KOBLENZ/STARNBERG, February 2, 2025
Ugo Blanchet is the champion of the 2025 Koblenz Open. The fifth-seeded Frenchman triumphed in a thrilling final, edging out 21-year-old tournament favorite Luca Nardi of Italy 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5). This marks Blanchet’s second ATP Challenger Tour career title, following his maiden victory in Malaga, Spain, in 2023. Along with the championship trophy, Blanchet takes home a prize purse of €20,630 and 100 ATP Ranking points, propelling him 67 spots up the live rankings to World No. 159.
A nervy start, followed by high drama
Both players began the final with signs of nerves, but it was Nardi who struck first, securing an early break. However, Blanchet soon found his rhythm, proving the more dominant player for much of the first set, which was marked by numerous unforced errors. The Frenchman frequently approached the net, using an aggressive style to break Nardi’s serve. With the Italian struggling to regain his footing, Blanchet capitalized, surging to a 5-3 lead before converting his second set point on serve.
The second set started in a similar fashion, with Nardi once again breaking early. This time, however, the 21-year-old maintained his composure despite facing multiple break points at 2-0. With the lead in hand, his game grew more solid, and after 70 minutes of play, Nardi celebrated a well-earned set to level the match at one apiece.
A thrilling decider
The deciding set opened with a fiercely contested service game, though neither player was able to break early on. Blanchet continued to apply pressure, while Nardi leaned on his defensive prowess and steady baseline play. When the Italian secured a crucial break at 5-5 to lead 6-5, he appeared to have one hand on the trophy. However, Blanchet immediately broke back, forcing a decisive tiebreak.
The tiebreak became a showcase of world-class shot-making, with both players delivering their best tennis. Blanchet held his nerve, playing nearly flawless points and ultimately sealing victory with a service winner on his third match point after two hours and 13 minutes.
The winning moment #ATPChallenger | @FFTennis pic.twitter.com/GQROxbRXk8
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) February 2, 2025
“I’m incredibly happy with both my performance today and my entire tournament week,” the newly crowned champion said during the trophy ceremony. “I had to battle through tough matches against strong opponents.” Blanchet also praised his opponent: “Luca was very close to winning today—perhaps he even deserved it more than I did. I also want to thank the tournament organizers, because without them, events like this wouldn’t be possible.”
A successful tournament draws to a close
Over 8,000 spectators attended the Koblenz Open from January 26 to the final, with the semi-final day drawing the largest crowd of nearly 1,500 fans. Tournament director Lars Zimmermann, from organizing company Inside Out, expressed his satisfaction with the event: “Despite a short preparation phase, we saw a great deal of interest from fans, which is very encouraging. Overall, it was a fantastic week, especially from an organizational standpoint. The tournament team and service providers worked incredibly well together.”
Zimmermann was also pleased with the level of competition, particularly highlighting Nardi’s potential: “Luca has what it takes to become a future global star. The overall quality of matches was very high.” However, he acknowledged some disappointments, notably the absence of German players in the latter rounds: “It’s unfortunate that none of the ten German participants reached the semi-finals or final. Additionally, the doubles final being canceled due to injury was a slight blemish on an otherwise outstanding tournament week.”
