Bahrain Ministry of Interior Tennis Challenger
Richard Gasquet and Mikhail Kukushkin are rolling back the years at this week's Bahrain Ministry of Interior Tennis Challenger.
Gasquet, 37, and the 36-year-old Kukushkin will face off Saturday in the second oldest ATP Challenger Tour final, only behind the 2018 Monterrey title match in which David Ferrer (36) defeated Ivo Karlovic (39).
Should Gasquet lift his 10th Challenger trophy, he would become the fifth oldest champion at that level. The Manama final begins Saturday at 10 a.m. Eastern Time / 4 p.m. Central European Time and fans can visit Challenger TV to watch the match live at no cost.
Oldest ATP Challenger Tour champions (since 1978)
| Player | Age | Title |
| Ivo Karlovic | 39 years, 7 months | 2018 Calgary |
| Fernando Verdasco | 38 years, 3 months | 2022 Monterrey |
| Dick Norman | 38 years, 1 month | 2009 Mexico City |
| Stephane Robert | 37 years, 8 months | 2018 Burnie |
The Kazakh Kukushkin, who downed #NextGenATP teen Jakub Mensik 6-3, 6-2 in the semi-finals, is aiming for his 15th Challenger title.
Former World No. 7 Gasquet marched past Damir Dzumhur 6-3, 7-6(4) in the last four and now hopes for a full-circle moment in the record books. As a 16-year-old in 2002, the Frenchman became the second youngest Challenger champion in Montauban. A 16-time tour-level titlist, Gasquet is proving age is just a number as he looks for another Challenger trophy nearly 22 years after his maiden title.
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