Rodesch halts Nava's historic Challenger run in Tallahassee final

Chris Rodesch will not soon forget his Sunday triumph at the Tallahassee Tennis Challenger.

The 23-year-old ended American Emilio Nava’s 19-match winning streak and quest for a fourth straight title by rallying to a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory. Rodesch, a former standout for the University of Virginia, is the second player from Luxembourg to win an ATP Challenger Tour title, alongside former World No. 21 Gilles Muller.

“I’m so happy. I was in the final of Drummondville last November and I had some regrets that match — just the way I went to the match, thinking too much about winning my first Challenger instead of going out and winning my first game,” Rodesch told commentator Mike Cation.

“This time I just really went there and I said, ‘Play your game and that’s your best chance to win’. I think that was the most important part for me today.”

Milestone moment for Chris Rodesch 📈

The 23-year-old captures his first career Challenger title after battling past Nava in a three-set thriller in Tallahassee#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/oYMjfn5u8e

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) April 20, 2025

Rodesch began his pro career last June after graduating from Virginia, where he helped the Cavaliers win two NCAA titles and earned ITA All-American honours three consecutive years.

Following his first Challenger title, Rodesch is at a career-high No. 177 in the PIF ATP Rankings, a vast difference from where he was 12 months ago at No. 644.

“Now, in the Challengers I feel ready, I feel like I belong,” Rodesch said. “That was really important for me as well. A huge confidence boost for me. [Gaining entry] into Roland Garros qualifying in the last week is possible, it’s a step for sure but I have bigger goals.”

Nava was aiming to join Guillermo Coria (2000) and Tallon Griekspoor (2021) as the only players to win four Challenger titles in as many consecutive tournaments. He had won 35 consecutive sets, including the opener of the Tallahassee final. David Goffin holds with record for most consecutive sets won (36) on the Challenger Tour.

In other Challenger action, Denmark’s Elmer Moller claimed his second title at that level on the same day his countryman Holger Rune lifted the ATP 500 trophy in Barcelona. The 21-year-old Moller — same age as Rune — defeated top seed and defending champion Francisco Comesana 6-0, 6-4 in the Oeiras Open 4 final.

^{Elmer Moller celebrates winning the Oeiras Open 4. Credit: Álvaro Isidoro/FPT}

Moller’s Challenger titles have each come in Portugal, having won his maiden crown last year in Braga. He is now at a career-high No. 114 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

Terence Atmane was crowned champion at the Busan Open, where he captured his third Challenger trophy and first since 2023 with a 6-3, 6-4 final victory over Adam Walton. The French lefty needed a deciding set in three of his five matches at the hard-court event.

Maximus Jones, 20, became the youngest player from Thailand to win a Challenger title with his triumph at the Côte d'Ivoire Open 1. Jones advanced through qualifying and rode his momentum to the winner’s circle, defeating Tour-veteran Ricardas Berankis 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the final. Jones is at a career-high World No. 436.

Australian James Duckworth became the fourth active player to win 16 Challenger titles with his latest victory at the Banorte Tennis Open in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The 33-year-old used the high-altitude conditions to his advantage as he raced to a 6-1, 6-1 win in a 49-minute final against German Max Wiskandt. San Luis Potosi is Duckworth’s second clay-court crown.

^{James Duckworth in action at the Banorte Tennis Open. Credit: ImagenShop}