VILLA MARIA/STARNBERG, September 21, 2025

The AAT Challenger Santander Edicion Villa Maria is set for a blockbuster finish. On Sunday, Argentina’s Alex Barrena will go for his third ATP Challenger Tour title of the season, and second on home soil, against newly minted Top 100 player Emilio Nava of the United States.

Barrena’s rise continues

Avoiding rain delays in Villa María, Barrena produced some of his best tennis on Saturday to secure his place in the championship match of the fifth Challenger of the year organized by the Asociación Argentina de Tenis (AAT). The 22-year-old from Buenos Aires defeated compatriot Federico Gomez 6-3, 6-4 in an all-Argentine semifinal.

Man on a mission

Alex Barrena defeats No.4 seed Gomez 6-3, 6-4 to confirm his third career Challenger final in Villa Maria!#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/8XAOxDtjPo

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) September 20, 2025

“This year the difference has been mental. Sport is all about the mind. When you’re mentally strong, things flow,” Barrena said after the match.

His form has been remarkable: currently at No. 188 in the Live ATP rankings, he started the year at No. 565. Barrena has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Santander Circuit, playing events in Tigre, Rosario and Tucumán – where he lifted his first Challenger trophy – and collecting 102 ranking points so far in 2025.

“Travelling with the full team is very important, it helps you recover better. The days don’t feel as long. When you’re only with your coach, sometimes it gets heavy. With a team I feel much more comfortable,” he explained.

Nava impresses on Argentine soil

Standing between Barrena and another title is Emilio Nava, who is enjoying a breakthrough season. The 22-year-old from Los Angeles, now a Top 100 player, edged Bolivia’s Murkel Dellien 6-4, 7-6(4) in a tight semifinal on Saturday morning.

“I feel really good. I played in the first match at 10 a.m. and the crowd was spectacular. They supported both players. It was a match to enjoy,” Nava said with a smile – and in perfect Spanish – about the more than 400 spectators in attendance.

On match point, Nava surprised everyone by charging the net behind his second serve. “I always like to surprise them a little, make them a bit nervous. But I think I’ve got it under control,” he laughed, referring to his coach, Argentine Diego Cristín.

Sunday’s final will be the second meeting between Barrena and Nava. Their first came at the YPF Rosario Challenger in February, where the US-American won 7-6(4) before Barrena retired in the second set of qualifying. This time, a Challenger title is on the line and both men arrive in peak form.

Saturday Results

Singles – Semifinals
[1] Emilio Nava (USA) def. Murkel Dellien (BOL) 6-4, 7-6(5)
[7] Alex Barrena (ARG) def. [4] Federico Agustín Gómez (ARG) 6-3, 6-4

Doubles – Final
Guillermo Durán (ARG)/Mariano Kestelboim (ARG) def. Daniel Dutra da Silva (BRA)/Gonzalo Villanueva (ARG) 6-4, 6-2