Darderi goes from going through Alcaraz at US Open to claiming Challenger title

Challenger

Darderi goes from going through Alcaraz at US Open to claiming Challenger title

Italian set for a brand new career-high following previous two weeks

September 08, 2025

Luciano Darderi added extra {hardware} to his trophy cupboard Sunday, when he gained the ATP Challenger Tour occasion in Genoa, Italy to construct upon his already memorable summer season.

The Italian, who gained back-to-back tour-level titles in Bastad and Umag in July, arrived in Genoa following a third-round run on the US Open, the place he fell to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz.

Darderi dropped only one set throughout 5 matches in Genoa and raced previous countryman Andrea Pellegrino 6-1, 6-3 within the AON Open Challenger Memorial Giorgio Messina ultimate. Darderi is about for his Prime 30 debut within the PIF ATP Rankings due to his effort in New York adopted by his title run on house soil.

The 23-year-old has gained three of his 4 ATP Tour titles this season. He additionally reached the third spherical at Wimbledon. Darderi’s triumph in Genoa marks his fourth Challenger crown.

In different Challenger motion, Peru’s Ignacio Buse additionally went from the season’s ultimate main to the winner’s circle. After qualifying for his maiden Slam main-draw look at Flushing Meadows, the place he fell to Ben Shelton within the opening spherical, Buse was topped champion on the LXII Copa Sevilla in Spain.

Buse, 21, beat Argentine Genaro Alberto Olivieri 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 within the clay-court ultimate. Buse gained his first Challenger title in June and is now at a career-high No. 112, approaching his Prime 100 debut.

Former World No. 38 Alex Molcan claimed his second consecutive Challenger title on the Istanbul Challenger TED Open. Molcan gained the Sofia Challenger two weeks in the past as a qualifier and constructed upon his momentum to win the Istanbul trophy after a 7-6(9), 6-2 ultimate victory in opposition to Nicolas Mejia.

The 27-year-old was as little as No. 646 within the PIF ATP Rankings in March, however is now nearing a return to the Prime 200 — which he has not been part of in 16 months.

Briton Billy Harris celebrated a milestone second by claiming his first Challenger title in Cassis, France. The 30-year-old rallied from a set down in each his semi-final and ultimate matches, escaping Daniil Glinka 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 within the championship match.

Billy Harris wins his first Challenger title.” model=”width:100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/photographs/information/2025/09/08/00/35/harris-cassisch-2025.jpg”>Billy Harris wins his first Challenger title. Credit score: Cassis Open Provence by Cabesto

Harris practically cracked the Prime 100 final September, reaching a career-high No. 101. He held his nerve in his third Challenger ultimate to climb 15 spots to World No. 136.

Italian Giulio Zeppieri didn’t drop a set all week to win the Highway to the Rolex Shanghai Masters. The 23-year-old, damaged 3 times all match, defeated Japan’s Yasutaka Uchiyama 7-6(2), 7-5 within the ultimate, throughout which Zeppieri hammered 17 aces. The lefty is a three-time Challenger champion.

Marco Trungelliti claimed his second title of the season and fifth general on the NÖ Open powered by EVN in Tulln, Austria. Like Zeppieri, Trungelliti didn’t drop a set and was damaged simply 3 times for the match. The fifth seed downed Czech Andrew Paulson 7-5, 6-1 within the ultimate.