Landaluce turns Orleans pressure into Jeddah promise

Under the steady lights of the Co'met Orleans Open, Martin Landaluce transformed a tense final into a statement of resolve. The 19-year-old Spaniard edged Raphael Collignon 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-3 on the slick indoor hard courts, claiming the ATP Challenger Tour 125 crown that vaulted him three places to fifth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah. This victory, his second at Challenger level after Olbia last October, carried the weight of a season's ambitions, blending tactical grit with the quiet thrill of progress toward the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in Saudi Arabia from December 17-21.

Breaking through Collignon's baseline wall

The Belgian's precise crosscourt forehands dominated early, forcing Landaluce into a defensive scramble that cost him the first-set tiebreak. He responded by sharpening his inside-out forehands to pull Collignon wide, then slicing backhands with underspin to disrupt the rhythm and open angles for down-the-line passes. By the second set, the Spaniard's one–two combinations—deep serves followed by aggressive returns—wore down his opponent's serve, turning the crowd's growing energy into a tailwind as he seized control. In the decider, with fatigue etching lines on both faces, Landaluce's focus held, breaking twice on errors induced by varied pace. The Orleans surface, fast and true without outdoor whims, rewarded his flat-hitting adjustments, a blueprint for the Jeddah hard courts ahead. This wasn't just a win; it was a psychological shift, channeling the tour's relentless demands into fuel for his Top 100 chase at No. 111 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. The tournament's 20th anniversary added a layer of tradition: champions receive a custom painting, and Landaluce's vibrant red piece by local artist Natacha Toutain depicted a pyramid of 20 tennis balls, a symbol of enduring legacy. He lifted it high, the canvas's bold hues mirroring the intensity of his junior No. 1 days and that 2022 US Open boys’ singles triumph. As a Madrid native, this prize felt like a bridge from prodigy to professional, easing the isolation of the road.

A champ and his trophy #ATPChallenger | @RFETenis pic.twitter.com/D5WSmhZ1sf

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) September 28, 2025

Embracing the race without added weight

Landaluce's mindset cuts through the hype, viewing rankings as byproducts of daily toil rather than looming threats. He speaks of the Top 100 as inevitable if he sustains his push, avoiding the trap of fixation that could amplify pressure. This approach, born from the transition's trials, lets him play freely, his game evolving on hard courts that demand quick decisions and bold redirects. Reflecting post-match, he elaborated on sustaining momentum: “It will happen if I still play this game, keep pushing and working day by day. I’m not thinking about a goal, because if I reach it, I’m going to have more goals. I’m going to be very close to it and it will be more pressure than a good thing, so I’m just thinking to play my best and play my game. My goal is to be my best version.” His words echo the quiet confidence of a player who has learned to harness expectation, turning Orleans' evening chill into a spark for the season's close. The victory's points haul narrows his gap to Jeddah's under-20 field, where innovative formats will test adaptability under bright lights. For Landaluce, this run—from tiebreak recovery to artistic reward—positions him as a rising force, his story one of measured ascent amid the tour's psychological currents.

Challenger echoes of rising resolve

Across the circuit, similar tales unfold, each win a release of built-up tension. American Eliot Spizzirri, a 23-year-old former University of Texas standout who topped the ITA singles rankings in 2023 and 2024, secured his second Challenger title at the Jingshan Open, downing Alex Bolt 6-4, 6-4 on outdoor hard. At No. 105 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, his serve-volley bursts exploited the surface's speed, easing his pro leap with college polish intact. Jordan's Abdullah Shelbayh ended a two-year drought with his second crown at the Las Vegas Tennis Open, outlasting Alex Rybakov 6-2, 6-4 as the lefty's spin angles neutralized power on desert courts. This triumph revives the spark of his 2023 history-making win, the first for a Jordanian, lifting the shadow of that hiatus with renewed baseline fire. In Lisbon, 20-year-old Lithuanian Vilius Gaubas rallied from a set down to claim his third title at the Del Monte Lisboa Belém Open, edging home favorite Henrique Rocha 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-4 in a three-hour grind on clay. As World No. 165, Lithuania's highest-ranked player, his crosscourt endurance silenced the partisan crowd, a testament to grit in hostile air. On Buenos Aires' red dirt, Roman Andres Burruchaga swept through without dropping a set at the Buenos Aires Challenger, felling five compatriots including Alex Barrena 7-6(4), 6-3 in the final. The 23-year-old's inside-in forehands and topspin loops channeled home support into dominance, his second trophy a pressure-relieving roar on familiar soil. These scattered victories weave a global thread of young talents breaking through, their tactical tweaks and emotional rebounds mirroring Landaluce's arc. As the Challenger grind feeds the main tour, such moments hint at Jeddah's potential fireworks, where these risers could redefine the under-20 narrative under Saudi skies.