tour Player of the Month for February after capturing his first three professional singles titles in quick succession.
The 23-year-old Romanian touched down in Florida in early February and went on a 15-match-winning tear, collecting ITF singles titles at M15 Palm Coast, M15 Weston and M15 Naples to rocket 181 places in the ATP rankings to No. 565 in the world.
It marks a tremendous start to Boitan’s first season as a professional tennis player, having previously starred in college tennis at Baylor University, where he studied Corporate Communications.
Boitan, who dropped just four sets in three tournaments during the month, has 20 match-wins to his name so far in 2023 - second only to Tour-leader Dragos Nicolae Madaras (21).
And like Madaras, he has proven particularly proficient on clay – claiming all three of his titles on the surface.
Boitan has already had a taste of tennis at the highest level, having taken on Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut during last year’s Davis Cup Qualifiers – an experience that has taken his game to another level in the months since.
“That was kind of life-changing for me because I played against a guy who was top 15 in the world and who’s been on the tour for 10 years or more probably,” Boitan told the Baylor Lariat last year.
“What [the pros are] doing really well, it’s the small things,” Boitan added. “They just know what they’re owning. They use what they’re owning in the big moments really well and they execute really well. They are just really disciplined and they do not try to do more if they don’t need.
“They’re just really smart in their game, so that was really life changing for me because I felt it, I saw it and now I’m trying to apply it.”
If his start to 2023 is anything to go by, Boitan is well on his way.
Gabi Adrian Boitan only started his pro career in January and has already won three #ITFWorldTennisTour titles in a row, winning 15 straight matches! 💪
— ITF (@ITFTennis) March 1, 2023
M15 Naples 🏆
M15 Weston 🏆
M15 Palm Coast 🏆
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Boitan's February on the ITF World Tennis Tour
- Compiled a 15-0 win-loss record
- Went 30-4 in sets
- Achieved one bagel (6-0) and 8 breadstick (6-1) sets
- Defeated seven home (American) players across three US events
- Climbed 181 places in the ATP rankings to No. 565
- One of four men to win three or more titles on the ITF World Tennis Tour in 2023, along with Dragos Nicolae Madaras, Daniel Rincon and Clement Chidekh
An honourable mention also goes to Belgium's Greet Minnen and Latvian Daria Semenistaja, who also found fine form on the ITF World Tennis Tour during February. Minnen's 14-match winning streak finally came to an end at the hands of Clara Tauson in the final at W60 Altenkirchen, but only after she had added an 11th ITF singles title to her haul after winning at W40 Porto. Semenistaja, meanwhile, turned the tables on a three-match losing streak through January to deliver her 11th ITF singles crown at W40 Mexico City and a runner-up finish at W25 Santo Domingo.
Keep up with all the latest winners on the ITF World Tennis Tour here