‘Bu’ strengthens claim on Chinese Challenger history

Two months after claiming his second ATP Challenger Tour crown and becoming the youngest Chinese player to earn multiple titles at that level, Buyunchaokete is back in the winners’ circle.

The 22-year-old on Sunday was crowned champion at the Les Championnats Banque Nationale de Granby, where he prevailed against Frenchman Terence Atmane 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-4 in the final. Despite relinquishing three match points in the second set, Buyunchaokete quickly rebounded to lift the trophy after two hours, 36 minutes.

‘Bu’, up to a career-high World No. 147 in the PIF ATP Rankings, is among a trio of Chinese players to capture three ATP Challenger Tour titles (Wu Yibing, Zhang Zhizhen), having won in Wuxi two months ago and in Seoul in 2023. He is now the holder of a 27-10 Challenger-level season record after recovering from last week's heartbreaking defeat in the Winnipeg semi-finals. 'Bu' held a match point before falling to eventual champion Benjamin Bonzi.

In other Challenger action, August Holmgren became the fourth Danish champion in the past 20 years at that level. The 26-year-old rallied from a set down in both his semi-final and final match, clawing past top seed Antoine Escoffier 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to seal his maiden Challenger title at the Open de Tenis Ciudad de Pozoblanco.

“I’m so grateful that I could play well this entire week. I’ve had a good past few weeks and I’m just keeping the momentum going,” Holmgren said.

^{August Holmgren wins his first ATP Challenger Tour crown in Pozoblanco, Spain. Credit: Open de Tenis Ciudad de Pozoblanco}

A 2022 graduate of the University of San Diego who fell to Ben Shelton in that year’s NCAA singles championship match, Holmgren is up to a career-high No. 245 in the PIF ATP Rankings. The Espergaerde native arrived at the Pozoblanco Challenger following a title run at the ITF M25 in Nottingham. Holmgren is the first Danish Challenger titlist since Holger Rune in 2022.

Dimitar Kuzmanov captured his second ATP Challenger Tour title and first since 2021 with a dominant run at the President’s Cup in Astana, Kazakhstan. The 30-year-old dropped one set across five matches, downing Georgia’s Saba Purtseladze 6-4, 6-3 in the final. Kuzmanov is the oldest Bulgarian champion in Challenger history (since 1978).

“It feels amazing. I’m really, really happy, I cannot hide it,” Kuzmanov said. “It’s been a long wait. I’ve lost my last couple finals. I was really nervous. It didn’t happen in the last couple finals, but today I was really nervous. Coming back from an injury this year, a difficult period for me. Also a lot of physical struggles during the whole week with my whole body, so I was really glad to win.”

^{Dimitar Kuzmanov wins the Challenger 50 event in Astana, Kazakhstan. Credit: President's Cup}

Chilean Tomas Barrios Vera went one step further than last week’s runner-up finish at the Trieste Challenger, securing his fourth title at that level by winning the Van Mossel KIA Dutch Open in Amersfoort. The 26-year-old, who cracked the Top 100 for the first time in January, defeated Alexey Zakharov 6-2, 6-1 in the final.

Did You Know?
Arthur Fils and Nuno Borges added their names to the list of players who have won a title on the ATP Challenger Tour and ATP Tour this season. Fils, who triumphed at the ATP 500 in Hamburg on Sunday, was crowned champion at the ATP Challenger 175 event in Bordeaux in May. Bastad champion Borges successfully defended his 175 crown in Phoenix in March. Luciano Darderi, Alejandro Tabilo and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard have also earned titles at both levels in 2024.

Doubles delight 💫

Congratulations, champs! #ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/FRoBdtMw6w

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) July 21, 2024