Elmer Moller closes out 2025 with third ATP Challenger Tour title on Portuguese soil

It was the final week of the 2025 ATP Challenger Tour season and Elmer Moller celebrated his third career title on Portuguese soil after winning the eighth edition of the Maia Open, an indoor clay-court event organized by the Portuguese Tennis Federation.

Champion of the Braga Open in September 2024 and the Oeiras Open 125 in April 2025, the 22-year-old Dane added another Portuguese trophy to his growing list with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Slovakian veteran Andrej Martin in Sunday’s showdown.

Seeded third thanks to his ATP ranking of No. 147, Moller saved his best performance of the week for the final. The 22-year-old Aarhus native converted six of his 10 break point chances and won 56 percent of the total points played to succeed in one hour and 16 minutes.

“He started really well. He’s very experienced and has a great forehand, so I tried to stay aggressive and use my backhand down the line to keep him from taking full control. In the second set I found my rhythm and by the end I felt like I was playing really well,” Moller said after defeating Martin for the first time in his career.

More From Maia

Martin, meanwhile, became the oldest finalist in the history of the Maia Open. Having lost in the semifinals in all four of his previous appearances, the 36-year-old Slovak reached his second ATP Challenger final of the season and the 22nd of his career. Far from the No. 93 ranking he held in 2020, four years after contesting the ATP 250 final in Umag, he came close to snapping his long title drought. His last Challenger trophy dates back to June 2019, and he has now lost six finals in a row at this level.

For Moller, the brilliant week in Maia translated into his fourth ATP Challenger title in eight finals, his third of the season and third in Portugal, renewing a pattern of success in the country.

“Last year I lost in the first round, and this year I wasn’t even sure I’d play. It was really good to take a break from tournaments and training to stay home for a bit [he didn’t compete between mid-October and mid-November]. I arrived here with fresh energy, something I hadn’t felt in a while, and I’m happy I made that decision. Tennis never stops, and if you’re not playing a tournament, someone else is taking that spot. So, it can be stressful to step away, but in the end, it was absolutely worth it. It’s an incredible feeling to finish the year with a trophy.”

As for his repeated success in Portugal, Moller insists it’s not entirely coincidental.

“In some ways yes, in others no. I always love playing in Portugal—every event is very well organized and many of the people are the same, so you end up knowing almost everyone. I also like the cities, and when you feel good at a tournament you tend to play better. So, it’s not 100 percent a coincidence. I love playing here.”

As a reward for his golden week in Maia, Moller pocketed €20,630 in prize money as well as 100 points and cilmbed 26 spots on Monday to world No. 121.

Gomez and Mejia triumph in South America

The clay-court swing in South America concluded with two tournaments.

Federico Agustin Gomez claimed the title of the Challenger Dove Men+Care Temuco in Chile. The 28-year-old emerged victorious from the all-Argentine final against No. 7 seed Lautaro Midon, winning 6-4, 6-1 in 66 minutes. Gomez earned his fourth ATP Challenger Tour career title, his first of the season.

Meanwhile in Bogota, the home favorites dominated the action at the Challenger Seguros del Estado. Nicola Mejia won the all-Colombian final against qualifier Juan Sebastian Gomez 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 47 minutes to clinch his second Challenger title of the season after Savannah and third overall.

Hijikata hoists third Playford trophy

In Australia, Rinky Hijikata successfully defended his title at the City of Playford Tennis International. The No. 2 seed of the hard-court event held in Adelaide's northern suburbs battled for two and a half hours before earning a hard-fought 6–0, 6–7(8), 6–4 victory over fellow Australian Dane Sweeny.

Hijikata burst out of the gates, dictating play and sweeping through the opening set 6–0. The momentum then swung as Sweeny elevated his level in a fiercely contested second set, edging the tiebreak to force a decider. But when the pressure peaked, Hijikata steadied himself. He grabbed a crucial late break in the third set and kept his composure to serve out the match, sealing a gritty win.

The 24-year-old Sydney native captured his fourth ATP Challenger Tour career title, his third in Playford after 2022 and 2024. Hijikata earned $14,200 in prize money as well as 75 points.

Clarke captured Challenger Cup Pakistan

Jay Clarke of Great Britain captured the title at the inaugural Challenger Cup Pakistan. The No. 2 seed of the first-ever ATP Challenger event staged in Islamabad remained untroubled during his 6-3, 6-1 win over sixth-seeded Turkish Mert Alkaya in the final.

Clarke, one of only three players ranked inside the top 300 at the $60,000 hard-court tournament, withstood six aces and broke his rival four times to seal victory in 59 minutes.

The World No. 200 lifted his second Challenger Tour trophy of the season after the Macedonian Open in Skopje in May and in addition to his three title wins on the ITF World Tennis Tour. Clarke earned $8,350 in prize money as well as 50 points.

Samuel secures back-to-back titles

In Bahrain, Toby Samuel continued his fine run of form by winning his second consecutive Challenger title. Following his maiden triumph at the Somabay Open in Egypt last week, the 23-year-old Briton claimed the Manama Challenger title.

Samuel, who didn’t drop a set en route to the championship match, cruised past No. 2 seed Ilia Simakin of Russia 6-0, 6-2 on Sunday. The Winchester native won 65 percent of the total points played to prevail after only 48 minutes.

Geerts claims maiden Challenger crown in Athens

Finally in Greece, Michael Geerts emerged as champion of the inaugural I.T.C. Athens Challenger hosted by the OAKA Stadion Sports Center, home of the 2004 Olympic Tennis Event. The 30-year-old Belgian upset top seed Arthur Fery from Great Britain 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 in the final.

Geerts capitalized on six of his nine break point opportunities to secure his maiden Challenger crown in two hours and four minutes. He took away from Athens €7,530 in prize money as well as 50 points.

The ATP Challenger Tour returns the week of January 5 with five tournaments in Bengaluru (India), Canberra (Australia), Nouméa (New Caledonia), Nonthaburi (Thailand) and Nottingham (United Kingdom).