To achieve the second Challenger of his career, Rincón had to defeat Austrian Jurij Rodionov (7-5 and 6-2) in the grand final, who curiously defeated a young Carlos Alcaraz in the first round in 2019.

After raising the champion’s trophy to the skies of Mallorca, Rincón gave a heartfelt speech filled with gratitude, emotion, and personal experiences. Dani began by thanking the Rafa Nadal Academy for their trust: “They brought me here six years ago, they trusted me when I was a child, and they’ve helped me so much,” he declared.

He also recalled and valued the importance of having friendships that endure over time: “There are already many friends who are here, who have come to see me, and I am so excited that they can see and enjoy such a beautiful week like this. Being able to enjoy their company and see that we continue to maintain our friendship is very nice,” he concluded.

Your team, the key to success

A special mention should also be made of his coaches, who have guided him throughout his development: “David, Jorge, Gustavo, and JC, I’m delighted to share my daily life with you. The work you do is incredible. We’re going to continue improving day by day.”

Josep Riera, whom he described as “a father” in his career, deserves a special mention: “At the beginning of the week it seemed like nothing was going to work out, but you said we could be champions, and here we are. So, thank you so much to you and your family for treating me like one of your own,” he concluded, visibly moved.

On such a difficult path to progress in the world of tennis, there are victories that come inspired by people with stories of great overcoming, effort, and resilience, and Josep Salvà’s was one of them: “You never give up. You’ve been through some very tough years, and I’m so happy you’re here this week. This title is for you,” he declared through tears.
He also thanked Inés, his partner and his main supporter off the court: “She’s the one who supports me every day, the one who’s there for me in the worst moments. I wouldn’t be here without her.”

The engine of the tournament

Finally, Dani praised the support of the Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar fans , who once again filled the stands on center court to carry the home player on their shoulders: “I have no words to describe what I’ve felt here this week. There have been some very difficult matches, and without your help, it would have been impossible to lift this trophy. Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart.”

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Rincón, trained at the Rafa Nadal Academy and the 2021 US Open Junior champion , got off to a blistering start, taking a 3-0 lead in the first set. However, Rodionov fought back and recovered the break in the seventh game, later leveling the set at four. The final result came in the tiebreak, where Dani gave no chance.

In the second set, Rincón broke his opponent’s serve in the third game and did so again in the fifth, closing out the match with a clear 6-2.

After collecting the Champion’s trophy from Carmen Sánchez de Medina, Head of Sponsorship at Telefónica, Dani Rincón began his speech with an emotional thank you to the Rafa Nadal Academy: “They brought me here six years ago, they trusted me when I was a child, they’ve helped me so much, and thank you so much for trusting me from the beginning.”

The tournament, already established as one of the benchmarks on the ATP Challenger circuit, was attended during the week by Rafa Nadal himself, who also did not want to miss the grand final.

Tournament director Joan Suasi thanked the crowd for their magnificent response throughout the week: “It’s wonderful to see this great atmosphere. It’s been a fantastic week of spectators and events, and we hope to have you with us for many more years to come.”

Regarding the triumph of an Academy player, Suasi congratulated Rincón:
“It’s a huge success. We at the Rafa Nadal Academy are very happy that Dani has won the tournament after many years of trying.”

With this victory, Dani Rincón adds his name to a list of winners that already includes Croatian Duje Ajdukovic (2024), Serbian Hamad Medjedovic (2023), Italian Luca Nardi (2022), Slovakian Lukas Lacko (2021), Finnish Emil Ruusuvuori (2019) and Australian Bernard Tomic (2018).

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Dani Rincón will be fighting to become the first Spaniard to win this Challenger after achieving another comeback at the tournament held in Manacor. The player from Ávila lost the first set in a tie-break and, when the match was looking at its worst, trailing 3-0 in the second set, he fought back and won 7-5. In the third, he stepped up his game, and his opponent eventually retired due to injury at 4-1 in favor of the Spaniard.

Rincón expressed his gratitude for the support he’s receiving from the fans throughout the tournament. “The crowd has been incredible, it’s giving me a lot of strength. I’m playing very long matches, I’m a little tired, but this atmosphere makes me want to fight,” he said after his semifinal match.

Rincón will face Jurij Rodionov in the grand final, who defeated Lithuanian Edas Butvilas 5-7, 6-2, 6-1. After the match, he recalled his debut at the Rafa Nadal Academy: “Of course I remember it perfectly. I played against Carlos Alcaraz and won. I have a favorable head-to-head against him.”

This will be the third meeting between Rincón and Rodionov, with each winning once. Rincón won the first round of qualifying at Roland-Garros 2024 (2-6, 7-5, 6-2), while Rodionov won the same match earlier this year in Oeiras (6-1, 1-6, 6-0).

