SOFIA/STARNBERG, August 23, 2025
Alex Molcan has capped a dream week from the qualifying to winning the title of the Genesis Trading Cup in Sofia. The 27-year-old from Slovakia defeated Austrian youngster Joel Schwaerzler 7-5, 6-4 in Saturday’s singles final of the ATP Challenger Tour 75 clay-court event.
Following two wins in the qualifying, Molcan beat local wild card entries Ivan Ivanov and Alexander Vasilev as well as Uruguayan qualifier Franco Roncadelli and No. 6 seed Matej Dodig of Croatia in the main draw to reach the championship match.
The lefty from Presov, who has reached a career-high Ranking of World No. 38, broke Schwaerzler’s serve five times and won 55 per cent of the total points played to prevail after one hour and 36 minutes.
From qualifier to champion
The moment Alex Molcan captured his first Challenger title in four years#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/LNUYkoKCnV
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) August 23, 2025
Molcan captured his third career title on the ATP Challenger Tour, his first since Helsinki, Finland 2021. The World No. 362 earned € 12,980 € in prize money as well as 75 ATP Ranking points.
The second edition of the Genesis Trading Cup offered a total prize pool of €91,250 and was held at the Bntc in Sofia. Nestled at the foot of Mount Vitosha, Sofia is the vibrant capital of Bulgaria and one of Europe’s oldest cities, with history dating back more than 7,000 years.
The city blends ancient heritage with modern life, where Roman ruins, Ottoman mosques, and Orthodox churches stand alongside lively boulevards, cafes, and contemporary architecture. Sofia is also a gateway to nature, with hiking and skiing just minutes away in the surrounding mountains.
