"Thank you for believing in me": Nadal Academy graduate Daniel Rincon wins Manacor title

Spaniard Daniel Rincón captured the title at the seventh edition of the Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar, an ATP Challenger Tour 75 hard-court event staged at the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar in Manacor, Mallorca. In front of a packed Centre Court on Sunday evening, the 21-year-old from Ávila defeated Austrian Jurij Rodionov 7-6(3), 6-2 in one hour and 43 minutes.

Rincón, the 2021 US Open Junior champion and long-time product of the Rafa Nadal Academy, came out firing, racing to a 3-0 lead in the opening set. Rodionov hit back to level at 4-all, but the Spaniard dominated the tiebreak to seize control. In the second set, Rincón broke serve in the third and fifth games before closing out the match in convincing fashion.

In his on-court speech, Rincón paid tribute to the Academy where he has trained for the past six years: “They trusted me when I was a kid, they’ve helped me so much. Thank you for believing in me from the beginning.”

The World No. 287 pocketed €12,980 in prize money as well as 75 ATP Ranking points.

The final also drew the presence of Rafa Nadal himself, who joined the crowd to watch the Academy graduate secure the biggest title of his career. Tournament director Joan Suasi hailed both the atmosphere and the significance of Rincón’s breakthrough: “It’s wonderful to see this crowd and this energy. Having Dani win here, after so many years of trying, is a fantastic success for the Academy and for the tournament.”

With this triumph, Rincón adds his name to a winners’ list that includes Duje Ajdukovic (2024), Hamad Medjedovic (2023), Luca Nardi (2022), Lukas Lacko (2021), Emil Ruusuvuori (2019), and Bernard Tomic (2018). Already a symbolic victory on home soil, it may prove the launching pad for an even brighter career ahead.

Den Ouden Captures Porto Challenger Crown

Guy Den Ouden claimed the CT Porto Cup title on Sunday, defeating Belgian teenager Gilles-Arnaud Bailly 6-4, 6-2 to earn the second ATP Challenger Tour trophy of his career.

The 23-year-old Dutchman, ranked World No. 161, overcame a slow start after rain delays left the court damp. Bailly, contesting his first Challenger final, broke early, but Den Ouden’s consistency and variety - particularly his effective drop shot - turned the match around. From midway through the opening set, he controlled proceedings and never looked back.

“The start was a little difficult and I got too emotional, but it was an excellent tournament,” Den Ouden said. “It wasn’t the best match, but I handled the important moments well and I’m very happy to win here in Porto.”

The victory comes almost a year after his maiden Challenger triumph in Dobrich, Bulgaria and could push him toward the Top 150 when rankings update after the US Open.

For 19-year-old Bailly, the defeat was softened by a breakthrough week. The former Junior World No. 1, who had never before reached a Challenger semifinal, will rise into the Top 300 for the first time.

Mikrut masters Ajdukovic for maiden Challenger Crown in Como

The Como Lake Challenger confirmed its reputation as a stage for rising stars, as Luka Mikrut captured his first ATP Challenger crown at just 21 years of age. The Croatian lifted the “Intesa Sanpaolo” trophy at Villa Olmo after defeating compatriot Duje Ajdukovic 6-3, 7-5 in Sunday’s final.

For Mikrut, the victory marked a breakthrough moment after narrowly missing out on his maiden Challenger title in Zagreb last year. This time, he kept his composure against a more experienced opponent who had already won three Challenger tournaments. Despite Ajdukovic entering as the favorite, Mikrut took command early, sealing the opening set in just over half an hour. The second set proved tighter, but Mikrut held firm under pressure, saving break points at 15-40 before capitalizing on a lapse from Ajdukovic at 5-5 to close out the matchafter one hour and 34 minutes.

Reflecting on his achievement, Mikrut said: “It has been a tough but beautiful week, with conditions changing all the time. I’m happy to have won my first Challenger here. Duje and I played a final at ITF level two years ago, now a Challenger final, and hopefully in two years we’ll meet in an ATP final.”

