THIONVILLE/STARNBERG, March 8, 2026
Sebastian Ofner clinched his second ATP Challenger Tour tournament in a row on French soil by winning the 2026 Thionville Open. The No. 4 seed from Austria fought past sixth-seeded Norwegian Nicolas Budkov Kjaer 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-6(7) in Sunday’s singles final.
Ofner advanced to the championship match with wins in the top half of the draw over Briton George Loffhagen, US-American qualifier Murphy Cassone, his compatriot Jurij Rodionov and top seed Hugo Gaston of France.
The world No. 108 fired 15 aces and won 83 per cent of his first-service points in the final to secure victory in two hours and 14 minutes.
Ice cold under pressure
Sebastian Ofner saves a championship point to defeat Budkov Kjaer 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-6(7) and lift the trophy in Thionville#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/J6BLEk2kxD
— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) March 8, 2026
“It was an amazing week. It was tough, I felt my body but somehow I was fighting until the end,” Ofner stated right after the match. “I am happy with the two wins here France, where a lot of good players competed in the Challenger 100 events.”
Ofner claimed his sixth ATP Challenger Tour career title, his second of the season following his triumph at the Open Saint-Brieuc Armor Agglomeration last week. The 29-year-old earned €23,750 in prize money as well as 100 ATP Ranking points.
The second edition of the Thionville Open offered a total prize pool of €160,680. The tournament was held at the Spot Site Polyvalent Omnisport De Thionville.
Thionville is a historic town in northeastern France, located on the banks of the Moselle River near the borders of Luxembourg and Germany. With around 40,000 inhabitants, it is one of the most important urban centers in the Moselle department and part of the dynamic cross-border region linking France with Luxembourg’s economic hub.
The city has a rich history shaped by its strategic location. Over the centuries, Thionville changed hands several times between France and Germany, which has left visible marks in its architecture and cultural identity. Today, the town features a charming historic center, lively markets, and landmarks such as the Tour aux Puces, a medieval tower that houses the local history museum.
