This time last year it was Casper Ruud who chose to make his name at the Seville Challenger by winning the title as a qualifier. This year 17 year old Felix Auger-Aliassime was the victor with a 6-7, 6-3, 6-3 win over Inigo Cervantes.
Auger-Aliassime, who picked up his first career Challenger title in Lyon in June looked unlikely to win the title when clay specialist Inigo Cervantes took the first set and then went up a break in the second. Cue a stunning comeback from Auger-Aliassime, who dropped just six games in the last two sets. The win will see Auger-Aliassime move into the Top 200. Auger-Aliassime is one of two young Canadians making a real mark on the tour this season, and Auger-Aliassime will be chasing close friend Denis Shapovalov in the rankings.
Reaching the final is a welcome return to form for Cervantes. The Spaniard has struggled for more than a year now, though he did win three Challengers in 2015 and established himself in the Top 100. Cervantes played well in defeating two young talents in Jaume Munar and Corentin Moutet, and the clay specialist may finally be back to form.
Auger-Aliasssime was not the only young player to impress at the tournament. Young Frenchman Corentin Moutet, who only made into the tournament with a special exemption, fully justified his selection by reaching the semi-finals.
Defending champion Casper Ruud’s struggles continued as he was forced to retire from heat exhaustion from his first round encounter with eventual finalist Cervantes. The Norwegian was expected to break into the Top 100 this year after edging close after winning this title last year, but it has not quite happened for him yet.
