It was a weekend of comebacks on the ATP Challenger Tour.

Pablo Llamas Ruiz, who earned his maiden Challenger title Sunday at the Open Castilla y Leon in Segovia, saved three match points in the semi-finals before becoming the youngest Spanish winner at that level since Carlos Alcaraz in 2021. Vit Kopriva fought back from a set and a double break down in the Internazionali di Tennis Verona final to capture his second Challenger crown.

Llamas Ruiz, 20, defeated seventh seed Antoine Escoffier 7-6(9), 7-6(5) in the final to win on home soil and rise to a career-high No. 146 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. In Saturday’s semi-final, the #NextGenATP star fended off three match points at 4-5, 0/40 in the deciding set against Nicolas Moreno De Alboran before tallying five consecutive points and later closing the match in a final-set tie-break.

Following his triumph in Segovia, Llamas Ruiz rose to 12th in the Pepperstone ATP Live Next Gen Race. The Spaniard is aiming to make a maiden appearance at the Next Gen ATP Finals.

Kopriva rallied from a set down in his final three matches to win the Challenger 100 event in Verona, Italy. The Czech survived Ukrainian Vitaliy Sachko 1-6, 7-6(3), 6-2 in the championship match after dropping just one point behind his first serve in the final set.

The 26-year-old Kopriva, who won his maiden Challenger title last year at home in Prostejov and later reached a career-high No. 124, got into Verona as an alternate before embarking on a week to remember.

“Amazing week, I am speechless because I was 6-1, 5-2 down. I just fought and I won the title,” Kopriva said. “I didn’t even know if I was coming to Verona because I didn’t get in on the first [entry] list, so it was a very special moment to be here and hold the trophy.”

At the Finaport Zug Open, top seed Arthur Rinderknech also had to claw his way to the title. The 28-year-old moved past Belgian Joris De Loore 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to win his fifth Challenger trophy.

“It was a very close match,” Rinderknech said. “I started well but then got broken in the first set and all of a sudden I was behind in the score. I just had to stay there, focussing on my serve. I continued to serve very well, which allowed me to win the third set and take the title.”

Arthur Rinderknech wins the ATP Challenger Tour 125 event in Zug, Switzerland.” />
^{Arthur Rinderknech wins the ATP Challenger Tour 125 event in Zug, Switzerland. Credit: Fabian Meierhans}

Players from France have now combined for a season-leading 18 Challenger titles. They are aiming to pass Argentina’s record 23 Challenger titles in a single season (2022).

Illya Marchenko played inspired tennis at the Challenger de Salinas in Ecuador to win his ninth Challenger trophy and first since 2021. The 35-year-old defeated Croatian qualifier Matija Pecotic 6-3, 6-4 in the final and dedicated the victory to his fellow Ukrainians.

“It’s been a great week for me, I’m really happy and relieved that I could add another Challenger title to my career,” Marchenko said. “I used my experience today and it helped me a lot. Many matches here I was the underdog, but whatever happens I always fight.

“I would like to dedicate my trophy to all the people in Ukraine right now. It’s really difficult times for our country.”

Illya Marchenko wins the ATP Challenger Tour 75 event in Salinas, Ecuador.” />
^{Illya Marchenko wins the ATP Challenger Tour 75 event in Salinas, Ecuador. Credit: Armando Prado}

Pecotic, 34, was competing in his first Challenger final since 2015. The lefty made a splash at this year’s Delray Beach Open, where he became one of the stories of the season. Pecotic is the Director of Capital Markets for Wexford Real Estate Investors and works remotely while travelling to tournaments.

At the President’s Cup in Astana, Kazakhstan, home hope and third seed Denis Yevseyev dropped just one set all week to earn his maiden Challenger title. The 30-year-old ousted Khumoyun Sultanov 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 to triumph.

Yevseyev is the first player to win his maiden Challenger title after turning 30 since 2015 and first home champion Astana since 2015, when Mikhail Kukushkin clinched the title.

“To win my first Challenger at home is incredible. It was nice to feel such support from native fans,” Yevseyev said. “It was a wonderful experience. Never stop dreaming, even at the age of 30 you can play at the highest level and win tournaments.”

