MAIA/STARNBERG, December 5, 2022

After finishing runner-up at last week’s Copa Faulcombridge in Valencia, French teenager Luca van Assche has claimed his maiden title on the ATP Challenger Tour by winning the fourth edition of the Maia Open in Portugal. The 18-year-old ended the run of Austrian qualifier Maximilian Neuchrist with a hard-fought 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 win in Sunday’s singles final.

Van Assche overcame a slow start, struck six aces and won 78 per cent of his first-service points. The 2021 Roland-Garros Boys’ singles champion broke his rival’s serve five times to seal victory in two hours and 12 minutes.

Luca Van Assche is the #MaiaOpen champion! The 18-year-old overcomes a tough battle against qualifier Maximilian Neuchrist (31yo, first-time finalist) to win 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 and lift his maiden @ATPChallenger 🏆 (now 1-3 in finals). pic.twitter.com/E7SCH3mEdI

— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) December 4, 2022

“It was a great week, in which I had very difficult matches, and I am very happy to win the title,” said van Assche. “Maia will always be a special place for me and it means a lot to have won here, because winning a Challenger was one of the goals for this year and I managed to do it in the last tournament.”

By lifting his maiden Challenger trophy, the World No. 176 pocketed €6,190 in prize money as well as 80 ATP Ranking points.