The winner will inscribe his name as champion of a tournament that has already been won by Duje Ajdukovic (2024) , Hamad Medjedovic (2023) , Luca Nardi (2022) , Lukas Lacko (2021) , Emil Ruusuvuori (2019) and Bernard Tomic (2018) .

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Rafa closely followed the comeback staged by Dani Rincon (a player developed at the Academy) against Britain’s Hamish Stewart:: “It’s great for the Academy to see players of this level. Playing here at the facilities is good for the kids who train here and also for all the people who work year-round at the facilities and who live tennis. Having a tournament of this caliber here is exciting for everyone,” commented Rafa.

The third day of the tournament, which runs until Sunday, August 31 at the Rafa Nadal Academy , also saw the elimination of the top seed, Otto Virtanen, who was defeated by Britain’s Hamish Stewart (6-3, 6-3), who came from the qualifying round.

Rafa didn’t miss a single detail of Dani Rincón’s (a player trained at the academy) comeback against Britain’s Hamish Stewart: “It’s great for the Academy to see players of this level. Playing here at the facilities is good for the kids who train here and also for all the people who work year-round at the facilities and who enjoy tennis. Having a tournament of this caliber here is exciting for everyone,” commented Rafa.

Rafa also wanted to highlight the importance of the ATP Challenger Tour in the context of international tennis: “It’s the step prior to the circuit that the general public watches on television. In fact, many of the players who are playing this type of tournament combine it with top-level tournaments. The Challengers and ITF tournaments are what help you develop as a tennis player before becoming a standout.”

The 22 Grand Slam titles champion,who early in his career won Challenger titles in El Espinar and Barletta, praised Spain’s commitment to hosting this type of event:
“The fact that Spain has invested for so many years in ITF events and is now focusing on expanding the number of Challengers is fantastic news. It allows Spanish players with limited resources to keep improving and competing at a high level without having to travel to the other side of the world. It’s a huge advantage, and something Spain has done really well.”

The Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar is being played at the Rafa Nadal Academy until August 31, with free entry for all fans. Previous champions include Duje Ajdukovic (2024), Hamad Medjedovic (2023), Luca Nardi (2022), Lukas Lacko (2021), Emil Ruusuvuori (2019), and Bernard Tomic (2018).

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The academy’s top player will once again be Casper Ruud , a finalist at this tournament in 2022 who won the first Masters 1000 of his career in 2025: the Mutua Madrid Open. Jaume Munar will also be looking to shine in the men’s draw, having had his best season ever thanks to brilliant results including the third round of last year’s Wimbledon tournament and the semi-finals in Dallas (ATP500) and Hong Kong (ATP250), which have lifted him to number 48 in the ATP rankings.

One of the season’s most dazzling performances has been that of Solana Sierra , who reached the round of 16 at Wimbledon from the qualifying round. She eventually lost to Germany’s Laura Siegemund, but her performance in London is, to date, one of the most notable of the season for Argentine tennis.

Also returning to the top of her game will be Alexandra Eala , the 2022 junior winner of the tournament, who will make history by becoming the first woman from the Philippines to reach the US Open main draw. Eala had already been on the verge of making it to the main draw through qualifying, but was eliminated in the final round by Elena-Gabriela Ruse.

Alina Korneeva, meanwhile, will be playing her first time at the American tournament in qualifying. Last year, she reached the main draw of the Australian Open, where she reached the second round.

Also in the qualifying rounds will have to earn their place in the main draw: Coleman Wong and another junior winner of this tournament: Martín Landaluce , the 2022 champion, who in 2025 already knows what it’s like to be in the main draw of a major. He did so at the Australian Open, where he was able to advance through the qualifying rounds.

As for the US Open juniors, the Rafa Nadal Academy will be represented by Ivan Ivanov , this year’s Wimbledon champion, Max Exsted , Timofei Derepasko , Alejandro Arcila , Elizara Yaneva , Mika Buchnik and Maaya Rajeshwaran Revath i.

The last Junior Grand Slam of the season is the tournament that has brought the most success to the Rafa Nadal Academy players, with three individual triumphs: Daniel Rincón (2021), Alexandra Eala (2022) and Martín Landaluce (2022).

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Ajdukovic, que partía entre los favoritos al título, mostró desde el inicio del campeonato una regularidad sobresaliente. Su potente servicio, combinado con un juego agresivo desde el fondo de la pista, lo convirtió en un rival prácticamente imbatible. El croata fue derribando rivales ronda tras ronda y en el camino hasta la decisiva ronda apenas se dejó un set y derrotó, entre otros, a Marin Cilic, todo un campeón de US Open.

