Landaluce, 18, joins Alcaraz, Nadal in slice of Challenger history

  • Posted: Oct 21, 2024

Martin Landaluce added his name to an elite company Sunday when he triumphed at the ATP Challenger Tour 125 event in Olbia, Italy.

The 18-year-old, who defeated Mattia Bellucci 6-4, 6-4 in the final, is the youngest Spanish Challenger champion since an 18-year-old Carlos Alcaraz in Oeiras in 2021.

Landaluce is the fifth Spaniard since 2000 to win a Challenger title at age 18 or younger. The first four players all ascended to the Top 10 of the PIF ATP Rankings: Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal, Tommy Robredo and Nicolas Almagro.

Following his title run, the #NextGenATP star is up to eighth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, putting him in qualifying position for the 20-and-under Next Gen ATP Finals, which runs from 18-22 December.

Due to rain at the Olbia Challenger, Landaluce was forced to play both his semi-final and final match on Sunday. The 2022 US Open boys’ singles champion showed no signs of nerves as he captured the milestone victory.

“I have had several Challenger semi-finals. I think there have been different things in all of them, I tried to do them in the best way possible and today I have made it to the semi-final and final on a day that I think is a bit difficult physically,” Landaluce said in Spanish. “I was able to enjoy it a lot with a high level. On match point, I didn’t think much either. I thought about trying to do what I know. I played a very good point and I finished it in the best way, which is very, very nice.”

St. Brieuc, France
In other Challenger action, Benjamin Bonzi claimed back-to-back titles on home soil by lifting the trophy at the Open Saint-Brieuc Armor Agglomération. Last week’s champion in Roanne, Bonzi is on a 10-match winning streak for the loss of just one set. The 28-year-old downed top seed and countryman Lucas Pouille 6-1, 6-3 in the final.

Calgary, Canada
American Murphy Cassone won’t soon forget his maiden Challenger title run at the Calgary National Bank Challenger. Down five match points in the opening round against Ryan Seggerman, the 22-year-old stayed alive by winning the deciding-set tie-break 15/13. Cassone again won a deciding-set tie-break in the quarter-finals against Alexis Galarneau.

Cassone, a senior at Arizona State University, began the week as a qualifier and left with his biggest career title. He defeated Govind Nanda 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the final and is now up to a career-high No. 363 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

Campinas, Brazil
It was a marathon week for American Tristan Boyer, who needed a deciding set in four of his five matches to win the Campeonato Internacional de Tenis, Presented by Santander in Brazil. The 23-year-old overcame Argentine Juan Pablo Ficovich 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in the championship match. Up to a career-high No. 159 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, Boyer this season has won two Challenger titles, which both came on clay.

“It feels great. I think it’s a reflection of the work I’m doing,” Boyer said. “Titles are extremely difficult. You have to win five tough matches in a row. I’ve only had one in my career before today.”

<img alt=”Tristan Boyer in action at the Campinas Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/10/21/03/59/boyer-campinasch-2024.jpg” />
Tristan Boyer in action at the Campinas Challenger. Credit: João Pires

Shenzhen, China
Former World No. 37 Mackenzie McDonald claimed his fourth Challenger title and first since 2021 by triumphing at the Shenzhen Longhua Open, where he defeated top-seeded Frenchman Arthur Cazaux 6-4, 7-6(4) in the final. The American was broken just once all week.

<img alt=”Mackenzie McDonald wins the Shenzhen Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/10/21/03/56/mcdonald-shenzhench-2024.jpg” />
Mackenzie McDonald wins the Shenzhen Challenger. Credit: Shenzhen Longhua Open

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