Patrick Kypson recovered from a set down to beat Otto Virtanen 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the HPP Open final to claim his fourth ATP Challenger title of 2025. The packed Tali Tennis Center watched the world No. 146 rally to victory in just under two hours, taking home €25,740 and 125 ATP ranking points.

Virtanen used home support to pressure Kypson early, earning the match’s first break to take the opening set 6-4. Kypson lifted his level in the second set, converting his third break point to move 4-2 ahead and closing the set 6-3 after Virtanen required a medical timeout at 5-3. The American struck first in the decider with an opening-game break and maintained his serve to finish the match.

“It feels really good, of course,” said a smiling Kypson. “It was a really tough one, and I’m just happy I was able to win today. It’s never easy to play against the home favorite, but I knew what to expect. It was fun out there—a great atmosphere and a close match until the end.”

When asked what made the difference, Kypson pointed to his serve. “I served really well today—apart from once in the first set, I held my service games strongly,” he said. “Getting that early break in the third set was huge, and I managed to keep serving well all the way through. The serve was definitely the key.”

For Virtanen, who was the last Finnish player to reach the final since Emil Ruusuvuori’s 2019 victory, the week was still a positive step. “Four good matches this week—overall, I’m happy with my game,” Virtanen said. “Of course, losing hurts, and it’s never fun to leave a home tournament as the runner-up when the goal was to win.”

Other winners around the Challenger circuit last week included Yoshihito Nishioka in Taipei, Tomas Barrios Vera in Peru, Henrique Rocha in Matsuyama and Mitchell Krueger in Knoxville, each lifting trophies at their respective events.

Belgian Alexander Blockx won the Slovak Open Challenger, defeating France’s Titouan Droguet 6-4, 6-3 in the final. The 20-year-old from Antwerp sealed victory in 69 minutes to claim his second Challenger title of the season after Oeiras and the third of his career. The former junior world No. 1 collected 125 ATP ranking points, pushing him to a new career-high just outside the Top 100 and surpassing his previous best of No. 116. Blockx is the first Belgian to lift the Slovak Open trophy in the tournament’s 26-year history.

The opening set saw both players hold serve until the eighth game before Blockx broke in the ninth to take it 6-4. He broke early in the second set and closed out the match by converting his second match point in the ninth game. “I think I played a good match,” Blockx said after the win. “It wasn’t my best tennis, but I was efficient. I served well, and with just two breaks in the match, it was pretty tight. I managed to take advantage of a few of his errors. Physically, I didn’t have as much energy as in the previous days, which is normal after four tough matches. My semifinal [against top seed Raphael Collignon] was one of the best matches I’ve ever played, so it’s not easy to keep that level. I’m happy I managed to finish strong.” He also recalled a narrow escape in round one. “Honestly, I was just happy to get through that first round,” Blockx admitted. “That gave me confidence, and I played better with every match. The field was very strong. This was one of the toughest and best Challengers I’ve played. Everything here in Bratislava was great—from the organization to the ball kids. I play my best tennis where I feel good, and here in Bratislava, it felt like home.”

Italian Lorenzo Giustino won the inaugural Monastir Open in Tunisia, beating Petr Brunclik 7-5, 6-0 in one hour and 52 minutes under clear skies at the Skanes Family Resort. Giustino converted five of 14 break points and won 58 percent of points. “I played very well. I was very nervous at the beginning, as I was also playing for a ticket to the Australian Open. I was good at the important points and improved throughout the match,” he said. Giustino earned $8,350 and 50 ATP points.

On hard courts, Sho Shimabukuro beat No. 5 seed Coleman Wong 6-4, 6-3 to win the EUGENE Seoul Open in 71 minutes, his fifth Challenger title and his second of the season. Rafael Jódar captured the Charlottesville title with a 6-3, 7-6(2) win over Martin Damm. In Lima, top seed Mariano Navone overcame Marco Cecchinato 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 to claim the Los Inkas Open after more than two hours and forty minutes; it was Navone’s eighth Challenger trophy and his second of the season.

A busy week on the ATP Challenger Tour produced several standout winners, led by Román Andrés Burruchaga’s convincing victory in the inaugural Costa do Sauípe Open. The 23-year-old Argentine defeated Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 6-1, 6-2 to claim his third Challenger trophy and his second in Brazil this season. Forced to play both semifinal and final on Sunday because of earlier rain, Burruchaga first beat Juan Prado Ángelo 6-2, 6-2 before returning to outclass Vallejo as evening fell.

“I’m very happy to win here and to reach my best ranking with this victory,” Burruchaga said. “I didn’t know Bahia before, but it’s been an amazing experience playing in Costa do Sauípe.” He collected 175 ATP ranking points and $28,400, rising to a career-high No. 106.

In France, Hugo Gaston claimed the Brest Open Groupe Vert title with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 win over Eliot Spizzirri. The Toulouse native, who received a wild card, rallied after dropping the first set and benefited from strong home support at the Brest Arena. “It was a very tough match. I was under pressure the whole time. I tried to hang in there at the start of the second set, and little by little I managed to play my game against a very good opponent. I stayed focused from start to finish,” he said. “I’m super happy to have won this tournament. I had some doubts, but I didn’t give up. I knew I could raise my level, and I thought maybe he wouldn’t be able to keep up—and that’s what happened.

German teen Justin Engel lifted his first Challenger trophy at the Hamburg Ladies & Gents Cup, defeating Federico Cina 7-5, 7-6 (4). The 18-year-old converted key break chances and sealed the title on his first match point. “It was just incredible,” said Engel during the on-court ceremony. “Thanks to the fans—you were absolutely amazing.” He also said, “By now, Hamburg has become my favorite city.” Engel earned 50 ranking points and a career-high No. 188.

In Sioux Falls, No. 5 seed Patrick Kypson staged a comeback to beat Johannus Monday 6-7 (2), 7-6 (4), 7-5 in a two-hour, 34-minute final. It was Kypson’s third Challenger title after Bogota and Little Rock. “That was the key and whoever was going to break serve was probably going to come out on top and I was fortunate to hold tough when I was facing break points,” said Kypson, who saved all six break points in the match. “I was fortunate enough to snag the only break point I had late in the match.” “I think the margins were so thin today and you could only chalk it up to continuing to do what you were doing throughout the match,” Kypson said. “At the end of the day luck plays a little bit of a role and I stuck what I was doing and ultimately I was able to save those break points and come out on top.” We have a pretty strong group of guys right now and we are all trying to push each other to get into the Top 100. It’s pretty impressive to win 20 (Challenger) titles in a season. Patrick Kypson

Yoshihito Nishioka won the inaugural Suzhou Challenger, defeating Harold Mayot 6-4, 6-4 for his seventh Challenger trophy. The indoor European swing continues with the Slovak Open in Bratislava, where Stan Wawrinka received a wild card. “I’m very happy that we can once again welcome such a great champion like Stan Wawrinka to Bratislava. He will definitely be a big attraction for the fans, and his participation will make the field even more exciting, which is already very strong this year. I believe the spectators will create another fantastic atmosphere for him and come out in great numbers to the stands of the Peugeot Arena at the National Tennis Centre,” tournament director Igor Moška said.