Vilius Gaubas shines in Ciutadella and claims the first-ever Open Menorca ATP Challenger 100 title
The young Lithuanian, seeded seventh, claimed a convincing win over Martín Tiffon to lift the trophy in Ciutadella — a final marked by his tactical control and physical edge.
Vilius Gaubas (LTU), world No. 198 and the tournament’s seventh seed, has been crowned champion of the inaugural Open Menorca ATP Challenger 100. He cruised past Spain’s Martín Tiffon (ATP No. 240) with a commanding 0-6, 4-6 victory in Sunday’s final. The match, held at Club Tenis Ciutadella and broadcast on Eurosport, ATP Challenger TV, Marca TV, Teledeporte and other platforms, confirmed the rising status of the Baltic talent on the tour.
The final brought together two young prospects in what turned out to be a one-sided contest lasting just an hour and twenty minutes. While fans expected a close fight, it was Gaubas who quickly took control.
From the very first point, Gaubas set the tone with a wide variety of shots and relentless aggression from the baseline. Martín Tiffon, adopting a more conservative approach and clearly restricted in his movement, struggled to find any rhythm and dropped his opening service game. Within just three games, Gaubas was up 0-3.
Guided by Spanish coach and former pro Guillermo García López, Gaubas kept the pressure on. With a game plan focused on moving his opponent side to side and attacking deep, he broke again in the fourth game, then once more in the sixth to close out a flawless first set 0-6 in just 26 minutes. Martín Tiffon, showing signs of discomfort in his back and left leg, was unable to generate power on his forehand or rely on his serve.
During the set break, the ATP physio treated Martín Tiffon’s lower back, casting doubt over whether he’d be able to continue at full strength. Despite the physical issues, the Spaniard came back with courage, taking the first point of the second set and attempting to turn the match around. But Gaubas was unmoved — he racked up a seventh consecutive game and broke again for a 0-2 lead.
Just when it looked like the match was slipping away, Martín Tiffon responded with heart. He broke back (1-2), took his first game of the final, and held serve to level the set at 2-2. The Menorcan crowd, firmly behind the home player, rallied to support his comeback attempt.
But his body had other plans. Though he managed to trouble Gaubas at times with his forehand, Martín Tiffon couldn’t sustain the effort and started to make unforced errors from the baseline. Gaubas, calm and focused, broke again in the tenth game to take the set 4-6 and seal the win with a clinical service game that left no room for doubt.
With this victory, Gaubas secures his second Challenger title — and his first at the ATP Challenger 100 level — jumping roughly 50 spots in the ATP rankings to No. 148. It’s a well-earned reward for a near-perfect week, during which he was the only seeded player to reach the quarter-finals and beyond.
During the trophy ceremony, Martín Tiffon congratulated his opponent and admitted he couldn’t perform at his best due to the physical toll of the semi-finals. Gaubas, clearly moved, thanked the crowd for their unwavering support throughout the week and marked the moment with a celebratory dive into the club’s pool, joined by a group of ball kids.
The trophies were presented by Adolfo Villafranca, president of the Menorca Island Council, and Toni Capó, managing director of Biosport Menorca.
A tournament making its mark
Backed by the Menorca Island Council and supported by AETIB, Ciutadella City Council and brands like San Miguel, Solán de Cabras, Joma, Marca, Bolt 6, Conecta Balear and Led Projects, the Open Menorca ATP Challenger 100 wrapped up its debut edition with strong competition and organisation praised by players and media alike. A tournament that’s already carving out its place as a launchpad for emerging talent on the pro circuit.
