George Loffhagen captured the biggest title of his career on Sunday, winning the 39th edition of the Open Castilla y León Villa de El Espinar. The 24-year-old Brit edged Spain’s Nicolas Alvarez Varona, also 24, in a gripping three-set final 7-6(4), 6-7(4), 6-4 after two hours and 57 minutes of high-quality tennis.

Loffhagen, who had never reached an ATP Challenger semifinal before this week, became the first British player to win the singles title at the prestigious Spanish hard-court tournament, having already made history as the first British finalist. While four British players have previously lifted the doubles trophy, no one from the UK had triumphed in singles until now.

With the victory, Loffhagen jumps 56 spots in the ATP Rankings to a career-high of World No. 236.

FIRST TITLE SECURED

George Loffhagen survives Alvarez Varona 7-6(4), 6-7(4), 6-4 in Segovia! #ATPChallenger | @Tenis_Espinar pic.twitter.com/Q8IwqOnumJ

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) July 27, 2025

The final itself was a perfect reflection of a tightly contested week in El Espinar – long matches, momentum swings, and top-tier performances. The opening set was fiercely contested, with Alvarez Varona having multiple chances to take control. He held three break points to go up 4-3 with serve, led 4-3 with a 0-30 advantage, and had two set points at 5-4. Yet it was Loffhagen who prevailed in the tiebreak, taking an early 3-0 lead and eventually closing it out 7-6(4) after 72 minutes.

The second set was dominated by serving. Neither player faced a break point, with five love holds, four games allowing just one point on return, and three with just two. Once again, a tiebreak was needed. This time, it was Alvarez Varona who secured a crucial mini-break at 4-4 and held his nerve to level the match, 7-6(4), after another marathon stretch of over two hours.

With the title on the line in the third set, it was the Spaniard who struck first, racing out to a 3-0 lead while conceding just two points. But Loffhagen responded with equal ferocity—winning five of the next six games, breaking Alvaraz Varona and consolidating for a 5-3 advantage. Alvaraz Varona saved two match points on his own serve to stay alive, but Loffhagen served it out as the clock approached the three-hour mark, sealing the title 7-6(4), 6-7(4), 6-4.

From 0-3 down in the final set, Loffhagen won six of the last seven games to complete his stunning comeback and cap off a breakthrough week on Spanish soil.