Gasquet becomes third-oldest Challenger champion in history

A trio of veteran players lifted trophies on the ATP Challenger Tour this past week, including Frenchman Richard Gasquet, who became the third-oldest champion at that level. Fellow tour-veteran Damir Dzumhur claimed a season-leading fifth Challenger title while Roberto Carballes Baena won in Seville for the third consecutive year.

Gasquet, 38, triumphed on home soil at the Cassis Open Provence by Cabesto, where he rallied past Austrian Jurij Rodionov 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the final. Due to rain, the championship match was forced to finish Monday with Gasquet leading 3-2, 40/0 in the final set. The former World No. 8 in the PIF ATP Rankings wasted no time upon resumption to earn his 10th Challenger title and first since 2017.

“I’m very proud. Winning a tournament is always special," Gasquet said. "I came after a bad US Open, so I tried my best to survive the first two rounds and then I started to play well. It feels great to win another tournament. It gives me a lot of confidence for the rest of the season.”

Oldest champions on the ATP Challenger Tour since 1978

Dzumhur strengthened his claim as the ATP Challenger Tour’s season leader in singles trophies (five) by successfully defending his title at the Istanbul Challenger TED Open. The 32-year-old, who returned to the Top 100 in August for the first time since 2020, downed Hamad Medjedovic 6-4, 6-2 in the title match.

The Istanbul Challenger is the longest-running hard-court tournament on the ATP Challenger Tour. In its 37 years of existence, only two players have successfully repeated as champion: Malek Jaziri (2016-17) and Dzumhur. The Bosnian is just the second player since 2021 to win five Challenger titles in a season. Mariano Navone also lifted five trophies last year.

Damir Dzumhur (far end) and Hamad Medjedovic compete in front of a full crowd Sunday. Credit: Istanbul Challenger TED Open

Home favourite Carballes Baena became the first player in 10 years to three-peat at a Challenger tournament. The 31-year-old dropped just one set en route to the LXI Copa Sevilla crown and cruised past third seed Daniel Altmaier 6-3, 7-5 in the final.

The Spaniard is just the seventh player to win three consecutive years at one Challenger event. Andreas Haider-Maurer last accomplished the feat by triumphing in Brasov, Romania from 2012-14. Carballes Baena is the second to record a hat-trick in Seville, joining Daniel Gimeno-Traver (2011-13).

In other Challenger action, Francesco Passaro survived a marathon week to be crowned champion at the AON Open Challenger, which was celebrating its 20th anniversary. The 23-year-old Italian gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about as he saved two match points in the opening round and another pair in the quarter-finals. Passaro overcame Spaniard Jaume Munar 7-5, 6-3 in the final.

Francesco Passaro wins the 20th anniversary edition of the Genoa Challenger. Credit: AON Open Challenger

Japan’s Sho Shimabukuro collected his third Challenger title by winning the Road to the Rolex Shanghai Masters. The 27-year-old was dominant all week, racing past Yu Hsiou Hsu 6-4, 6-4 in the final, during which Shimabukuro dropped just two points behind his first serve, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

“I’m very happy, first Challenger title this year,” Shimabukuro said. “My first time in Shanghai, my first time playing a Challenger in China. I enjoyed it and I will keep going.”

Sho Shimabukuro in action at the Shanghai Challenger. Credit: Road to the Rolex Shanghai Masters

Jan Choinski, who fell to Seville champion Carballes Baena in a five-set US Open first-round clash, also returned to the winners’ circle at the NO Open powered by EVN. The 28-year-old beat Lukas Neumayer 6-4, 6-1 in the final. Choinski is a three-time Challenger champion, having won a title each season since 2022.

Following his title run, Choinski is up 100 places to No. 176 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED ?

Choinski is the champion in Tulln after a straight sets victory over Neumayer!#ATPChallenger | @the_LTA pic.twitter.com/8e6cqyqU5R

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