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.”