SANTA FE/STARNBERG, October 22, 2023
Argentine Mariano Navone continued his excellent run of form by clinching his fifth ATP Challenger Tour title of the season at the AAT Santa Fe Challenger 2. The $80,000 clay-court event was held at the Santa Fe Lawn Tennis Club in Argentina.
In front of a packed crowd on Saturday, the 22-year-old from Nueve de Julio outlasted Italian Andrea Pellegrino in the championship match 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in two hours and 37 minutes.
🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆@marianonavone1 becomes the fifth Argentine with as many titles in a season in Challenger history!
2021 ➡️ @sebaabaez7 (6)
2016 ➡️ @facubagnis (6)
2009 ➡️ @HoracioZeballos (5)
2001 ➡️ @JuanIChela (6)#ATPChallenger | @AATenis pic.twitter.com/zUAKqQGVn5— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) October 21, 2023
With a record of 15 wins and only one loss in the last 40 days, Navone has secured three titles, lifting trophies in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Buenos Aires and Santa Fe. The World No. 146 has surpassed the previous record of four titles in a single year, which he shared with Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild.
Navone now joins the ranks of five Argentinian players who have won five or more Challengers in a single season: Juan Ignacio Chela (six in 2001), Horacio Zeballos (five in 2001), Facundo Bagnis (six in 2016), and Sebastián Báez (six in 2021). The record for the most ATP Challenger Tour titles in one year is held by Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, with eight titles achieved in 2021.
“In May of last year, I was losing in the first round of an ITF M15 tournament, and today I am ranked around 120 in the world, winning five Challengers,” said Navone, who pocketed $10,840 in prize money as well as 75 ATP Ranking points.
“I said myself to stay calm, that good things were going to come. It was difficult at that time, but now we have to keep going, finish the tour as high as possible. Honestly, I don’t focus on whether I have a chance to reach the Top 100, but what’s important is this, the level that allows me to win many good and consecutive matches.”
Navone is projected to climb up to the 126th position in the ATP Rankings, reaching a new career high.
