SEGOVIA/STARNBERG, July 26, 2025
The 39th edition of the Open Castilla y León Villa de El Espinar is heading for a thrilling conclusion. Spain’s Nicolas Alvarez Varona and Britain’s George Loffhagen will contest the singles final on Sunday.
Saturday’s action was capped by one of the most emotional moments of the week, as hometown favorite Alvarez Varona booked his spot in an ATP Challenger final for the third time in his career, and the first since August 2022. The 23-year-old from Burgos edged Indian teenager Aryan Shah 7–5, 2–6, 6–3 in a tense, high-quality semifinal lasting two hours and 12 minutes on a packed Center Court.
The opening set was neck-and-neck, with neither player able to dominate on return. At 5–5, Alvarez Varona pounced from 30–15 down to break and close the set 7–5 in 50 minutes. Shah responded with a clinical second set, breaking twice and running away with it 6–2 in just over half an hour.
The decisive third set unfolded as the late-afternoon sun cast long shadows over El Espinar. Alvarez Varona broke in the fourth game and surged ahead 4–1. At 5–2, he held a match point on Shah’s serve, but the Indian dug deep to save it with fearless hitting. Alvarez Varona then had to recover from 0–30 on his own serve in the final game, eventually sealing victory on his second match point.
He’s back in business
Nicolas Alvarez Varona grinds it out against Shah to make his first Challenger final since 2022!#ATPChallenger | @Tenis_Espinar pic.twitter.com/L1aK2LmMCY
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) July 26, 2025
Loffhagen battles past Butvilas
Earlier in the day, George Loffhagen became the first player to secure a place in the final after a rollercoaster 6–3, 3–6, 7–6(5) win over Lithuania’s Edas Butvilas in just under two hours.
The Brit seemed in full control with a set and a 3–1 lead, but Butvilas roared back with five straight games, winning 21 of the next 26 points to take the second set. The final set offered few break chances, with Loffhagen squandering one at 4–4. It all came down to a tense tiebreak, which was level at 5–5 until Loffhagen secured the decisive mini-break and served out the match.
It marks Loffhagen’s first ATP Challenger final, a breakthrough performance that guarantees a new career-high ranking of World No. 254, with a potential rise to No. 236 if he lifts the trophy.
Soto and Zeballos claim doubles title
The day began with the doubles final. No. 2 seeds Matias Soto of Chile and Federico Zeballos, from Bolivia claimed the title with a stunning 3–6, 7–6(5), 16–14 comeback win over France’s Arthur Reymond and Luca Sanchez, the fourth seeds.
The match had it all, momentum swings, intensity, and a dramatic match tiebreak. The French duo took the opening set 6–3, breaking early and holding firm. The second set was tightly contested, with Soto and Zeballos saving a golden point at 5–5 that could have seen their opponents serving for the title. Instead, they forced a tiebreak and edged it 7–5 to level the match.
The deciding match tiebreak extended to 30 points over 22 heart-pounding minutes. Soto and Zeballos led 7–4 but saw their advantage erased as Reymond and Sanchez earned three match points. The South American duo saved them all and finally clinched the title on their own third match point.
