Hugo Gaston denies Stan Wawrinka’s pursuit of challenger history | ATP Journey

ATP Journey

Gaston denies Wawrinka’s pursuit of challenger history

Briton Pinnington Jones wins second challenger title this season

September 15, 2025

Frenchman Hugo Gaston spoiled Stan Wawrinka’s hopes to become Rennes’ open ATP Challenger Tour champion on Sunday.

A group of people in northwestern France played the finals between the top two seeds (Home Hope Gaston and fans’ favorite Wawrinka). Left-handed prevailed, driving Wawrinka 6-4, 6-4. Wawrinka, 40, aims to surpass Ivo Karlovic’s oldest challenger champion (39 years, seven months).

“I thank my team and we are happy to work with Tristan [Lamasine] “It’s always a pleasure to play here. The arena is incredible. Thanks so much to the fans, it’s great to play in a full stadium.”

Title number ✋Hugo Gaston #atpchallenger | @fftennis pic.twitter.com/fkwxsnnzp0

– ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) September 14, 2025

Gaston entered the week with five straight wins at all levels, with only throwing a set of all tournaments to lift his fifth Challenger Championship. He is ranked 106th in the PIF ATP rankings in 22 positions, returning to the top 100.

Wawrinka competed in the second Challenger Final of the season. He played in the championship game at Aix-en-Provence in May, falling into Borna Coric in a three-hour, 11-minute battle. The former third place maintained a 16-8 season record at the Challenger level and will take action again this week at Saint-Tropez.

“I congratulate Hugo and his team,” Wawrinka said. “He had a great week and he was strong and worth it. Despite the failure, it was a very positive week and successful. I tried to make the most of my career and unfortunately, I was older. 40 wasn’t good, but it was in court, it was in the crowd, it was the crowd, the emotions, the support they gave me. The reason I continued to fight.

In other Challenger moves, British Jack Pinnington Jones seized his second trophy of the season, becoming a career-high 177.

According to Infosys ATP Stats, 22-year-old Pinnington Jones didn’t fall for a full week and saved 17 of the 19 points he faced. In the final, he defeated the 19-year-old American Trevor Svajda 6-2, 6-2. Pinnington Jones completed his junior season at Texas Christian University in May and won his first Challenger Championship in July at the Grass-Court event in Nottingham.

Argentinians Thiago Agustin Tirante, Juan Manuel Cerundolo and Marco Trungelliti also canceled the trophy. The 24-year-old Tirante won the investment from Szczecin Open, where he beat Espanyol Pablo Llamas Ruiz 6-3, 6-2 in the final.

“I think it’s a really, really good game for me,” said Tirant, who returned to the top 100 for the first time since last September. “From the first point to the last point, I’m very happy to be back and win the championship, I think the biggest in my career. I think it’s my first title in Europe. I’m happy to win and return to the top 100.”

Thiago Agustin Tirante celebrates winning the Szczecin challenger. “style=”width:100%;” src =”

^{Thiago Agustin Tirante celebrates winning the Szczecin challenger. Credits: Jaroslaw Gaszynski}

Cerundolo won his 11th Challenger Championship and won a tough title at the Guangzhou International Tennis Open in China. The 23-year-old left-handed Alejandro Tabilo beat 6-2, 6-3 in the championship game. After his victory, Cerundolo is at the 72nd career-highest position in the PIF ATP rankings.

“I’m really happy because this is my first championship on the hard court. I never thought it would be,” Cerundolo said. “This is my first time in China. There is an 11-hour time difference between here and my home, so the first day was tough. I couldn’t fall asleep, so I had to get used to it very quickly.

“I’m very happy with this and hope to continue to improve and continue to evolve, especially on this surface.”

Juan Manuel Cerundolo Challenger in Guangzhou. ” style = “width: 100%;” src =”

^{Juan Manuel Cerundolo won the Guangzhou Challenger. Credits: Guangzhou Huangpu International Tennis Open}

Trungelliti won the Intaro Open in Romania, winning the back-to-back title. The previous week’s winner Trungelliti led Mili Poljicak 6-1 when the Croatian retired from a diagonal injury. The 35-year-old won six Challenger titles, three of which were the seasons.

Italy’s Stefano Napolitano was crowned champion in home game Città di Biella. The 30-year-old relied on family support to become the lowest challenger champion of the season, entering the PIF ATP rankings for the No. 847 week. In the final, he was a four-time Challenger champion, who expelled Swiss Kilian Feldbausch 7-5, 6-3.