Denis Yevseyev wins his maiden ATP Challenger Tour in Astana, Kazakhstan.” />
^{Denis Yevseyev wins his maiden ATP Challenger Tour trophy in Astana, Kazakhstan. Credit: President’s Cup}

Watch Yosuke Watanuki play and you will find a man who swings for the fences, crushing forehand winners at the first opportunity. He never holds back. The Japanese star competes with the same type of freedom that he feels when he enjoys a late-night drive back home.

Though he’s often travelling on the ATP Tour, when Watanuki is savouring a late-night ride, it’s as if tennis is a million miles away. Sometimes there’s music, other times there’s nothing but the still of the night.

“When I stay in Japan, I love to drive my car after midnight,” Watanuki told ATPTour.com. “Tennis can be so stressful, so much pressure. When I drive in that moment, it’s like I feel nothing. It’s relaxing… Just drive, nothing special. A day off or feeling bad, if I’m not feeling well, then I go and drive for like two hours.”

The 25-year-old, who is a three-time ATP Challenger Tour champion, made those peaceful rides more thrilling by purchasing a sports car after his maiden Grand Slam main-draw victory at this year’s Australian Open. His love for cars does not stop there.

If Watanuki were not a tennis player, he stated that he would work for a car manufacturer. But he has been building something of his own with a racquet in hand, cracking the Top 100 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the first time Monday.

“Top 100 is a dream for sure,” Watanuki said. “This time of year last season, I was 238 and then I was thinking, ‘Maybe I can’t crack the Top 100’. But now I’ve cracked the Top 100 and I’m so happy.”

Watanuki’s ferocious baseline play was on full display at this year’s Miami Open presented by Itau, where he crushed 55 winners as he pushed 12th seed Frances Tiafoe to a three-set battle. That same tournament, American Christopher Eubanks was taking similar free cuts at the ball to reach the quarter-finals and rise into the Top 100.

Eubanks, 27, is also a three-time ATP Challenger Tour titlist and is now a Top 30 player after winning the Mallorca Championships and reaching the last eight at Wimbledon. Though Eubanks and Watanuki have their differences, they both produce exciting, swashbuckling tennis. 

Watanuki is just the latest example of players finding success at the Challenger level before having more opportunities to showcase their talent on the ATP Tour. He finished last season with back-to-back Challenger titles on home soil and has since earned wins at the Australian Open, in Miami, on the Madrid clay and at Wimbledon. Watanuki is in action at this week’s Mubadala Citi DC Open, where he will face Chinese star Wu Yibing in the first round Monday.

Yosuke Watanuki claims his first Wimbledon main-draw victory.” />
^{Yosuke Watanuki claims his first Wimbledon main-draw victory. Credit: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images}

Much like how Wu made his Top 100 debut this season, now it’s Watanuki’s turn. At No. 99 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, this milestone moment is the result of hard work and dedication for the former junior No. 2.

“I thought it could go a little faster. To be top two in the world in the juniors, I thought two or three years and I would be Top 100, but it took time,” Watanuki said.

One important figure who has helped Watanuki ascend is his brother, Keisuke, who is also his coach.

“I think it works for me and makes us stronger. He cares about me so much,” Yosuke told ATPTour.com in February. “Sometimes people think it’s not good enough because he wasn’t a top player before, but he can hit and he’s good with the mental side of the game. I think that’s really good for me. Sometimes we fight, like brothers!”

Yosuke’s oldest brother, Yusuke, has also travelled with him before but now coaches back home in Japan.

Watanuki is one of five Japanese players at this week’s ATP 500 event in Washington, alongside qualifier Shintaro Mochizuki, Taro Daniel, 10th seed Yoshihito Nishioka and former World No. 4 Kei Nishikori, who is playing his second ATP Tour tournament since coming back from injury.

Watanuki stated that he has enjoyed watching the 12-time tour-level titlist’s comeback that started last month at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Puerto Rico, where Nishikori was crowned champion. The two-time major finalist also reached the last eight of last week’s ATP 250 event in Atlanta.

