Challenger

Cilic makes history, returns to Challenger winner's circle

Marin Cilic capped a memorable week on Sunday when he secured his third ATP Challenger Tour title and first since 2007.

In front of a full crowd at the Eurofirms Girona - Costa Brava in northeast Spain, the 36-year-old triumphed over Denmark’s Elmer Moller 6-3, 6-4 in the clay-court final.

Former No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Cilic's nearly 18-year span between Challenger titles is the longest in ATP Challenger Tour history, surpassing Andy Murray’s previous record of 17 years and eight months (2005 Aptos – 2023 Aix-en-Provence).

🏆 Rijeka 2007
🏆 Girona 2025

At 17 years and 10 months, @cilic_marin now holds the record for longest gap between Challenger Tour titles!#ATPChallenger | @atptour pic.twitter.com/UOcnvyGeHZ

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) March 30, 2025

En route to the Girona title, Cilic ousted multiple Tour veterans. The Croatian overcame top seed Marton Fucsovics 6-7(5), 7-6(4), 6-2 in a two-hour, 52-minute second-round battle and downed former No. 10 Pablo Carreno Busta 6-2, 6-4 in the quarter-finals.

Fighting off break points was key for the 21-time tour-level titlist this week. From the quarter-finals onward, he saved 28 of the 29 break points he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Cilic erased all eight break points faced in the final to become the second-oldest Croatian to win a Challenger title (Ivo Karlovic, 39, 2018 Calgary.)

^{Credit: Eurofirms Girona - Costa Brava}

Exactly one year ago, Cilic was No. 1,056 in the PIF ATP Rankings. He competed in just two tournaments in 2023 and 12 events in 2024. The 2014 US Open champion, who underwent right knee surgery last May, is now No. 117 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.

Cilic won the Hangzhou Open last September as the World No. 777 to become the lowest-ranked champion in ATP Tour history (since 1990).

Nava notches back-to-back titles
In other Challenger action, American Emilio Nava enjoyed a dominant week at the Dove Men+Care Concepcion in Chile, where he did not drop a set all tournament to capture his second title in as many weeks. The 23-year-old downed Argentine Nicolas Kicker 6-1, 7-6(3) in the final.

Since the Australian Open, Nava has competed solely on South American clay, tallying a 22-7 match record across all levels. Nava, who also won last week’s Asuncion Challenger, is up to No. 164 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

^{Emilio Nava is crowned champion at the Concepcion Challenger. Credit: Dove Men+Care Concepcion}

Popko beats top seed in Morelia final
Kazakh Dmitry Popko captured his second Challenger title and first since 2021 by winning the Morelos Open presentado por Metaxchange in Mexico. The 28-year-old rallied past top seed James Duckworth 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the final.

“I’m very happy, my second title. I didn’t expect it on hard court. And I was expecting to play qualifying, but then I got in at the last minute,” Popko said. “The first match was very up and down, and tough, but after that, I played much better and felt completely different.”

^{Dmitry Popko in action during Sunday's Morelia final. Credit: Morelos Open}

Kopriva triumphs on Italian clay
Czech Vit Kopriva earned the highest-ranked win of his career in Sunday’s final at the Napoli Tennis Cup, having defeated World No. 61 and top seed Luciano Darderi 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4).

“Holding the winner’s trophy is always the best feeling to finish the tournament,” said the 27-year-old Kopriva, a six-time Challenger champion. “I’m incredibly happy to stand here. I’m speechless. From the first round, I think I played solid points from my side.”

Closing in on a Top 100 debut, Kopriva is at a career-high No. 106 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

An incredible week for Vit Kopriva 👏🏆#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/bwqNd5X3mL

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) March 30, 2025