American Alexa Glatch prepares to return a lob shot from Mandy Minella of Luxembourg during the singles final of the RBC Challenge on Sunday at Tyler Athletic & Swim Club in Tyler.

After a couple of days of rain and chilly temperatures, it was an ideal chamber of commerce Sunday afternoon for the finals of the third annual RBC Pro Challenge Tennis Tournament.

The fans were treated to an exciting final as Luxembourg’s Mandy Minella claimed the singles title with 6-4, 6-4 victory over Alexa Glatch of Newport Beach, California, in the $80,000 USTA Pro Circuit event presented by Oak Creek at Tyler Athletic & Swim Club.

“It was a great week,” said the 33-year-old Minella, who has 20 Grand Slam singles appearances and 20 Grand Slam doubles appearances and reached a career-high singles ranking of 66. “The tournament went through some more extreme conditions, but everyone always came with a smile. I felt very welcome here.”

Minella and Glatch thanked the officials, volunteers and fans for the “wonderful week.”

Minella, ranked No. 169 in the world, used her power and consistency to win the final.

Glatch entered the week as a wild card and racked up impressive victories including stunning No. 1 seed Astra Sharma of Australia in the first round, 6-2, 6-4. She also claimed wins over American Shelby Rogers (6-3, 7-5), American and No. 8 seed Caroline Dolehide (7-6 (4), 6-1) and Mexico’s Marcela Zacarias (5-7, 6-4, 7-2) in the semifinals.

Glatch is returning to the pro tennis circuit after knee and hip surgeries which sidelined her for 18 months.

“It’s been a long journey back. I’m so thankful to be here and to be playing,” Glatch said.

The match was broadcast live on Tennis Channel. Both players spoke about how appreciative they were of the sponsors, crowd and their host homes.

Minella scored three-set wins in the beginning of singles play — 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-3 over American Irina Falconi in the first round and 6-1, 2-6, 6-1 over Mexico’s Giuliana Olmos in the seconed round. Minella won over American Jamie Loeb (6-4, 6-1) in the quarterfinals and USA’s Danielle Lao (6-1, 7-5) in the semifinals.

Minella and Glatch both head to Las Vegas next week for a USTA Pro Circuit $60K challenger that continues the Australian Open Wild Card Challenge.

The USTA will award a singles main-draw wild card into the 2020 Australian Open to the American woman who wins the Australian Open Wild Card Challenge.

The challenge kicked off the week of Oct. 21 in Macon, Georgia, and will conclude the week of Nov. 11. The USTA and Tennis Australia have a reciprocal agreement in which main-draw wild cards for the 2020 Australian Open and U.S. Open are exchanged.

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RBC Pro Challenge

A USTA Pro Circuit Event

Sunday, Nov. 3

Tyler Athletic

& Swim Club

Tyler

Purse: $80,000

Surface: Hard-Outdoor

Singles — Finals

Mandy Minella (Luxembourg) def. Alexa Glatch (USA), 6-4, 6-4