“I’ve been waiting for him to come back, I think everyone was looking for him,” Watanuki said. “I grew up watching his matches. He played that first Challenger and won it, that was unbelievable. I’m so happy that he came back.”

The ATP Challenger Tour has been a key part of Watanuki’s rise. Though he’s played just five Challenger events in 2023, Watanuki developed his game at that level to make it where he is today. 

“The Challengers are so tough, there are so many good players there,” Watanuki said. “Even if they are ranked 300 or 400, they still have a chance to be Top 100.”

Second #ATPChallenger title in a row 🔥

🇯🇵 Yosuke Watanuki defeats Ferreira Silva 6-2, 6-2 to win the 🏆 in Yokkaichi! pic.twitter.com/IHgNdpbr8v

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) November 27, 2022

#NextGenATP Frenchman Arthur Fils, 16-time tour-level titlist Stan Wawrinka and Umag winner Alexei Popyrin were among a number of players who made big jumps in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings on Monday after a three-tournament week on the ATP Tour.

ATPTour.com looks at the movers of the week in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings as of 31 July 2023.

No. 47 Arthur Fils, +24 (Career High)
The 19-year-old Fils has made big strides already this season but his quarter-final win against Casper Ruud at the Hamburg European Open was a further statement that he is ready to compete against the ATP Tour’s elite. Fils dispatched the No. 4-ranked Norwegian 6-0, 6-4 for the biggest win of his career to reach his maiden ATP 500 semi-final. He has jumped 24 spots to No. 47 as a result of his run.

No. 16 Alexander Zverev, +3
Fils’ semi-final opponent at the clay-court ATP 500 was Alexander Zverev. The German held off the Frenchman before defeating Laslo Djere in the championship match to win the title at his hometown event. After becoming the first German to win the men’s singles title in Hamburg since 1993, Zverev has risen three spots to No. 16.

No. 49 Stan Wawrinka, +23
The former World No. 3 Wawrinka returns to the Top 50 for the first time since October 2021 after reaching the final at the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag. The Swiss defeated fellow seeds Roberto Carballes Baena and Lorenzo Sonego en route to the final, where he was edged by Alexei Popyrin.

No. 57 Alexei Popyrin, +33 (Career High)
Popyrin was hit by cramp in his right quad when trailing 1-2 in the third set of the final against Wawrinka but the Australian produced a stunning late burst of hitting to claim the Umag crown. Lifting his second ATP Tour title at the ATP 250 in Croatia has propelled the 23-year-old Popyrin 33 spots to a career-high No. 57.

No. 62 Aleksandar Vukic, +20 (Career High)
There was also an Australian finalist at the Atlanta Open, where Vukic charged past Yoshihito Nishioka, local favourite Christopher Eubanks and Ugo Humbert to reach his first tour-level championship match. The 27-year-old also pushed top seed Taylor Fritz to three sets in the final and has risen 20 spots to a career-high No. 62 as a result of his efforts at the hard-court ATP 250.

Other Notable Top 100 Movers
No. 29 Christopher Eubanks, +3 (Career High)
No. 36 Ugo Humbert, +2
No. 38 Laslo Djere, +19
No. 51 Daniel Altmaier, +10 (Career High)
No. 53 Zhang Zhizhen, +26
No. 65 Matteo Arnaldi, +11 (Career High)
No. 67 Arthur Rinderknech, +13
No. 68 Luca Van Assche, +9 (Career High)
No. 84 Dominik Koepfer, +4
No. 91 Jaume Munar, +13
No. 100 David Goffin, +11

There is no disputing that Andy Murray has suffered his fair share of disappointing defeats since undergoing his most recent hip surgery in 2019. Coming close but ultimately falling short of big wins like the former World No. 1 did at Wimbledon against Stefanos Tsitsipas does not make it any easier.

But outside of the results, Murray is proving to himself and the world that win or lose, his level is still close to the very best players in the world. For someone competing at 36 with a metal hip, that is a victory in itself.

“I’m surprised by that sometimes, because I know how difficult it is for me physically now,” Murray, who is competing this week at the Mubadala Citi DC Open, exclusively told ATPTour.com. “That my game is still able to match up and compete with the best players, yeah, I’m surprised by it.”

