Arthur Fils’ triumph on the Oeiras Challenger in January was an early signal of what was to come back on the ATP Challenger Tour in 2023: Frenchmen constructing off their countrymen’s success as they win Challenger titles.
Regardless of Fils competing in his first Challenger last in Oeiras, the teenager held his nerve, lifting the trophy inside 24 hours of Arthur Cazaux profitable the Nonthaburi Challenger and Richard Gasquet claiming the ATP 250 in Auckland.
“I noticed that in a single day Arthur Cazaux did it, I noticed that Richard Gasquet did it. I mentioned, ‘Okay it’s a must to win this one!’” Fils mentioned after triumphing in Oeiras.
Gamers from France collected 27 Challenger titles this 12 months, marking probably the most titles by a single nation in a season.
Fixed Lestienne’s trio of Challenger titles led the way in which for France, which had 19 gamers triumph at that degree in 2023. The 31-year-old went on a late-season surge incomes titles in Stanford, Saint-Tropez and Alicante. Lestienne’s triumph in Alicante steered France away from Argentina’s then-record 23 Challenger titles, which was set final 12 months.
Fixed Lestienne wins the Challenger 125 occasion in Stanford, California.” />
Fixed Lestienne was the lone Frenchman to earn three Challenger titles in 2023. Credit score: Lani-Rae Inexperienced
In southwest France, extra historical past was made in March when #NextGenATP star Luca Van Assche saved two championship factors in opposition to countryman Ugo Humbert to win the Pau Challenger. Van Assche and Humbert battled for 3 hours, 56 minutes, marking the longest Challenger last in historical past.
“It was a loopy match, a tremendous battle,” Van Assche mentioned. “I’m very completely happy. Plenty of feelings throughout this match. I used to be main, then shedding. I used to be match level up, then match level down. It was a unbelievable match with nice assist from the gang.”
The next week, Benoit Paire captured his first title at any degree since 2019 when he gained the Puerto Vallarta Challenger. Paire returned to the winners’ circle in July, overcoming Gasquet within the San Benedetto Del Tronto Challenger last.
By The Numbers: 2023 ATP Challenger Tour
Humbert’s standout season included two consecutive Challenger 175 titles. In Cagliari, Italy, the 25-year-old saved three match factors in opposition to Taro Daniel in a four-hour, 13-minute quarter-final marathon en path to his first clay-court title.
“I’ll always remember this trophy as a result of I hate clay usually, by no means gained greater than two matches in a row on clay,” Humbert mentioned in his post-tournament press convention. “It feels unbelievable to have the trophy.”
The lefty then captured the BNP Paribas Primrose in Bordeaux, marking his return to the High 40 for the primary time since 31 January, 2022. Humbert completed the season at a career-high No. 20.
5 #NextGenATP Frenchmen had been amongst these so as to add to their house nation’s record-breaking season: Atmane, Cazaux, Fils, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and Van Assche. Arthur Weber grew to become the oldest participant to win a title in his Challenger debut in Zhuhai (31 years, eight months).
Record Of French Challenger Champions In 2023
Fixed Lestienne (Stanford, Saint-Tropez, Alicante)
Luca Van Assche (Pau, Sanremo)
Benoit Paire (Puerto Vallarta, San Benedetto Del Tronto)
Ugo Humbert (Cagliari, Bordeaux)
Hugo Grenier (Las Franquesas Del Valles, Pozoblanco)
Hugo Gaston (Iasi, Trieste)
Terence Atmane (Zhangjiagang, Guangzhou)
Arthur Cazaux (Nonthaburi)
Arthur Fils (Oeiras)
Gregoire Barrere (Quimper)
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (León)
Alexandre Muller (Montechiarugolo)
Quentin Halys (Blois)
Manuel Guinard (Troyes)
Arthur Rinderknech (Zug)
Arthur Weber (Zhuhai)
Ugo Blanchet (Malaga)
Kyrian Jacquet (Olbia)
Corentin Moutet (Helsinki)
