#NextGenATP Cobolli Earns Second Challenger Title, Boosts Jeddah Hopes

Italian Flavio Cobolli boosted his chances for Next Gen ATP Finals qualification after a title run this past week at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Lisbon, Portugal.

The 21-year-old, who is ninth in the Pepperstone ATP Race to Jeddah, dropped just one set all week at the Del Monte Lisboa Belém Open, where he defeated Lebanon’s Benjamin Hassan 7-5, 7-5 in Sunday’s final to earn his second ATP Challenger Tour crown and first of this season.

“The week was tough. I did good work, so I’m really happy about that,” Cobolli said. “I know [Benjamin] very well. At the beginning, it was tough because he played unbelievable the first three or four games. But I was solid, my focus was good so after that moment, I started to play better.”

At a career-high No. 108 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, Cobolli boasts a 32-21 Challenger-match record this season. The Florence native is the fourth #NextGenATP Italian to win a title this year, joining Luca Nardi, Matteo Gigante and Luciano Darderi.

In other Challenger action, Czech Tomas Machac collected his second consecutive title at the Open de Vendée in France. The 22-year-old, who won in Orleans the week prior, defeated Stanford University star Arthur Fery 6-3, 6-4 in the final to earn his sixth ATP Challenger Tour title.

“It was very tough. I’m super happy to win this one because at the beginning of the tournament, I was a little bit tired but my level of tennis was great,” Machac said. “I’m super happy that I’m the winner today.”

Tomas Machac wins the Challenger 100 event in Mouilleron Le Captif, France.” />
^{Tomas Machac wins the Challenger 100 event in Mouilleron Le Captif, France. Credit: Un Oeil Averty}
Having won 14 of his past 15 matches at the Challenger level, Machac is up 17 spots to a career-high No. 79 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings.

American Zachary Svajda defended his title on home soil at the Tiburon Challenger. The third seed cruised past Adam Walton 6-2, 6-2 in the final to collect his second Challenger title of 2023, having won last month in Cary.

“I feel very comfortable on these courts,” Svajda told commentator Mike Cation. “It’s like a slower court, which I like and it’s usually not too warm here. I like the cooler weather. I think the atmosphere helps too.”

Zachary Svajda wins the Challenger 75 event in Tiburon, California.” />
^{Zachary Svajda wins the Challenger 75 event in Tiburon, California. Credit: Natalie Kim}

The 20-year-old Svajda twice won the USTA Boys’ 18s National Championships in Kalamazoo (2019, 2021) and defeated Ben Shelton last year in the Tiburon Challenger final. On Sunday, the California native avenged his August loss to Walton, who graduated from the University of Tennessee in 2022, to lift his third ATP Challenger Tour title.

“With Adam, I played him last November and even though I won, I was like, ‘This guy is going to be good. This will be his first year coming up.’ I honestly said [he would be] Top 150 by this time and sure enough, he’s around that,” Svajda said. “I tried to be more consistent. My movement too, I thought I moved very well. I hit through my forehand. I kept competing hard.”

Constant Lestienne claimed his third Challenger trophy of the season by winning the Alicante Ferrero Challenger, where he also triumphed in 2021. On Sunday, the 31-year-old survived countryman Hugo Grenier 6-7(10), 6-2, 6-4 to be crowned champion.

“In the first set, we were both struggling with our fitness. I was thinking that this is the last effort of the week, so I will give everything and try to fight. It was really tight,” said Lestienne, who has won 16 of his past 18 Challenger matches. “I played really well this week and the level was hard.”

Constant Lestienne wins the Challenger 100 event in Alicante, Spain.” />
^{Constant Lestienne wins the Challenger 100 event in Alicante, Spain. Credit: equeliteferrero}
Players from France have combined for a record-breaking 24 ATP Challenger Tour titles this season. The previous record was set last season by Argentina. Lestienne is one of 16 different French Challenger champions this season and the only player from his country to win more than two Challenger titles in 2023.

Brazilian Thiago Monteiro won his ninth ATP Challenger Tour trophy and first on home soil when he rallied past Argentine Camilo Ugo Carabelli 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to triumph at the Campeonato Internacional de Tênis in Campinas.

“It’s an incredible feeling to win my first title at home. It was an incredible week,” Monteiro said. “I’m very happy to get the support and all the energy from the crowd. It was very special. This is going to always be in memory and this is a title that is going to give me confidence for the rest of the year. Hopefully I can keep going with good results.”

Thiago Monteiro celebrates winning the Challenger 100 event in Campinas, Brazil.” />
^{Thiago Monteiro celebrates winning the Challenger 100 event in Campinas, Brazil. Credit: João Pires}
Rain on Saturday forced Monteiro and Ugo Carabelli to play both their semi-final match and final on Sunday. Despite playing two matches in one day, the 29-year-old Monteiro held his nerve to capture his first Challenger title in 13 months.