Gaston denies Wawrinka's quest for Challenger history
Frenchman Hugo Gaston spoiled Stan Wawrinka’s hopes of becoming the oldest ATP Challenger Tour champion on Sunday at the Open Blot Rennes.
A full crowd in northwest France was treated to a final between the top two seeds, the home hope Gaston and fans’ favourite Wawrinka, respectively. The lefty prevailed, ousting Wawrinka 6-4, 6-4. Wawrinka, 40, was aiming to surpass Ivo Karlovic’s record of oldest Challenger champion (39 years, seven months).
“I thank my team, we are happy to start our collaboration with Tristan [Lamasine] with a title,” Gaston said during the trophy ceremony. “It’s always a joy to play here. The arena is incredible. A big thank you to the fans, playing in a full stadium is great.”
Title No. ✋ for Hugo Gaston #ATPChallenger | @FFTennis pic.twitter.com/FkWxsnNzp0
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) September 14, 2025
Gaston, who entered the week on a five-match skid across all levels, dropped just one set all tournament to lift his fifth Challenger crown. He is up 22 spots to No. 106 in the PIF ATP Rankings, eyeing a return to the Top 100.
Wawrinka was competing in his second Challenger final of the season. He reached the championship match in Aix-en-Provence in May, falling to Borna Coric in a three-hour, 11-minute battle. The former No. 3 holds a 16-8 season record at the Challenger level and will be in action again this week in Saint-Tropez.
“I congratulate Hugo and his team,” Wawrinka said. “He had a great week, he was stronger, it’s deserved. Despite the defeat, it was a very positive week, a success. I’m trying to make the most of my career, unfortunately I’m getting older. It’s not good to be 40, but it’s always a thrill to be on the court, thanks to the crowd, the emotions and the support they give me. It’s one of the reasons why I keep fighting.”
In other Challenger action, Briton Jack Pinnington Jones captured his second trophy of the season to rise to a career-high No. 177. The former Texas Christian University standout triumphed at the Winston Salem Challenger in North Carolina.
Pinnington Jones, 22, did not drop a set all week and saved 17 of the 19 break points he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats. In the final, he defeated 19-year-old American Trevor Svajda 6-2, 6-2. Pinnington Jones completed his junior season at Texas Christian University in May and won his first Challenger title in July at the grass-court event in Nottingham.
Argentines Thiago Agustin Tirante, Juan Manuel Cerundolo and Marco Trungelliti also lifted trophies. The 24-year-old Tirante won the Invest in Szczecin Open, where he beat Spaniard Pablo Llamas Ruiz 6-3, 6-2 in the final.
“I think it was a very, very good match for me,” said Tirante, who is back in the Top 100 for the first time since last September. “I played well from the first point until the last one, so I’m very happy to come back and win a title, I think the biggest of my career. I think it’s my first title in Europe. I’m very happy to win and return to the Top 100.”
<img alt=”Thiago Agustin Tirante celebrates winning the Szczecin Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/09/15/14/43/tirante-szczecinch-2025.jpg” />
Thiago Agustin Tirante celebrates winning the Szczecin Challenger. Credit: Jaroslaw Gaszynski
Cerundolo earned his 11th Challenger title and first on hard court at the
Guangzhou Huangpu International Tennis Open in China. The 23-year-old downed fellow lefty Alejandro Tabilo 6-2, 6-3 in the championship match. Following his triumph, Cerundolo is at a career-high No. 72 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
“I’m really happy because it’s my first title on hard courts. I never expected this,” Cerundolo said. “This is my first time in China. There’s an 11-hour time difference between here and my home, so the first days were pretty tough. I couldn’t sleep, so I had to adapt very quickly.
“I’m really happy about it and I hope to keep improving and keep getting better, especially on this surface.”
<img alt=”Juan Manuel Cerundolo at the Guangzhou Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/09/15/14/46/cerundolo-guangzhouch-2025.jpg” />
Juan Manuel Cerundolo wins the Guangzhou Challenger. Credit: Guangzhou Huangpu International Tennis Open
Trungelliti won the Intaro Open in Romania to cap back-to-back title runs. The winner of the previous week’s Tulln Challenger, Trungelliti led Mili Poljicak 6-1 in the final when the Croatian retired due to an oblique injury. The 35-year-old has won six Challenger titles, three of which have come this season.
Italian Stefano Napolitano was crowned champion at his home tournament, the città di Biella. Entering the week at No. 847 in the PIF ATP Rankings, the 30-year-old relied on home support to become the lowest-ranked Challenger champion this season. A four-time Challenger champion, Napolitano ousted Swiss Kilian Feldbausch 7-5, 6-3 in the final.
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