Murray is No. 42 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings and notably won two five-setters at this year’s Australian Open against tough opponents in Matteo Berrettini and Thanasi Kokkinakis. But the Scot is still working hard to not just compete against the best, but beat them on the world’s biggest stages.

“It’s hard because ultimately, I would say in maybe certain events or certain periods of the year, it’s easier to not ignore the results, but not place too much emphasis on them,” Murray said. “But obviously when you play in the major competitions, they are the ones that ultimately you want to perform well in and that you will get judged on and at Wimbledon, it really wasn’t like I played a really bad match against Tsitsipas. So when I reflect on that tournament, I’m disappointed with the result.

“But there’s still signs for me there that from a tennis perspective I can still compete and win against the top players in the world, even though I lost that match. If I’d gone out and lost 6-1, 6-1, 6-1, I played terribly and lost comfortably, the stage of my career that I’m at, maybe I’d start to look at things a bit differently.”

Andy Murray” />
^{Photo: Peter Staples}
Murray has reached World No. 1, won three major titles and accomplished plenty more in his history-making career. But despite the obstacles he has faced, the 46-time tour-level champion continues to search for ways to continue raising his level.

“Obviously, the game always keeps evolving, keeps improving, and you need to do that as well as a player. And I enjoy that. It’s one of the things that motivates me — trying to improve — whether that’s on the court or in the gym,” Murray said. “Like seeing my scores in the gym are improving or that my speed is getting a bit better, or [that] I’m serving at a slightly higher percentage or harder, I love that. It’s one of the great things about tennis in that that’s kind of down to me and my team. I can make that those changes if I want to, and if I’m willing to put the work in, and I still enjoy that.”

That has still been the case in recent weeks. During the grass season, Murray spoke about tweaks he was making to his serve.

Competing this week in Washington brings back memories of his debut at the event in 2006, when he also made distinct changes to his game.

“Brad Gilbert’s here this week and the first week that we spent together was here when he started coaching me. We were chatting about it the other day, I remember the first match that I played here, I played against Ramon Delgado. And they didn’t use to play before like four o’clock, because of the conditions,” Murray said. “We were the first match on at four and I remember it just being brutally hot. I also played a match against Feli Lopez that year, and we got rained off because of thunderstorms and between the thunderstorms and going back out, I changed [my approach].

“A lot of people talk about the way that I returned now, I have quite a distinctive jump. And that started in that match, because Brad was saying I was standing too close to the baseline to return serve. So I had to go further back, which I did when we went back out there. And I instinctively started sort of jumping forwards before the return.”

Murray made the final that year in Washington and will hope for another deep run this week in the United States’ capital. The 15th seed, who will open against Brandon Nakashima or Aleksandar Vukic, is looking forward to making a good start to his hard-court season after working hard on his fitness to prepare for the hot and humid conditions this swing presents.

“I think a challenge for all of the players is the conditions. You’ve gone from playing across the grass season where physically it’s pretty straightforward in terms of you’re not getting any extreme weather, the points tend to be a little bit shorter, it’s a bit easier on the body,” Murray said. “Whereas, I really feel like here that the physical side, if you’ve taken care of that and you’re in good shape, physically, it can have big benefits going into this stretch of tournaments.

“So I kind of look forward to the preparation of it. I did a lot of heat training in heat chambers and bike sessions in pretty brutal conditions to try and prepare myself for it. It doesn’t make going on the court that much easier, but if you’ve done that work and your opponent hasn’t, it can give you that little physical, psychological edge and I like that.”

The 2023 Mubadala Citi DC Open is off to a quick start before a ball has been struck in the main draw.

Players from the ATP and WTA were thrilled Sunday evening to attend the Citi Taste of Tennis DC, the tournament’s official player party. Among the stars in attendance were Gael Monfils, Elina Svitolina, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Jessica Pegula.

Monfils, the 2016 Washington champion, explained earlier in the day how much he enjoys competing in the United States’ capital.

