Spain’s Rafael Jodar, 19, captured his first ever ATP tour title in smooth fashion, taking down Argentinian qualifier Marco Trungelliti in straight sets 6-3, 6-2 in the Grand Prix Hassan II final on Sunday in Marrakech, Morocco.
Just 12 months ago, Jodar was ranked No. 911 in the world rankings but has had a quick ascent the last few months after making his tour debut earlier this year at the Australian Open. He became the first ever teenager to lift the trophy in Marrakech.
Jodar came out hot as he broke Trungelliti in the very first service of the game in which there were six deuces. Jodar led in winners (21-5) and faced just one break, which he saved. He knocked home 15 of 17 second serve points (88.2 percent) and converted four of nine break points.
Trungelliti, 36, was also playing in his first career final after taking down the first, third and fifth seeds on the way to the finals. On Monday he will become the oldest man to make his top 100 debut in the rankings. This final marked the fifth-largest age gap between participants since 1990.
Tiriac Open
Seventh-seeded Mariano Navone of Argentina held strong to take down Spaniard qualifier Daniel Merida 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 in a 2-hour, 17-minute final in Bucharest, Romania.
Navone took control in the first set by converting 19 of 21 first serves and breaking Merida twice. After faltering in the second set and losing his second service of the all-decisive third set, Navone broke Merida’s serve on three of the final four games of the match.
This is Navone’s first ever title after he lost in this same final in straight sets in 2024. According to the ATP live rankings, this should bump Navone up 18 spots to No. 42 in the world which would surpass his highest ranking of No. 47 in 2024.
U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship
In his first ever ATP clay-court final appearance, American fourth-seed Tommy Paul outlasted Roman Andres Burruchaga of Argentina 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 in Houston, Texas.
In the opening set, Paul broke Burruchaga twice en route to an easy victory, winning 75% of his first serves and posting 13 winners to three for his opponent. Seeking his first win on the ATP Tour, Burruchaga turned the tables in the second set, breaking Paul twice en route to evening the match at a set apiece.
Paul rebounded in the decisive third set, saving five of six break points and earned two key breaks, including the clinching 12th game. Burrachaga broke Paul early to take a 2-1 lead and was up 4-2 before Paul clawed his way back. Down 5-3, Paul held serve and survived three match points before breaking Burruchaga on two of the next three games to secure the hard-fought victory, his first ATP title of 2026 and fifth overall.
–Field Level Media
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