OLBIA/STARNBERG, October 20, 2024
Martin Landaluce has clinched his maiden title on the ATP Challenger Tour, cementing an unbreakable bond with the city of Olbia in Sardinia. The youngster from Madrid, born in 2006, emerged as the champion of the second edition of the Olbia Challenger. Landaluce secured a 6-4, 6-3 victory over No. 2 seed Mattia Bellucci from Italy in Sunday’s singles final.
The World No. 232 saved all three break points he faced and capitalized on two of his own four break-point chances to prevail after one hour and 27 minutes.
CHAMPION IN OLBIA
Martin Landaluce defeats Mattia Bellucci 6-4 6-4 to win the first Challenger of his career in Sardinia #tennis #OlbiaChallenger #ATPChallenger #Sardegna #VisitSardinia #Olbia pic.twitter.com/dluhlub4y8
— MEF tennis events (@meftennisevents) October 20, 2024
A product of the Rafa Nadal Academy, Landaluce mirrors his mentor, winning his first ATP Challenger title in Italy, just as Nadal did in Barletta back in 2003. This victory adds him to the list of promising young tennis talents who have claimed titles at MEF Tennis Events.
Reflecting on his week, Landaluce noted, “At the start, I was dealing with a cold, feeling a bit tired, and staying in bed. But after winning my match against Mayot, the tournament just kept getting better. Beating Gigante and Bellucci, first indoors and then on the Cloto Arena, all in one day, was no small feat. I played fantastic tennis.”
Under the guidance of Oscar Burrieza, his coach at the Rafa Nadal Academy, Landaluce will enter the Top 200 for the first time, reaching a career-high ranking of World No. 158. He earned €20,300 in prize money as well as 125 ATP Ranking points.
“I’m happy my name is now part of Olbia’s history. I had a great time here. Now, I’ll aim to achieve just 1% of what Rafa has done, but I’m in no hurry. In 2025, I believe I can make big improvements and work on becoming a more complete player,” Landaluce said.
Three ATP Challenger tournaments—in Tenerife, Perugia, and Todi—alongside the WTA 125 event in Parma, culminated in the final tournament at Tennis Club Terranova with the Olbia Challenger. This marked the successful conclusion of the 2024 season for MEF Tennis Events.
“Our season ended on a high note with another ATP Challenger 125 event. The player field was impressive, as seen in the matches throughout the tournament and especially in the final,” said Marcello Marchesini, president of MEF Tennis Events. “We worked hard to bring Bellucci here with a wild card, and fortunately, he joined since he didn’t qualify for Stockholm. We also know Landaluce well, as he has received wild cards in our events in Tenerife. The Spanish Tennis Federation president has spoken highly of him, and he’s a promising talent.”
The tournament overcame challenges, including weather conditions, by utilizing indoor courts. The event returned to Cloto Arena for the final, with packed stands reflecting the city’s passion for tennis. MEF Tennis Events has secured a partnership with the Sardinia region for the next two years, aiming to continue the collaboration long-term. The 2025 season will kick off in Spain with the traditional events in Tenerife scheduled for January and February, pending ATP confirmation. Marchesini added, “We’ll take a short break and then prepare for another great season.”
