SEGOVIA/STARNBERG, July 27, 2026
Luka Pavlovic captured the biggest title of his career on Sunday, winning the 40th edition of the Open Castilla y León Villa de El Espinar. The 26-year-old Frenchman defeated compatriot Matteo Martineau 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 in the tournament’s third all-French final, earning his maiden ATP Challenger crown.
Played before a packed crowd on the Pedro Munoz Centre Court, the championship match lived up to expectations. Pavlovic dominated the opening set with a near-flawless display, using his powerful serve and aggressive baseline game to keep Martineau on the defensive. The 1.96-meter Frenchman committed very few errors and wrapped up the opener 6-4.
Martineau responded strongly in the second set, finding his rhythm with his trademark one-handed backhand. An early break gave him a 3-0 advantage, and although Pavlovic threatened a comeback, Martineau saved two break points while serving at 5-3 before closing out the set 6-3 to force a decider.
The final set belonged entirely to Pavlovic. Having raised his level with every round throughout the week, he surged into a 3-0 lead and never looked back, racing to a convincing 6-1 victory after one hour and 55 minutes.
The perfect finish 👌
The ace that Luka Pavlovic will never forget#ATPChallenger | @Tenis_Espinar pic.twitter.com/lnlCiKG8Gc
— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) July 26, 2026
The title is Pavlovic’s first on the ATP Challenger Tour after previously winning six World Tennis Tour titles. It also propels him 68 places up the ATP Rankings to World No. 208, moving him close to his career-high of No. 184 and securing him a place in the qualifying draw for the US Open.
Pavlovic also became the 13th French singles champion in the history of the Open Castilla y León Villa de El Espinar, narrowing Spain’s lead atop the tournament’s all-time honor roll, where Spanish players remain the most successful nation with 15 singles titles.