La final fue un fiel reflejo de su carácter competitivo. Ajdukovic impuso su ritmo ante un rival de alto nivel, demostrando no solo potencia sino también inteligencia. El croata supo darle la vuelta a una durísima final. En una apretada batalla por el título, y ante una pista central abarrotada, el jugador croata se impuso a Matteo Gigante en un duelo en el que tuvo que remontar el marcador para imponerse por 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Su triunfo en la isla no es un título más en su carrera, sino la confirmación de que es uno de los nombres a seguir en el circuito ATP Challenger.

Seis ediciones, seis campeones diferentes

De esta manera Duje Ajdukovic inscribe su nombre en un palmarés en el que ya figuraban grandes nombres como el australiano Bernard Tomic (2018), el finés Emil Ruusuvuori (2019), el eslovaco Luckas Lacko (2021), el italiano Luca Nardi (2022) y el serbio Hamad Medjedovic (2023).

El Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar, consolidado ya como una de las citas más relevantes del verano europeo en el circuito Challenger, volvió a ofrecer una semana de tenis de altísimo nivel. La Rafa Nadal Academy, con un ambiente que combina profesionalidad y cercanía, es el escenario perfecto para que jóvenes promesas y jugadores consolidados busquen dar un paso más en sus carreras.

In the 2024 edition, the tournament featured the presence of notable figures such as Marin Cilic , former world number 3 and US Open champion, whose participation brought additional prestige to the main draw, as did that of former world top fifteen player, Briton Kyle Edmund . In addition, there was room for big surprises, such as Uzbekistan’s Khumoyun Sultanov, who from the qualifying phase put in a memorable performance, reaching the semi-finals, where he lost to champion Ajdukovic.

What never fails in this competition is the massive response from the fans. More than 10,000 people passed through the stands during the tournament week , creating a vibrant atmosphere that players like Ajdukovic were quick to highlight. The Croatian acknowledged after his victory the importance of the support of the Mallorcan public, which he described as “special and passionate.”

With this title, the Croatian not only took home an important trophy, but also took a decisive step in his career. A victory that leaves its mark. The seventh edition of the Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar in 2025 is here. A tournament in an idyllic setting that gains more importance on the world tennis calendar every year. Will Duke defend his crown? Will there be a seventh different champion? Will the first Spanish victory come? The answer is just around the corner. Enjoy the show.

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Aunque nos disponemos a organizar la séptima edición, seguimos teniendo la misma ilusión del primer día con el objetivo de que los jugadores y los aficionados vuelvan a sentirse como en su casa.        

Si bien somos conscientes de que la Rafa Nadal Academy se ha convertido en uno de los complejos deportivos más relevantes a nivel mundial, tenemos muy claro que la clave está en los pequeños detalles. Por eso todo nuestro equipo está esforzándose al máximo con el objetivo de que los jugadores disfruten de un ambiente confortable y propicio para competir mientras disfrutan de nuestra amplia oferta de ocio y restauración.

Este año también estamos trabajando intensamente para mejorar la experiencia de los aficionados, que tendrán a su disposición emplazamientos gastronómicos y de diversión idóneos para pasar una semana mágica con amigos o con familia. Habrá fiesta del torneo, activaciones infantiles, diversión… Y, por supuesto, la entrada al torneo será gratuita como en ediciones anteriores

A nivel deportivo, estoy seguro de que volveremos a ver grades partidos en los que habrá una gran combinación de tenistas jóvenes con jugadores de gran experiencia en el Challenger Tour. Como sabéis, en este torneo hemos visto en acción a estrellas como Carlos Alcaraz, Andy Murray, Marin Cilic… Y este año seguro que tendremos la suerte de ver también a nombres llamados a tener un gran protagonismo en el futuro.

Un año más me gustaría dar las gracias a MOVISTAR. Su enorme implicación con la academia desde los inicios y su renovado cariño hacia este torneo han sido excepcionales. Por tercer año consecutivo los partidos del torneo se televisarán a través de los canales de deporte de Movistar Plus, lo que ayudará a dar visibilidad tanto a los jugadores como a los grandes patrocinadores que tenemos.

Todo el equipo de la Rafa Nadal Academy ha trabajado muy duro para hacer posible este evento y el mejor premio será volver a veros a todos llenando las gradas.  ¡Os esperamos!

Joan Suasi, director del Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar

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Rafa, who also interacted with fans and event sponsors, expressed his satisfaction: “The truth is, I’m very happy. Over the years, incredible tennis players like Andy Murray and Marin Cilic, as well as other great players, have passed through here. As organizers, having the ability to host a Challenger here at the academy, I think, is already a significant step forward, and it’s a great satisfaction to see the players leave very happy and grateful. I think the crowds have responded very well since the first year, and seeing the court with such a good turnout shows that the event is enjoying social success, thanks also to all the activities organized around the tournament. And well, I think all of us here and part of the academy are excited because it’s the tournament where we welcome the best players and the reality we try to live up to. And from what it seems, the players leave happy, and this is very important for us and gives us energy and enthusiasm to continue growing.”

