SEGOVIA/STARNBERG, July 22, 2025

Day three of the 39th edition of the Open Castilla y León Villa de El Espinar brought plenty of reasons to celebrate for Spanish tennis fans. Home players Rafael Jodar, Inaki Montes, and Nicolas Alvarez Varona all advanced to the second round with convincing performances.

Jodar, a wild card entry from Madrid, capped off the day on Center Court with a confident 6-2, 6-3 victory over German qualifier Max Wiskandt, wrapping up the match in just an hour and 24 minutes. Earlier in the day, Inaki Montes had set the tone with a steady 6-4, 6-4 win over Brazilian Mateus Alves in one hour and 32 minutes. The most efficient of the trio was Alvarez Varona, who needed only 71 minutes to dismiss China’s Fajing Sun 6-3, 6-2 during the midday session.

Opening round down

Rafael Jodar breezes past Wiskandt 6-2, 6-3 to advance in Segovia!#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/yutEabb6yc

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) July 22, 2025

Defending champion Antoine Escoffier also made a successful start to his campaign. The Frenchman, who reached the final in 2023 before claiming the title in 2024, fought through a tough three-set battle against Spaniard John Echeverria. Escoffier prevailed 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 in two hours and 22 minutes, extending his impressive record at the tournament to ten wins in his last eleven matches and six victories in a row.

Elsewhere in the draw, several international players booked their places in the next round. British sixth seed Oliver Crawford edged past Chile’s Matias Soto 6-3, 7-6(2) in an hour and 43 minutes. Italian lucky loser Raul Brancaccio held off Ivorian Eliakim Coulibaly in two tight tiebreaks, 7-6(5), 7-6(5), in a match lasting one hour and 39 minutes. Colombian qualifier Adria Soriano upset fourth seed Arthur Bouquier of France 6-1, 1-6, 6-2 in just 79 minutes.

British fifth seed Johannus Monday also advanced, defeating French qualifier Arthur Reymond 6-4, 7-6(4) in a competitive hour and 35 minutes. Lithuanian Edas Butvilas made quick work of his opponent with a 6-1, 6-3 win in 75 minutes. Meanwhile, Tunisian third seed Aziz Dougaz endured a tough test against French qualifier Robin Catry, eventually sealing a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 victory after just over two hours of play.

With strong showings from local favorites and hard-fought wins from top seeds, the tournament continues to build momentum, promising more high-level action in the days to com