SASSUOLO, June 21, 2025
Carlos Taberner, the 27-year-old top seed from Valencia, Spain, lived up to expectations by capturing the 2025 Emilia-Romagna Tennis Cup title. The fourth edition of the ATP Challenger 125 event, organized by Master Group Sport in collaboration with the Emilia-Romagna Region, was held on the clay courts of the Sporting Club Sassuolo.
In the singles final, Taberner overcame experienced Serbian Dusan Lajovic 7-6(1), 6-2, in a match that was more closely contested than the result might suggest.
Taberner started strong, breaking Lajovic’s serve in the third game of the opening set. The Serbian veteran managed to level the score at 4*4, taking advantage of a slight dip in Taberner’s intensity. Interestingly, it was Taberner who relied more on net play and showed great skill with two volley winners to save break points in the 10th game. After an hour-long battle, the set was decided in a tiebreak, where the Spaniard pulled away with a series of clean winners to take the first set.
The second set began in similar fashion, with Taberner immediately breaking Lajovic’s serve and doing so again in the third game, racing to a commanding 5-0 lead. Although Lajovic mounted a brief comeback to narrow the gap to 5-2, Taberner stayed composed and closed out the match in two hours and 10 minutes. The victory not only secured him the trophy but also 125 ATP Ranking points to re-enter the Top 100.
Champion in Sassuolo @Carlos_Taberner claims his NINTH career Challenger title with a 7-6(1), 6-2 win over Lajovic#ATPChallenger | @RFETenis pic.twitter.com/85VUGTCmIs
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) June 21, 2025
“I’m very happy,” said Taberner after the match. “First of all, I want to congratulate Dusan for a great tournament — he played really well. I had a tough quarterfinal match where I came back from the brink, so winning this title means a lot. I want to thank the tournament organizers; it’s a wonderful place to play. I dedicate this victory to my coach Victor, for all his support both in Valencia and here in Sassuolo.”
Taberner was awarded the trophy by Master Group Sport General Director Antonio Santa Maria, Sassuolo Mayor Matteo Mesini, and Sporting Club President Luca Silingardi.
Runner-up Lajovic also reflected positively on his week: “It’s been a good week for me here. I played solid tennis up to the final. Congratulations to Carlos on his win and his return to the Top 100. My season has been a bit up and down, but I believe in my team and in my ability to climb back up the rankings.”
Earlier in the day, the doubles final provided high drama as Matthew Christopher Romios from Australia and Ryan Seggerman of the United States defeated top seeds Alexander Erler from Austria and German Costantin Frantzen 7-6(4), 3-6, 10-7.
For Romios, currently ranked No. 70 in doubles, this marks his second consecutive title in Sassuolo, having won in 2024 alongside Italy’s Marco Bortolotti. For Seggerman, the win was particularly sweet after losing last year’s final — ironically, to Romios.
