Luca Van Assche is back in the winners’ circle. The Frenchman captured the title of the third edition of the Olbia Challenger on Sunday, defeating sixth seed Pablo Carreño Busta 7-6 (5), 6-7 (1), 6-2 in the longest match of the tournament. For three hours and 15 minutes, the pair delivered a spectacular final at the Cloto Arena, delighting the Sardinian crowd with high-level tennis from start to finish.
With his fourth career ATP Challenger title and first since 2023, Van Assche reenters the Top 200 at No. 165. Carreno Busta also leaves with plenty to celebrate: his run to the final pushes him back inside the Top 100, to No. 97.
“It was a great battle,” Van Assche said after lifting the trophy. “Pablo is an incredible player, and we both had an amazing week. I’m really happy to have played in front of such a great crowd from the first round to the final.”
The 21-year-old reflected on the significance of this win after a challenging stretch: “I’m a very different player compared to my last title and my best ranking of No. 63. There have been ups and downs, but I never stopped working to get back. Next, I’ll play in Brest, then hopefully in Metz, and I’ll finish the year in Bergamo.”
A Strong Finish for MEF Tennis Events
The Sardinian event marked the final stop of the 2025 season for Italian organizers MEF Tennis Events after tournaments in Tenerife, Parma, Perugia, Todi and Olbia.
“The crowd here was incredible once again,” said tournament director Marcello Marchesini. “The partnership with Tennis Club Terranova keeps growing, and working with such a professional and passionate team makes everything easier. It’s always a pleasure to return to this island.”
With Olbia in the books, MEF Tennis Events now looks ahead to Tenerife and the 2026 calendar.
