SEGOVIA/STARNBERG, July 25, 2025
The 39th edition of the Open Castilla y León – Villa de El Espinar is closing in on its champions. On a Friday marked by gusty winds, the singles semifinal lineup was finalized, with home favourite Nicolas Alvarez Varona headlining the day’s action.
Alvarez Varona, from Burgos, delivered the standout moment of the day, becoming the last remaining Spaniard in the singles draw after defeating No. 5 seed Johannus Monday of Great Britain, 6-4, 7-6(5), in one hour and 53 minutes on Centre Court.
Having advanced directly to the quarterfinals due to the withdrawal of Tunisian Moez Echargui, Alvarez Varona came out sharp. He dominated the early stages, building a 6-4, 5-2 lead and even held chances to go up 4-0. He had two match points on Monday’s serve, but the Brit saved both with gutsy shotmaking to force a tiebreak.
In the breaker, Monday grabbed a 5-4 lead thanks to two mini-breaks, but Alvarez Varona kept his composure. He won the final three points, capitalizing on a British error to seal the win and raise his arms in triumph after nearly two hours of intense tennis.
It’s a return to the semifinals for the Spaniard, who also made the final four here last year. This marks his fifth Challenger semifinal and he’s chasing a third final appearance, this time in front of a home crowd.
Loffhagen, Shah reach first semifinal on the Challenger Tour
The day’s play began at midday with a high-energy matchup between Spanish wild card entry Rafael Jodar and Britain’s George Loffhagen. Backed by strong support in the stands, Jodar started brightly, racing to a 3-0 lead. But Loffhagen settled in, taking six of the next seven games to snatch the opening set 6-4.
The second set remained on serve until 4-3, with neither player able to make a dent on return. Jodar earned two break points to serve for the set at 4-3, 15-40, but failed to convert. He then had to fend off three break points at 4-4 to stay alive, eventually forcing a tiebreak.
Despite a 3-1 lead in the breaker, the 20-year-old Spaniard couldn’t hold off the Briton. Loffhagen reeled off four straight points to go up 5-3, and held on to clinch the win 6-4, 7-6(5).
Into uncharted territory
George Loffhagen reaches his first Challenger semi-final with a 6-4, 7-6(5) win over Jodar in Segovia!#ATPChallenger | @Tenis_Espinar | @the_LTA pic.twitter.com/zQTsAoRyl6
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) July 25, 2025
In his first ATP Challenger semifinal, Loffhagen will face Lithuanian Edas Butvilas. Butvilas advanced earlier in the day with a tight two-set victory over Colombian qualifier Adria Soriano, 7-6(8), 7-6(5), in a match that lasted over two hours and featured high-quality baseline exchanges.
Soriano was in control early, leading 5-2 in the first set and earning two set points, one on serve at 5-3 and one on return at 5-4. But Butvilas saved both and stormed back to win a rollercoaster tiebreak 10-8, coming back from 1-6 down.
The second set was dominated by serves, with five love holds and three more games decided at 15. Butvilas saved two break points in his third service game, and once again took control in the tiebreak to seal the win.
In the final singles quarterfinal, India’s Aryan Shah upset No. 6 seed Oliver Crawford from Great Britain 7-6(4), 6-4 in just over 90 minutes.
Shah led 4-2 in the opening set but was pegged back by Crawford, who broke in the tenth game. The 19-year-old Indian regained momentum in the tiebreak, taking it 7-4.
Crawford twice went ahead in the second set, but Shah responded immediately both times. At 4-4, the 19-year-old secured a crucial break and served out the match with poise, booking his spot in his first semifinal on the ATP Challenger Tour.
New level unlocked
Aryan Shah advances to his first Challenger semifinal after defeating Crawford 7-6, 6-4 in Segovia!#ATPChallenger | @Tenis_Espinar pic.twitter.com/yqukWi2hf6
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) July 25, 2025
