Streaking Roman Safiullin wins second straight Challenger title in Mauthausen

Roman Safiullin crowned an exceptional run on the ATP Challenger Tour by lifting his second consecutive title, winning the fifth edition of the Danube Upper Austria Open by SKE in Mauthausen. Fresh from his victory at the Oeiras Open 125 in Portugal, the 28-year-old Russian carried his momentum into Austria, extending his winning streak to 12 matches.

In front of packed stands in Sunday’s final, Safiullin defeated seventh-seeded Portuguese Jaime Faria 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(4) after two hours and 22 minutes in a dramatic encounter that showcased the very best of Challenger-level tennis. After a tight start into the match, Faria struck first, finding his rhythm to claim the opening set. Safiullin responded with authority, stepping up his aggression to level the match before holding his nerve in a decisive third-set tie-break, sealing victory with a superb forehand winner.

“It was a really tough match,” Safiullin said afterwards. “Congratulations to Jaime for a great week - he improved round by round. It wasn’t the highest level at the beginning, but it became very intense towards the end. I’m very happy with the win - it feels great.” The Podolsk native also praised the event: “It feels like home here - from the courts to the hotel, everything is perfect.”

Safiullin maintains perfect record in finals

The title marks Safiullin’s eighth ATP Challenger crown—remarkably won in eight finals—and underlines his strong comeback after missing the second half of the 2025 season due to injury.

“I am feeling good,” said the former world No. 36, who spends most of his practice weeks in Marbella, Spain. “Winning a Challenger after the injury was very nice. I am on the way back - not 100 per cent yet, but very close, and I still have room to improve.”

Safiullin earned € 23,750 in prize money as well as 100 ATP Ranking points, currently sitting at world No. 144. His schedule now includes a training block followed by a return to Oeiras and the qualifying at Roland Garros.

Faria eyes Top 100 return

Despite falling just short, Faria also left Mauthausen with confidence. “It’s my second final this year. Even if it’s another loss, it’s a very good start to the season,” the 22-year-old from Lisbon said. “Roman is an incredible player. I’ll try to follow him in the rankings and hopefully see him again at the big tournaments soon.”

Faria is steadily carving out his place on the professional tennis circuit. The current world No. 119—who reached a career-high ranking of 87 in early 2025—has already shown his potential with a series of strong results this season.

Highlights include qualifying for the Australian Open and reaching the second round in Melbourne, as well as an impressive quarterfinal run at the ATP 500 event in Rio de Janeiro and a final appearance at the Sao Paulo Challenger.

“I want to finish the season inside the Top 100,” Faria said. ” I’d also like to perform well in the Davis Cup with Portugal, as we haven’t had too many wins lately. Overall, I just want to keep improving step by step and raise my level.”

Tournament director Leitgeb praises strong edition

Beyond the on-court action, the Danube Upper Austria Open once again proved its value on the Challenger calendar. Tournament director Florian Leitgeb expressed satisfaction with the week: “Overall, we are very pleased. We were fortunate with the weather, which is crucial for an outdoor event. Of course, it’s a pity that no Austrian made it through qualifying but having Lukas Neumayer reach the final weekend was a great story for the home crowd.”

Leitgeb also highlighted the growing challenges for Challenger Tour organizers. “We try to provide the best possible conditions for players and get as close as possible to ATP 250 standards. But you feel the rising costs - sometimes it’s the small things, like running eight cars for player transport around the clock. During the week, that alone can mean around €4,000 in fuel.”

Despite these challenges, the future of the clay-court event looks secure. “We have had the same partners since day one and have grown together. They believe in the product, so Mauthausen is not in danger of disappearing. We have long-term agreements with the region and key partners, which gives us stability,” Leitgeb added.