Access the video of Rafa’s interview here

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1. Ruben Ramírez Hidalgo is the player with the most victories in the history of the Challenger Circuit. The Spaniard won… 423 matches! He is closely followed by the Italian Paolo Lorenzi with 421 victories.

2. Rafa Nadal is the third youngest player in history to win two titles on the Challenger circuit. His first victory was in Seville when he was just 16 years and 9 months old and his second, four months later, in El Espinar when he had just turned 17.

3. Note this name: Joel Schwaerzler. He is the first player born in 2006 to win a title on the circuit. He did so by winning the Skopje Open in Macedonia earlier this year. In addition, the German Diego Dedura-Palomero is the first player born in 2008 to win a match on the circuit.

4. Ivo Karlovic takes home the prize for the oldest player on the Tour. At 39 years and 7 months he won the Calgary tournament and became the oldest player to lift a Challenger trophy. Second on the list is Fernando Verdasco who won at 38 years and 3 months in Monterrey.

5. Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor holds the record for the most titles in a single season. Eight wins in a memorable 2021. In 2010, Carlos Berloq became the player with the most wins in a single year (57).

6. A fact that demonstrates the vital importance of the Challenger Tour as a previous step to reach the top is that only two active players have won an ATP title without having previously won a trophy at the Challenger: Milos Raonic and Tim van Rijthoven

7. Andy Murray also holds records on the Challenger Tour. He is the player to have won two titles with the longest time difference. He won in Birmingham in 2005 at just 18 years old and his last victory was last year in Aix in Provence. 17 years and 8 months apart.

8. If the most successful duo in the history of doubles are the Bryan brothers, on the Challenger circuit we find the Ratiwana brothers. Between them, Sanchai (48) and Sonchat Ratiwana have accumulated 94 doubles titles. No one has more titles than the Thai brothers.

9. In the individual section, Yen-Hsun Lu is the player with the most titles in the history of the Circuit with 29 trophies throughout his career. Although he did not manage to win any ATP title, in 2004 he became the first Taiwanese in history to occupy a place among the 100 best in the world. 10. Another record of precocity. Felix Auger Aliassime became the youngest player to reach a final draw of the Challenger in 2015. He was only 14 years and 7 months old when he played the tournament in Drummondvi

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Over the last few years, the Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar has seen numerous stars compete on its courts. But one of those charismatic tennis players who competed in the tournament was able to shine in a special way, with his own light. It is none other than Sir Andy Murray. The Scot, an illustrious member of the ‘Big Four’ alongside Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, competed in the second edition of the tournament in 2019. A luxury participant who has just said goodbye to the courts. A legend of our sport who says goodbye.

Andy’s track record is practically endless: champion of three Grand Slams, two Olympic golds, former world number one, winner of 46 ATP titles and Davis Cup champion, among many other achievements. A string of successes, an example of overcoming and capacity for sacrifice that places the player born in Dunblane in the Olympus of the tennis gods.

Let’s go back to 2019. At that time, the Briton was recovering from a hip operation and took advantage of the week of the Rafa Nadal Open to get into shape and try to lift the trophy at the home of one of his great teammates on the circuit. It wasn’t to be, he fell in the semi-finals, but he was full of praise for the tournament and the Academy: “I’ve been here several times, but the Academy wasn’t quite finished. It’s an opportunity to have been here again. The accommodation is very good, the gym is very well prepared and thinking about the competition it’s lucky that everything is so close. They’re doing a fantastic job.”

Andy Murray is known for all his successes on the ATP circuit, where he was number one in the world for 41 weeks. Perhaps Andy’s time on the Challenger Circuit is less well-known, but no less important. It was a springboard for the start of his career and also helped him at certain times to get back on the path to victory.

Before making the definitive leap to professionalism, Andy made his debut in Challenger tournaments in 2003 in Manchester. However, it was not until 2005, and after suffering a serious knee injury, when he won his only two titles on the circuit, both on the American summer tour. However, we have to go forward 16 years to 2021 to find the Scot’s last final in this category, since after one of his numerous recoveries due to injury he played the final in Biella. As previously mentioned, nothing like the unforgettable week in which we were able to enjoy Murray here in 2019 when he played the second edition of the Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar Challenger. It is not every year that you have a Grand Slam champion, it is not every year that you have a legend like Murray. Andy, thank you for everything and good luck in your new projects.

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