SZCEZIN/STARNBERG, September 20, 2026

Ten lost finals, several generations of players and a story that for years refused to end any other way. On Sunday, Nikolas Sanchez Izquierdo finally changed the script. The 27-year-old Barcelona native defeated Thiago Monteiro of Brazil 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) to become the first player from Spain to win the singles title at the Szczecin Challenger.

The so-called “Spanish curse” had become one of the most remarkable stories in the history of the tournament. Players such as Juan Carlos Ferrero, Sergi Bruguera and Alex Corretja had all competed on the courts at Aleja Wojska Polskiego. Their achievements elsewhere were impressive, but none managed to add Szczecin to their list of titles.

The history of the finals was even more striking. Alberto Martin lost the championship match in 2000 and 2005, while David Sanchez was defeated in the finals in 2002 and 2004. Albert Portas, Albert Montanes, Inigo Cervantes, Pere Riba, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and, last year, Pablo Llamas Ruiz also fell short.

In total, eight Spanish players had suffered ten defeats in Szczecin finals. Sanchez Izquierdo became the ninth Spanish finalist and represented the country’s 11th attempt to lift the trophy.

Only two of the previous Spanish appearances in the final had gone the distance. In 2005, Martin won the opening set against Agustin Calleri before losing the next two. In 2018, Davidovich Fokina forced a deciding set against Guido Andreozzi but was also unable to complete the comeback. The other Spanish finalists had all lost in straight sets.

On Sunday, for the first time, a Spanish player found a way to win the final.

Monteiro strikes first

Before the title battle could begin, however, the weather became an issue. Rain was forecast in Szczecin, and the precipitation intensified shortly before noon, putting the scheduled start of the final in doubt. After a short delay, the umpire eventually gave the signal for play to begin.

The opening exchanges were cautious as both players took time to adjust to the damp conditions and the behaviour of the ball. Monteiro found his rhythm first. The Brazilian broke in the third game, leaving Sanchez Izquierdo to fight his way back into the set.

Monteiro used his opponent’s pace effectively, responding with powerful groundstrokes and making it difficult for the Spaniard to take control of the rallies. Sanchez Izquierdo still produced moments of brilliance, including the most spectacular point of the opening set, which he eventually won after three consecutive smashes.

The highlight was not enough to change the course of the set. Sanchez Izquierdo made more errors towards the end, allowing Monteiro to close out the opener 6-4.

The Brazilian was now just one set away from the title.

Sanchez Izquierdo fights back

After a short break, Sanchez Izquierdo returned to the court with greater efficiency. He constructed the rallies with more consistency and, when an opportunity arose on Monteiro’s serve, took it to establish an advantage.

This time, he refused to give it back. The Spaniard won the second set 6-3 to level the match and leave the biggest contest of the week wide open again.

“I tried to put a little more pressure on him and play more offensively. The conditions were very slow, so I tried to impose more pressure, and it worked. I also started serving better, which helped me tip the balance in my favour in that dramatic finish,” Sanchez Izquierdo said afterwards.

A dramatic finish

The deciding set developed into a thrilling contest full of momentum swings and emotion, with the tension spreading through the stands with every game.

The Szczecin crowd clearly backed Sanchez Izquierdo. His best shots were greeted with loud applause, while the spectators tried to lift him whenever he found himself in difficulty.

Neither finalist was prepared to give way, however, and the set ultimately required a tie-break to decide the championship.

The Catalan emerged victorious from the final test of nerves. Sanchez Izquierdo won the deciding set 7-6(6) and the match 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(6).

Nikolas Sanchez Izquierdo is victorious in Szczecin!

The 🇪🇸 battles past Monteiro – on his 8th match point – to capture his 2nd #ATPChallenger title of the year. pic.twitter.com/m2QeGyrnDK

— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) September 20, 2026

Amid a huge ovation from the Szczecin crowd, he achieved what Spanish players had been waiting decades for: Sanchez Izquierdo became the first Spanish singles champion in the history of the Szczecin Challenger.

From first-round struggles to champion

Sanchez Izquierdo had travelled to Szczecin for the fourth time. Previously, he had never managed to win a match at the tournament. This time, he left with five victories and the biggest prize of the week.

His route to the final included wins over Dali Blanch, Daniel Elahi Galan, Zdenek Kolar and Luka Mikrut. None of those opponents managed to take a set from him.

For the 27-year-old from Barcelona, the triumph adds another major milestone to a breakthrough season. In May, he captured his first ATP Challenger title in Ostrava, defeating Kolar in the final. Several months later, he added another Challenger trophy in Szczecin – one with particular significance for the history of the tournament.

Monteiro also enjoyed an impressive week. The former world No. 61 defeated Stefano Travaglia, Vitaliy Sachko and Diego Dedura before overcoming Marco Trungelliti in a three-set semi-final. In the final, the Brazilian remained closer to the trophy for a long time, but ultimately had to surrender to an opponent who found the answers after dropping the opening set.

“Of all the finals I have played, this was definitely the craziest match of my career. It is great to be the first Spaniard in history to win this tournament. It is a great event and a tournament of a very high level. I am really proud of the work we are doing with my team,” Sanchez Izquierdo said at the press conference.

For years, the “Spanish curse” had returned to conversations among fans every time another Spanish player came close to breaking the streak.

As of Sunday, it is history.

Nikolas Sanchez Izquierdo arrived in Szczecin hoping simply to win a match at the tournament. He leaves as the champion who finally changed the ending of one of the longest-running stories in the event’s history.