LILLE/STARNBERG, February 9, 2025
Arthur Bouquier is the champion of the 2025 Play In Challenger. The World No. 424 battled from the qualifying into the championship match of the ATP Challenger Tour 125 hard-court event in Lille, France.
Bouquier beat only fellow Frenchmen in the main draw. The 24-year-old Lons-le-Saunier native advanced to the final with wins over Martteo Martineau, top seed Benjamin Bonzi, lucky loser Tom Paris and Calvin Hemery. On Sunday, Bouquier benefited from the retirement of Lucas Pouille. The No. 3 seed who was forced to stop playinga fter one hour and 10 minutes.
While attempting to recover a shot from the baseline, Pouille suffered a bad landing and immediately signaled to his team that he could not continue. Before withdrawing, Pouille was trailing by one set but held a break advantage in the second as he aimed to level the match 3-6, 5-3. Moments later, he left the court in a wheelchair, his head buried under a towel.
Les résultats sont ce que nous pensions.. Rupture complète du tendon d’Achille.. je vous remercie du fond du cœur pour tous vos messages.
Je vais me faire opérer dans les prochains jours et tout faire pour revenir..
a très vite
pic.twitter.com/uk7wOyRixA— Lucas Pouille (@la_pouille) February 9, 2025
“The news is not good, I think. I don’t want to speculate before undergoing medical tests, but there’s a chance this was the last match of my career,” Pouille revealed during the trophy ceremony. The 30-year-old, who will turn 31 on February 23, had been on the verge of breaking back into the Top 100, with his ranking set to climb to World No. 92 on Monday.
For Bouquier, emotions were understandably mixed, as he would have preferred to claim his first ATP Challenger Tour title under different circumstances.
“I’m really touched by what happened to Lucas. Of course, I would have liked to win in another way, but it has still been an incredible week,” admitted Bouquier, who has captured two titles on the ITF World Tennis Tour. “Honestly, I can’t even process what just happened and what I’ve achieved.”
The seventh edition of the Play In Challenger offered a total prize money of €181,250 and was held at the Tennis Club Lillois Lille Metropole. Lille, the vibrant capital of the Hauts-de-France region in northern France, is a city rich in history, culture, and charm. Known for its beautiful Flemish-style architecture, lively atmosphere, and excellent gastronomy, Lille offers a perfect blend of tradition and modernity.
The Grand Place, with its stunning historic buildings, is the heart of the city, while the renowned Palais des Beaux-Arts showcases impressive art collections. As a university city, Lille boasts a youthful energy, with bustling markets, trendy boutiques, and a thriving culinary scene. Its strategic location near Belgium makes it a gateway to both French and European adventures.
