MILAN/STARNBERG, June 28, 2025
Marco Cecchinato captured the title of the 19th edition of the ASPRIA Tennis Cup – Trofeo BCS ATP Challenger Tour clay-court event in Milan in spectacular fashion. With a commanding 6-2, 6-3 victory over top seed Dino Prizmic, the 32-year-old Italian became only the second player to lift the trophy twice, following Spain’s Albert Ramos.
The win not only marked Cecchinato’s first title in nearly three years, it also brought Italy level with Argentina at five titles each, making it once again the most successful nation in the tournament’s history, which dates back to 2006.
Marco is the CHAMPION in Milan
Cecchinato downs Prizmic 6-2, 6-3 for his first Challenger crown since 2022! #ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/4XuRjooPS4
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) June 28, 2025
Overcome with emotion, Cecchinato soon rose to embrace the many loved ones who had come to support him, including his cousin and coach Francesco Palpacelli and the rest of his family. The wild card entry, granted by the organizers he warmly thanked during the trophy ceremony, played flawless tennis all week, not dropping a single set. His performance recalled the kind of form that once carried him into the Top 20 of the ATP Rankings.
Against the powerful but less explosive Prizmic, Cecchinato held his ground in baseline rallies, even showing confidence with his once-erratic topspin backhand. He dazzled the crowd with pinpoint drop shots and clever tactics. The opening set was decided by breaks in the third and seventh game. The second set was more of a battle, with Prizmic racing to a 2-0 lead before Cecchinato reeled him in and surged ahead 3-2 with a break.
At the changeover, a frustrated Prizmic violently slammed his racquet into his bag. Though he managed to hold for 4-3, the 19-year-old Croatian gave everything in a dramatic eighth game, which lasted 16 points and featured four break points. Cecchinato saved them all with bold play, including a stunning serve-and-volley combo on the last.
Saving those four break points proved decisive. It was the moment Cecchinato crushed any hope of a Prizmic comeback and claimed his eighth ATP Challenger Tour career title, the first of what he calls a potential “second career.”
“I prepared for this match just like the others. I went in with confidence,” Cecchinato said. “I knew it would be an even contest, but I focused on my game without thinking too much about him. I started strong, hesitated a bit in the second set because of the tension, but I stayed calm on those break points and had the courage I needed in the end.”
That pivotal hold at 4-3 sealed the outcome, denying Prizmic the chance to turn the match around. “I really wanted to win, this is my home tournament. It meant so much to win here again after nine years, in front of my family, my cousin, and so many close people,” said the Sicilian. “After two and a half years without a final, the emotions were tough to handle. You could probably see that.”
With this victory, Cecchinato earned €12,980 in prize money as well as 75 ATP Ranking points and will climb more than 130 spots, landing just inside the Top 300. It’s still a far cry from the level his talent warrants, but it will allow him access to more Challenger main draws, his focus for the coming months. Now injury-free and re-energized by a rediscovered passion for the sport, he finds himself well-positioned to take on this new chapter of his career.
