Marin Cilic’s return leads to five Challenger moments to remember from 2025 | ATP Tour

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Cilic’s comeback leads to five Challenger moments to remember from 2025

The reign of Nava, the victory of the Burruchaga marathon among the best

December 16, 2025

From Marin Cilic’s record-breaking comeback to Emilio Nava’s dominant run and Mark Lajal’s emotional victory, ATPTour.com highlights five moments to remember from the 2025 ATP Challenger season.

Cilic’s rallies return to the Challengers, becoming the oldest grass-court champion of all time
After two knee surgeries two years ago, Cilic made a strong comeback on the ATP Challenger circuit. At the Girona Challenger in March, the Tour veteran claimed his first Challenger title since 2007, surpassing Andy Murray’s longest streak (17 years, 10 months) between Challenger titles.

“You have to accept that I’m not Top 100, Top 50 anymore, so you can’t pick and choose any tournament you want to play. It’s time to put your head down, work, get back to the Challengers and grind,” the former No. 3 told ATPTour.com in April. “That was the first step for me after that, it is to put the mind, I still have the enthusiasm to fight with small guns, to compete and play well.”

🏆 Rijeka 2007
🏆 Girona 2025

At 17 years and 10 months, @cilic_marin now holds the record for the longest gap between Challenger Tour titles!#ATPChallenger | @atptour pic.twitter.com/UOcnvyGeHZ

– ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) March 30, 2025

Cilic also broke another Murray record at the Nottingham Challenger. At 36 years and eight months, the 2017 Wimbledon finalist became the oldest ever grass-court Challenger, a feat Murray had achieved just two years earlier at the same tournament. The Croatian, who reached the fourth round of Wimbledon, finished the year at No. 75 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

Nava roams the rulership month
For one whole month, Nava was unstoppable. The American built a 19-match winning streak and won 35 consecutive sets, just shy of tying David Goffin’s Challenger record set in 2014. Nava had won three titles in a row, winning on clay in Asuncion, Concepcion and Sarasota.

Nava reached the final in Tallahassee and took a one-set lead, coming close to joining Guillermo Coria (2000) and Tallon Griekspoor (2021) as the only players to win four Challenger titles in as many tournaments, but Chris Rodesch spoiled Nava’s hopes with a three-set victory.

Lajal saves 5 MPs in Bloomfield Hills, dedicates title to late grandfather
The Estonian produced a brave performance to defend five points to win the Bloomfield Hills Challenger and claim his second title at the ATP Challenger level. That day, thousands of kilometers away in Estonia, Lajal’s grandfather, Tõnu, was buried.

Lajal wrote a post on Instagram, dedicating his biggest award to his grandfather, who has followed the 22-year-old’s career closely. Lajal ousted Andres Martin 6-7(7), 7-5, 7-6(9) in the three-hour, 22-minute final before lifting the trophy in the air and looking toward the sky.

“It was great to do it because they were ‘kicked out’ with our family in Estonia on the day of the final,” Lajal told ATPtour.com. “I think everything was at the right time.”

From Nadal’s perspective, Rincon completes a full-circle victory at the Rafa Nadal Academy
Daniel Rincon was leading 2-0 in his second round match at the ATP Challenger event held at the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar, when he suddenly stopped. The Spaniard saw Rafael Nadal himself watching from the stands. “I saw him watching and I was losing six games in a row,” said Rincon with a laugh. “I’m a little stuck there.”

Nervousness did not bother Rincon for long. The 22-year-old rallied, won the game and went on to take the trophy from the very place he trained and graduated in 2021. While competing in the finals, Rincon again saw former World No. 1 Nadal watching, although the match was about to end, so Rincon “didn’t have much time to think about it”.

Daniel Rincon celebrates winning the Rafa Nadal Open for Movistar.” style=”width:100%” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/images/news/2025/09/17/21/32/rincon-manacorch-2025.jpg”>
^{Daniel Rincon won the Rafa Nadal Open for Movistar. Credit: Alvaro Diaz/Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar}

Burruchaga survived seven hours on Sunday to claim the Piracicaba title
Roman Andres Burruchaga endured a marathon tournament on Sunday at the Piracicaba Challenger, where he spent almost seven hours on court in one day, due to heavy rain throughout the week delaying many matches.

Burruchaga won a three-hour, two-minute semifinal against Home Hope Gustavo Heide before returning to court and winning the second-longest Challenger final in history (three hours, 45 minutes). The Argentinian saved a match point, defeating fellow countryman Facundo Mena 7-6(8), 6-7(6), 7-6(4) to lift the Brasil Tennis Challenger trophy.