Jan Choinski upsets Kopriva to win Bad Waltersdorf Challenger

Unseeded Briton Jan Choinski delivered a composed performance on Sunday to capture the title at the LAYJET OPEN in Bad Waltersdorf. The 29-year-old defeated second seed Vit Kopriva of the Czech Republic 7-5, 6-4 in the final of the Austrian clay-court ATP Challenger event.

Choinski raced to a 4-0 lead in the opening set before Kopriva clawed back with two breaks to level at 5-5. Staying calm under pressure, the Brit broke for a third time and converted his fifth set point after exactly one hour. Both men held serve to 4-4 in the second set before Choinski struck again, breaking Kopriva and closing out the match after one hour and 45 minutes.

“I’ve been playing really good tennis since the second round,” Choinski said of his biggest success this season. “My clear goal now is to earn enough points to get into the qualifying draw of the ATP 500 event in Vienna.”

Born in Koblenz to a British mother and a Polish father – both ballet dancers – Choinski holds British, Polish and German citizenship. He initially represented the German Tennis Federation (DTB) but switched to Britain in 2018, citing “better conditions and support.” His road to the title was dramatic at times: in the quarterfinals he saved match points before edging German qualifier Marko Topo 8-6 in a third-set tie-break. Last year, he lost in the first round at Bad Waltersdorf. Now living in Dubai, he also trains with renowned Austrian coach Günter Bresnik.

Choinski celebrated his sixth ATP Challenger Tour title, and third of the year following victories in Troyes and at the Dutch Open in Bunschoten. He earned €25,740 in prize money and 125 ATP Ranking points.

Austrian Tennis Federation (ÖTV) Vice President Jürgen Roth praised the event: “We’re extremely pleased this Challenger has established itself. Our thanks go to tournament director Sascha Freitag and all the volunteers, sponsors and partners who make it possible. Tennis enthusiasm in Austria had dipped a little, but with Davis Cup successes and events like this, it’s coming back.”

Echargui wins third title of the season in Saint-Tropez

In southern France, Moez Echargui lifted the trophy at the fifth edition of the Saint-Tropez Open. The 32-year-old Tunisian beat French alternate Dan Added 6-3, 6-4 in the ATP Challenger hard-court final.

Unseeded Echargui battled through the bottom half of the draw with wins over fourth seed Ugo Blanchet of France, Mexican qualifier Rodrigo Pacheco Méndez, eighth-seeded Frenchman Titouan Droguet and seventh seed Mark Lajal of Estonia. In the final, he did not face a break point and broke Added twice to secure his third ATP Challenger career crown, all three coming this season after titles in Porto and Hersonissos. World No. 175 Echargui earned €15,150 in prize money and 125 ATP Ranking points.

Agamenone triumphs at Intaro Open 2

Italy’s Franco Agamenone won the second edition of the Intaro Open in Targu Mures, Romania. The 32-year-old defeated top seed Jay Clarke of Great Britain 6-3, 6-4 in the clay-court final to claim his fifth ATP Challenger Tour title and his first since Braunschweig, Germany two years ago.

Nava continues success in Argentina

In South America, Emilio Nava capped off a dominant week at the AAT Challenger Santander in Villa María. The 23-year-old US-American overpowered Argentina’s Alex Barrena 6-3, 6-3 in the championship match of the sixth Challenger event of the year in Argentina.

Using his serve as a major weapon, Nava thrilled around 700 spectators at the Sport Social Club, sending down seven aces and winning 77 per cent of his first-serve points. He allowed only one break and converted four return games under the guidance of Argentine coach Diego Cristín.

“I played a really good match and a really good week,” said Nava, celebrating his sixth Challenger Tour title and fourth of the season. He pocketed $14,200 in prize money and 75 ATP Ranking points. He also praised the local crowd: “They were always respectful but loud. I like it because it brings more tension and makes it more fun when the crowd is 100 percent in. I loved it.”

Agustín Calleri, President of the Argentinian Tennis Federation (AAT), presented the trophy and reaffirmed the organisation’s mission: “Our greatest wish is to keep strengthening tennis in Argentina. We’ll continue working to hold these tournaments here, so our players don’t always have to travel abroad.”

Villa María mayor Eduardo Accastello added: “Villa María loves tennis and tennis is beautiful. We want to host a Challenger 100 when the Sport Social Club turns 100.”

Zheng lifts Columbus Challenger

For the second time in the five-year history of the Columbus Challenger, an American champion emerged. Michael Zheng battled past compatriot Martin Damm 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the ATP Challenger 75 hard-court final.

Zheng reached the title match with wins over US-Americans Garrett Johns, Andre Ilagan and Alfredo Perez, as well as Germany’s Daniel Masur. In the final he absorbed 20 aces from Damm, breaking twice and closing victory after nearly two hours. It was the 20-year-old’s second Challenger title, adding to his Chicago triumph last month. Zheng earned $14,200 in prize money and 75 ATP Ranking points.

Challenger Tour heads into new week across three continents

The ATP Challenger Tour continues across three continents this week.

🇫🇷 The Co’met Orléans Open, with €181,250 in prize money, is the most lucrative. At the 20th edition in the Palais des Sports, Belgium’s Raphael Collignon leads the field and will face a qualifier or lucky loser in his opener. Home favourite Hugo Gaston heads the bottom half, with Belgian teenager Alexander Blockx and Slovakia’s Lukas Klein rounding out the top four seeds.

🇵🇹 On clay, the Del Monte Lisboa Belém Open in Portugal is led by in-form Czech Vit Kopriva. Spaniards Carlos Taberner and Roberto Carballés Baena, along with young Peruvian Ignacio Buse, are also strong contenders at the CIF Tennis Complex in Lisbon.

🇨🇳 In Asia, France’s Valentin Royer tops the draw at the inaugural Jingshan Open in China, joined by American Mackenzie McDonald, Czech Dalibor Svrcina and Australian James Duckworth in the top four.

🇦🇷 In South America, the YPF Buenos Aires Challenger presentado por La Roche-Posay features several high-profile first-round matches. Notably, Chile’s Cristian Garín faces Argentina’s Nicolás Kicker. Garín, a former World No. 17 with five ATP titles (all on clay: Houston and Munich 2019, Córdoba and Rio 2020, Santiago 2021), made the semifinals at the inaugural edition in 2015 after qualifying. Kicker, 33, won the event in 2017, saving two championship points. Top seed Thiago Tirante opens against Paraguay’s Daniel Vallejo. Second seed Emilio Nava plays Brazil’s Joao Reis da Silva, while Bolivia’s Hugo Dellien awaits a qualifier.

🇺🇲 In North America, the hard-court swing continues with the ninth edition of the Las Vegas Tennis Open. Austrian Jurij Rodionov is the top seed at the ATP Challenger 75 event, with Britain’s Jack Pinnington Jones, Japan’s James Trotter and Lebanon’s Benjamin Hassan among his main rivals in the Nevada desert.