Coric claims back-to-back Challenger titles: 'Back at my level'

Borna Coric won the Thionville Open on Sunday, becoming the second former Top 20 player to capture back-to-back ATP Challenger Tour titles this season.

A week after triumphing in Lugano, Switzerland, the top seed Coric returned to the winner’s circle in Thionville, France, where he downed home hope Arthur Bouquier 6-4, 6-4 in the final. Coric’s title run last week marked his first trophy at any level since his surprise run at the 2022 ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati.

“I’m obviously very, very happy. It’s a great two weeks behind me. I’m just happy I am back at my level where I was before and I’m again feeling great on court,” said the 28-year-old Coric. “Hopefully I can recover now and continue on this path.”

Following his title, the Croatian is up to No. 111 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. Coric, who has been as high as No. 12, joins Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta as former Top 20 players to claim two consecutive Challenger titles this year.

Coric was not the only player celebrating back-to-back titles Sunday. Frenchman Valentin Royer extended his winning streak to 10 by winning both legs of a two-week stint in Kigali, Rwanda. The 23-year-old ousted Dutchman Guy Den Ouden 6-2, 6-4 in the clay-court final.

^{Valentin Royer celebrates winning a Challenger 100 title in Kigali. Credit: Rwanda Challenger}

Royer defeated Den Ouden the week before in a second-round clash that went to a deciding-set tie-break. Royer is up 32 places to No. 119 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, setting him up for a new career high Monday.

Thiago Agustin Tirante won his fifth Challenger title and first on home soil at the AAT Challenger Santander Cordoba. Seeded fourth, the 23-year-old emerged victorious in an all-Argentine final, defeating seventh seed Juan Pablo Ficovich 6-4, 6-0 in the title match.

^{Thiago Agustin Tirante wins the Cordoba Challenger in front of a packed home crowd. Credit: Omar Rasjido}

“I got a big load off my chest. It was always hard for me to play in Argentina. It wasn't easy. I put a lot of pressure on myself. This week I was able to turn it around,” Tirante said in Spanish. “I came to look for matches and rhythm, which I hadn't been able to find in the last month.

“I'm really happy to win at home with my family, who was able to come see me today, with my team, in a tournament nearby.”

Lithuanian Edas Butvilas lifted his second Challenger trophy at the Crete Challenger 1 in Greece, where he beat Briton Stuart Parker 6-3, 6-3 in the final. The 20-year-old, No. 195 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, is set for a new career high.

Simply brilliant from Edas Butvilas 👏

The 20-year-old dominates Parker 6-3, 6-3 to lift the trophy in Hersonissos#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/ce31Uyf2ju

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) March 9, 2025