SEGOVIA/STARNBERG, July 24, 2025

Rafael Jodar lit up the night at the XXXIX Open Castilla y León Villa de El Espinar with a stunning comeback that sent the local crowd into a frenzy. The 18-year-old Spaniard, who entered the main draw of the ATP Challenger Tour 75 hard-court tournament with a wild card, battled from a set down to defeat France’s Matteo Martineau 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 6-3 in a dramatic match that lasted two hours and 40 minutes under the lights of the Central Court.

Jodar’s fearless play and determination kept fans on the edge of their seats, as he not only saved his chances in a tense second-set tiebreak but then surged through the decider to reach his third Challenger quarterfinal of the season. The World No. 532 from Madrid capitalizd on two of his nine break-point chances and won 52 per cent of the total points played.

Third quarterfinal of 2025 ✅

Rafael Jodar fights past Martineau 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 6-3 to advance in Segovia #ATPChallenger | @Tenis_Espinar pic.twitter.com/HoxhDW6iTc

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) July 23, 2025

Earlier in the afternoon, the Central Court had already set the tone for a day of intense action. India’s Aryan Shah, competing in the tournament as part of the ATP’s Next Gen initiative, booked his spot in the final eight with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Georgia’s Saba Purtseladze. Shah showed solid baseline control and tactical awareness, wrapping up the match in 81 minutes. He will next face Britain’s Oliver Crawford, the sixth seed, who needed just 73 minutes to cruise past French qualifier Robin Bertrand, 6-1, 6-2.

But the upset of the day came in the evening session, when second seed and 2022 champion Hugo Grenier was ousted by Briton George Loffhagen in one of the longest matches in recent tournament memory. After three hours and one minute of grueling baseline exchanges, Loffhagen emerged victorious, 7-6(4), 6-7(4), 6-4, securing a place in the quarterfinals with the biggest win of his Challenger career.

The victory also gave Loffhagen a unique distinction: he has now been involved in two of the four longest matches played in El Espinar over the last three editions. In 2023, he lost a two-hour 53-minute battle in the opening round. This year, he went one better, showing endurance and nerve to outlast one of the tournament’s favorites.