Watanuki earns third Kobe trophy
Yosuke Watanuki captured the title at the ninth edition of the Hyogo Noah Challenger. The No. 4 seed of the ATP Challenger Tour 75 hard-court tournament outlasted Sweden’s Elias Ymer 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 in Sunday’s singles final.
Watanuki, who reached the championship match with wins over American Kaylan Bigun, Portugal’s Frederico Ferreira Silva, fifth-seeded Frenchman Hugo Grenier, and top seed Chun-Hsin Tseng of Chinese Taipei, fired 18 aces and won 78 per cent of his first-service points to secure victory after two hours and one minute.
The 27-year-old Japanese player celebrated his third triumph in Kobe, having also lifted the trophy in 2019 and 2022. By winning his fourth ATP Challenger Tour title, his first since 2023, Watanuki collected $14,200 in prize money along with 75 ATP Ranking points.
Bolt returns to the winners’ circle
Meanwhile in Queensland, home favourite Alexander Bolt kicked off the 2025/26 Australian tennis summer with a triumph at the Brisbane QTC Tennis International 3. On Pat Rafter Arena, the No. 6 seed of the hard-court Challenger defeated qualifier Tung-Lin Wu of Chinese Taipei 6-3, 6-3 in the final.
Bolt saved all three break points he faced and converted three of his four opportunities to prevail after 68 minutes.
The 32-year-old Australian left-hander claimed the fourth Challenger title of his career, his first since Nottingham in 2021, and earned $14,200 in prize money as well as 75 ATP Ranking points.
