ATP Tour

Rincon wins Challenger event at Rafa Nadal Academy, the Spaniard's stomping grounds

Daniel Rincon will not soon forget his triumph at the Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar, the ATP Challenger Tour event which the Spaniard won on Sunday. The 22-year-old, who graduated from the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2021, returned to Mallorca to capture his second Challenger title in memorable fashion.

To make it even better, former World No. 1 Rafael Nadal himself was in attendance to watch Rincon’s championship-match victory, a 7-6(3), 6-2 win against Jurij Rodionov.

“I don't think I can begin to describe what this week has been for me,” Rincon wrote in an Instagram post. “Winning my second [Challenger title] in the place I came to as a kid six years ago, and surrounded by so many people who have been with me throughout this time has been very, very exciting.”

It never hurts to have a 22-time Grand Slam champion in your corner 👀@RafaelNadal 🤝 Daniel Rincon #ATPChallenger | @rnadalacademy pic.twitter.com/IZWuxnVbMA

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) August 29, 2025

Following his triumph, the lefty Rincon is up 85 places in the PIF ATP Live Rankings to No. 202. Four years ago this week, Rincon won the US Open boys' singles title, defeating Shang Juncheng in the final.

In other Challenger action, Dutchman Guy Den Ouden sealed a breakthrough moment at CT PORTO CUP in Portugal. Den Ouden had fallen short in four Challenger finals this year, yet held his nerve to claim his second Challenger crown. The 23-year-old, who downed Gilles Arnaud Bailly 6-4, 6-2 in the final, is No. 148 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, in good position to make his Top 150 debut.

^{Guy Den Ouden celebrates winning his first Challenger title. Credit: CT PORTO CUP}

Luka Mikrut won the all-Croatian final at the Como Lake Challenger, where he defeated Duje Ajdukovic 6-3, 7-5 to win his first trophy at that level. Mikrut, 21, propelled 87 places to No. 253 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.

^{Luka Mikrut wins his maiden Challenger title in Como, Italy. Credit: Roberto Colombo}

Croatia is third in most Challenger titles by a country this season (10), trailing only much-larger France (14) and the United States (15). Former No. 12 Coric has spearheaded the Croatian charge with a season-leading four Challenger titles.

Japan’s Sho Shimabukuro claimed his fourth Challenger title and first of this season at the International Challenger Zhangjiagang in China. The 28-year-old beat Briton Oliver Crawford 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 in the final.

^{Sho Shimabukuro in action at the Zhangjiagang Challenger. Credit: International Challenger Zhangjiagang}