“I love it all the time when I come here. The city is beautiful,” Monfils told ATP Media. “I really like being around in the city, the energy is great, and definitely the crowd support here is different. I have actually one of the biggest memories in my career, so it’s always nice and great to come back.”

The headlining chef for the event was Kevin Tien, and players were able to sample food made by some of the best chefs in Washington. It was an opportunity for the players to mingle with each other while also getting to know the local stars and how they have found their own success, according to John-Patrick Smith.

“I think the Taste of Tennis has to be one of the best organised events not only for tennis players to get away from the sport, but also to enjoy the local cuisine,” Smith said. “And also to meet some of the great and talented chefs and people in the food industry who’ve put so much time and effort just like tennis players have into creating their own brand, their own food, their own kind of line of creativity.

“I think it’s got to be one of the best events out there that the players really enjoy.”

Fans across the globe tuned into Tuesday evening’s Inter Miami football match to watch superstar Lionel Messi play his second game in Major League Soccer. After the Argentine was substituted out of the game following a two-goal performance, a television close-up showed he was speaking with a familiar face to the tennis world: Diego Schwartzman.

It is no wonder the former No. 8 player in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings still had a smile on his face recalling the evening on Sunday at the Mubadala Citi DC Open, where he is competing this week.

The 30-year-old Argentine, a big football fan, attended the game with his brother, Matias Schwartzman. They were able to mingle with plenty of celebrities besides Messi. The Schwartzman Brothers also took photographs with singer Marc Anthony and football icon David Beckham. 

Diego Schwartzman, Marc Anthony and Matias Schwartzman” />
^{Diego Schwartzman and Matias Schwartzman take a photo with Marc Anthony.}

Diego Schwartzman and Matias Schwartzman” />
^{David Beckham poses for a photo with the Schwartzman Brothers. Photos courtesy of Diego Schwartzman.}
Schwartzman on Monday will face American Mackenzie McDonald at the Washington ATP 500. But on Sunday afternoon the Argentine was in a rush. Where? A football match, of course. He made a quick pre-tournament stop to watch Chelsea FC play Fulham FC.

Taylor Fritz capped a perfect return to North American hard courts Sunday by winning the Atlanta Open for his second tour-level title of the season.

In his first tournament on home soil since March, the top seed Fritz downed Australian Aleksandar Vukic 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-4 in the final to lift the ATP 250 trophy. Despite having two championship points on return at 6-5 in the second set, Fritz held his nerve to close the two-hour, 16-minute clash in a deciding set.

“I just felt so at home and welcomed in Atlanta this week,” Fritz said during the trophy presentation. “I’ve been coming back here for so many years, so I’m happy to finally get the title. All week, the support was amazing. I’m not from Atlanta, but it felt like I was because the support was just crazy all week long and it felt great.”

World No. 9 Fritz relied on his hefty serve and first-strike to tennis to be crowned champion at the hard-court event, where he was broken just once all tournament. The 25-year-old won 84 per cent of his first-serve points Sunday and in key moments, struck his groundstrokes with conviction and consistency to seal victory.

A pivotal moment came when Fritz earned triple break point at 3-3 in the decider by showing great defence to win a 27-shot rally.

Fritz, who also triumphed in Delray Beach earlier this year, has won six tour-level titles, three of which have came in his home country.

Fritz rose to ninth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin as a result of his standout week in Atlanta. The American No. 1 is aiming to return to the Nitto ATP Finals, where he was a semi-finalist last year as an alternate.

Vukic, 27, was competing in his maiden tour-level final. The former University of Illinois standout ousted three seeded players in Atlanta and will rise 20 spots to a new career-high No. 62 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings on Monday.

Physically struggling in humid conditions late in Sunday’s final at the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag, Alexei Popyrin let loose to secure victory against Stan Wawrinka at the ATP 250.

Popyrin defeated the 16-time tour-level champion Wawrinka 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 to claim his second ATP Tour title after a gritty third-set showing on the Croatian clay. The Australian suffered a bout of cramp in his right leg in the fourth game of the decider that severely hindered his movement. Forced to go for broke at every opportunity to shorten rallies, his change of tactics proved successful as he forged a hard-earned two-hour, 36-minute triumph.

