PORTO/STARNBERG, August 31, 2025
Guy Den Ouden capped off a golden week in Portugal by claiming the CT Porto Cup title, sealing the second ATP Challenger Tour crown of his career. The 23-year-old Dutchman, ranked World No. 161, defeated Belgian teenager Gilles-Arnaud Bailly 6-4, 6-2 in Sunday’s final at the Clube de Tenis do Porto.
The final began under tricky circumstances as morning rain left the court damp and caused a delay. Den Ouden initially struggled with the conditions, slipping several times and showing visible frustration toward the chair umpire and supervisor. Bailly, contesting his first Challenger semifinal and final this week, capitalized on the slow start to secure an early break.
But once Den Ouden settled, the match tilted decisively in his favor. Combining consistency with variety, particularly the drop shot that had troubled Frederico Ferreria Silva in the semifinal, the Dutchman regained control, broke back, and closed out the opening set with authority. From there, his greater experience and tactical maturity proved decisive, keeping Bailly on the back foot throughout the second set.
Persistence pays off
In his fifth Challenger final of the year, Guy Den Ouden captures his long-awaited first title of the season #ATPChallenger | @KNLTB pic.twitter.com/Br3gSaNlOG
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) August 31, 2025
“The start was a little difficult and I got too emotional, but it was an excellent tournament,” Den Ouden reflected afterwards. “I’m very happy to have won here in Porto. It wasn’t the best match, but I handled the important moments well and that made the difference.”
For Den Ouden, the title comes almost exactly a year after his first Challenger triumph in Dobrich, Bulgaria, and positions him on the cusp of breaking into the Top 150, depending on next week’s results and the post-US Open rankings update.
Despite falling short in the final, 19-year-old Bailly leaves Porto with a breakthrough of his own. The Belgian, once the world’s No. 1 junior and a Grand Slam finalist at under-18 level, will make his debut inside the Top 300. His run included victories over more experienced players and highlighted his growing potential on the professional stage.
Den Ouden now turns his attention to the upcoming Challenger events in Sevilla, Lisbon and Braga, where he will aim to build further momentum in what has been a career-defining season.