Shimabukuro shines in Zhangjiagang

In Asia, Sho Shimabukuro captured his fourth career Challenger title. The 28-year-old Japanese defeated sixth-seeded Briton Oliver Crawford 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 in the singles final of the International Challenger Zhangjiagang. Shimabukuro fired eight aces and won 90 per cent of his first-service points to secure victory in two hours and 16 minutes.

The No. 3 seed of the hard-court event in China pocketed $14,200 in prize money as well as 75 ATP Ranking points.

Copa Sevilla Set for a Star-Studded 62nd Edition

The magic of tennis returns to Sevilla, Spain this week, as the clay courts of the Real Club de Tenis Betis will once again host the Copa Sevilla, a tournament with more than six decades of history and one of the jewels of the ATP Challenger Tour. Offering 125 ATP ranking points to the champion and a total prize purse of €181,250, the event promises high-level competitionand drama.

This year’s field is one of the strongest in recent memory. World No. 87 Roberto Carballés Baena headlines the draw, bringing clay-court pedigree and ATP titles to Seville. His opening clash with Argentina’s Genaro Olivieri could set the tone for a highly competitive week.

Close behind him is Carlos Taberner, the second seed, who will look to continue his fine form on clay and add his name to a roll of honor that has featured future tennis stars. Rising Portuguese talent Jaime Faria enters as the third seed, opening against Spain’s Nicolás Álvarez Varona in a fiery Iberian duel. Former World No. 23 Dušan Lajović of Serbia, the fourth seed, adds further intrigue with his blend of experience and shot-making flair.

Perhaps the biggest name of all, however, is Pablo Carreño Busta. The Olympic bronze medalist and former Top 10 player returns to competition after a strong showing in the United States. His first-round encounter against Daniel Rincón is set to be one of the highlights of the opening days.

Darderi to compete in AON Open Challenger Genoa

The 21st edition of the AON Open Challenger – Memorial Giorgio Messina is taking place on the new clay courts of Valletta Cambiaso in Genoa. With a total financial commitment of $208,400, the ATP Challenger 125 once again promises world-class tennis, tradition, and a vibrant atmosphere in one of Italy’s most iconic tennis cities.

This year’s tournament will be remembered as a milestone: for the first time in its history, a player ranked as high as World No. 34 Luciano Darderi will compete. The 23-year-old Italian has been one of the revelations of the 2025 season, lifting three ATP Tour 250 titles - in Marrakech, Bastad, and Umag - to add to his maiden crown in Córdoba in 2024. The wild card entry will start his title bid against his compatriot Federico Arnaboldi.

Tournament director Paolo Lorenzi said: “Darderi is one of the most important young talents in world tennis. His presence is a huge success for Genoa and a treat for our fans.”

Alongside Darderi will be Borna Coric, the Croatian former World No. 12 and Cincinnati Masters 1000 champion, as well as Spain’s Pedro Martínez. The lineup also features defending champion Francesco Passaro, plus past winners Thiago Seyboth Wild (2023) and Thiago Monteiro (2022), ensuring another edition filled with high-level battles.

Challenger Tour returns to Austria

There will be more clay-court action in Europe, as the 2025 NÖ Open powered by EVN promises a high-quality week of tennis in Tulln, Austria.

Leading the field is defending champion Jan Choinski. The World No. 150 from Great Britain, coached by Austrian Günter Bresnik, opens against a qualifier as he looks to repeat last year’s triumph. Second seed Francesco Maestrelli of Italy faces a tricky first-round test against Bulgarian Dimitar Kuzmanov.

Local hopes will rest on Lukas Neumayer. The 22-year-old from Salzburg, who has reached a career-high of World No. 157, comes in as the third seed. He meets Ukraine’s Oleg Prihodko in his opening match. Fourth favourite Marco Trungelliti from Argentina begins against Russia’s Ivan Gakhov.

Hard-court action on two continents

Meanwhile, the hard-court swing continues at three more tournaments. At the Cassis Open Provence by Cabesto home favourite Quentin Halys of France is the top seed. Mark Lajal of Estonia, Briton Billy Harris and Jurij Rodionov of Austria are among the favourites for the title.

Slovakia’s Lukas Klein leads the field at the Istanbul Challenger TED Open in Turkey and Dan Evans from Great Britain is the top seed at the Road to the Shanghai Masters Challenger in Shanghai.