“All tournament I’ve been fighting battles that I don’t know how I won. This one tops it all,” said Popyrin in his on-court interview. “My quad was done at 2-1. I felt it cramp, I felt it strain. I think it’s pulled, but I managed to dig deep. I don’t know how I won it, honestly. I honestly don’t know.”

Wawrinka absorbed severe pressure from the impressive Popyrin in the early stages of the pair’s maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting but rallied from 3-5 to take the opening set in a tie-break. Despite that setback, Popyrin maintained his relentless powerful hitting to level the match before being forced into his final-set heroics.

“I even told the physio when he came out,” said Popyrin. “He said, ‘If you go any more then it will be tough’. I said, ‘There’s no point in quitting now, I’m here in the final. If I lose, I lose. If I retire, I lose anyway. So I have a better chance of winning if I stay in’, so that’s what I decided to do.”

The former World No. 3 Wawrinka was chasing his first tour-level crown since his Geneva triumph in 2017. Although he struck some trademark backhand winners to the delight of the Umag crowd, he was unable to prevent Popyrin from converting four of nine break points en route to victory.

BOOM 💥

Huge return from @AlexeiPopyrin99 🔥@CroatiaOpenUmag | #ATPUmag pic.twitter.com/OEV8G2HFeY

— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 30, 2023

“It’s an unbelievable honour to play somebody like Stan in a final,” said Popyrin. “I grew up watching him, Roger, Rafa, Novak play. To play him in a final and beat him in a final, words can’t describe how happy I am. It’s an unbelievable feeling.”

The 23-year-old Poyprin lifted his maiden ATP Tour crown on indoor hard courts in Singapore in 2021. Sunday’s win in Umag ensured he will rise 33 spots to a new career-high of No. 57 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings on Monday.

After 30 years, it was a hometown hero who ended the wait for a second German men’s singles champion at the Hamburg European Open.

Alexander Zverev delivered a high-class final display Sunday in the city of his birth to defeat Laslo Djere 7-5, 6-3 and lift his first title since the 2021 Nitto ATP Finals. The fourth seed produced some blistering hitting throughout the one-hour, 51-minute encounter to overwhelm Djere and become the fifth player this season to win a tour-level title without dropping a set.

“At the end of the day, this is my home, this is where I grew up, and this where I started playing tennis,” said Zverev, who was competing in his first ATP Tour final since May last year in Madrid. “It was incredible for me, incredibly emotional. I can’t describe it in words, I’m just super happy right now.”

The joy of Zverev’s win was amplified by the backdrop of his journey back from a serious ankle injury sustained during his 2022 Roland Garros semi-final with Rafael Nadal. Sunday’s title triumph was his first since he returned to competition at the start of 2023.

“It’s almost like a first Zverev Downs Djere For Hometown Triumph In Hamburg again,” said the 20-time tour-level champion Zverev. “It’s such a long time [since my previous title], 18 months, and I’m just super happy right now.”

Prior to Sunday, Michael Stich’s 1993 triumph was the only time a German had lifted the singles crown in Hamburg in the Open Era (since 1968). As it was, Zverev’s triumph wrapped a maiden clean sweep for the home nation at the ATP 500 event, after Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz lifted the doubles crown earlier on Sunday.

Zverev was clinical with his chances on return against the in-form Djere, who had dropped serve just three times en route to his first ATP Tour championship match of the season. The German frequently took heavy cuts at his opponent’s delivery as he converted three of his four break points to improve to 3-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Djere.

“I think he was the much better player throughout the first set. I just kind of stuck with it and dug it out somehow,” reflected Zverev. “Credit to him, he’s one of the most respected guys on Tour, he’s doing all the right things. At the end, I’m just happy that it went the way it went.”

Winning his 20th tour-level title at home has also boosted Zverev’s hopes of qualifying for the 2023 Nitto ATP Finals. A two-time champion at the prestigious season finale, Zverev has risen three spots to ninth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin with his title run, although Taylor Fritz can reclaim ninth place with victory in the Atlanta Open final later on Sunday.