SAN MARINO/STARNBERG, July 24, 2025

Thirteen years after Martin Klizan and nearly three decades since Dominik Hrbaty, Slovakia has a new name etched in the winner’s roll of the Internazionali di Tennis San Marino Open. Lukas Klein captured the ATP Challenger 125 title in Montecchio on Sunday night, defeating a stacked field without even being seeded. His win, celebrated in the presence of San Marino’s Captains Regent, Denise Bronzetti and Italo Righi, capped off a week that showcased both tradition and transformation.

Despite early concerns about the tournament’s rescheduled date and overlap with two ATP 250 clay-court events in Europe, the 32nd edition of the San Marino Open delivered resounding success. “We were unsure at first, but the tournament proved stronger than any doubts,” said Elia Santi, president of the San Marino Tennis Federation, overseeing his first edition in the role. “We maintained consistent attendance and ticket sales were nearly identical to last year, despite the absence of a marquee name like Fabio Fognini, who packed the stands in 2024.”

Santi, who has long been involved behind the scenes, emphasized the event’s national significance: “This is the most important international sporting event held in San Marino, and I’m honored to represent our tennis movement in this role.”

This year’s tournament leaned into the future, with a strong presence of Next Gen talents. Among them, Croatian teenager Dino Prizmic made a deep run to the final before being stopped by Klein, who engineered an inspired title campaign. Along the way, the Slovakian toppled top-seed Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard’s first-round conqueror Harold Mayot, Austrian prospect Lukas Neumayer, No. 3 seed Matteo Gigante, and finally No. 5 Prizmic—highlighting the depth and unpredictability of the draw.

“The fact that Klein wasn’t among the favorites but eliminated so many top seeds shows how high the overall level was this year,” Santi added. “It made the outcome more uncertain and exciting.”

Italian players also had their moment. Matteo Gigante, fresh off a strong showing at Roland Garros, was joined by emerging youngsters Federico Cinà, Carlo Alberto Caniato, and Pierluigi Basile – still searching for consistency but full of promise.

“This edition marked a turning point, from the change in date to our focus on promoting young talent, particularly Italians, but also international prospects expected to make waves on tour soon,” Santi said. “We followed ATP’s direction and the broader trends in Italy, and introduced several off-court initiatives to enhance the experience—like the minitennis courts in San Marino’s historic center, the ‘Meet, Greet and Play’ sessions for kids, and the Players Party. Innovations like these are crucial to keep the event evolving.”

Beyond the courts, the San Marino Open once again passed the test with flying colors. The facilities and organization drew praise from players, officials, and ATP representatives alike. “Our event consistently exceeds Challenger-level standards,” Santi noted. “This is thanks to a complex but well-oiled organizational machine—entirely managed by local staff—and with the crucial backing of San Marino’s Secretariats of Sport and Tourism, whom we sincerely thank.”

Looking ahead, Santi confirmed the 2026 edition is on the calendar. “We’re committed to improving further, but in today’s environment, financial resources are key. We’ll assess available dates and funding options to continue solidifying this event’s place among top-tier tournaments.”

Tournament director Mahena Abbati, in her third year in charge, echoed that optimism. “I want to thank the Federation for their trust, and the Secretariats for Sport and Tourism and the Olympic Committee for their ongoing support,” she said. “But above all, I thank the many people working behind the scenes—our success is because of their dedication.”

Abbati highlighted the tournament’s broader impact, including tourism and hospitality: “More than 100 hotel rooms were filled for over a week, showing the tournament’s value beyond sport. We even welcomed a delegation from the Challenger in Manama, Bahrain – voted best Asian Challenger in 2024 – who came to learn from us after we were named best Challenger in Europe-Africa.”