QUINTA DO LAGO/STARNBERG, May 3, 2026
Lucas Poullain etched his name into the history books of the The Campus Open in Quinta do Lago with a remarkable victory, winning a marathon final that lasted four hours and 13 minutes. The fourth seed, ranked No. 418 in the world, fought back to defeat Spain’s John Echeverria 6-7(7), 6-2, 7-5, securing his ninth career singles title, his third in Portugal, and his first of the season.
Played at the The Campus in front of an engaged crowd – including former England footballer Peter Crouch –the final became one of the longest matches in ITF history. Both players had taken demanding routes to the championship match, eliminating Portuguese opponents along the way and surviving tough three-set semi-finals.
The contest was defined by long rallies and physical endurance, with both Poullain and Echeverria favoring consistency over outright aggression. Many exchanges extended beyond 20 shots, and neither player was able to rely heavily on serve dominance. The first set was decided by the narrowest of margins in a tie-break, which went Echeverria’s way.
Poullain responded strongly in the second set, raising his level to even the match. In the decider, fitness and composure proved decisive. The Frenchman, slightly fresher in the closing stages, broke serve three times and sealed victory with a delicate drop shot after yet another grueling rally.
What just happened 🤯
Lucas Poullain converts an incredible match point to win a 4h13 final against John Echeverria 6-7(7), 6-2, 7-5 and lift the 9th title of his career here at @TheCampusQDL. pic.twitter.com/up4TxBcIgf
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) May 3, 2026
“I’m very tired – exhausted, actually – but very happy that I managed to stay until the end and win the title,” Poullain said. “It was probably the longest match of my career and definitely very demanding physically.”
He added: “When a match becomes this long, I try to stay calm and relaxed, even in difficult moments, because I know a better phase will come. Today the difference was very small – just a few details – but in the key moments I tried to step forward, and that made the difference.”
Along with the winner’s cheque and 25 ATP Ranking points, Poullain also received a lifetime membership card for The Campus, presented by tournament director Roque Rocha. A long-time fan of playing in Portugal – where he previously won titles in Sintra and Faro – the Frenchman praised the venue and the week overall.
The victory is set to lift Poullain back into the world’s top 400, marking another important step in his steady climb up the rankings.
