Max Purcell, it's important to remember, is touring the Challenger circuit as the reigning Wimbledon champion. The Australian won the Church Road title alongside Matthew Ebden last year, and now Purcell wants to do it individually. And chose the rocky path over the second level.

But with success - because Purcell is currently riding an impressive 15-victory series on the ATP Challenger Tour, which has brought him into the top 100 in the current world rankings for the first time. The 24-year-old from Sydney was able to win the title in Chennai, Bengaluru and most recently in Pune. Which, as the new number 95 in the ATP charts, brings him much closer to the main field tableaus of at least some 250s.

Van Assche wins longest Challenger final in history

An 18-year-old Frenchman has not ranked so far behind since yesterday Monday: Luca van Assche, along with Arthur Fils probably the greatest hope of the Grande Nation for a return to old strength, is now number 110 in the world. And that after the almost historic final success in Pau. There van Assche was on the court 7: 6 (5), 4: 6 and 7: 6 (6) against compatriot Ugo Humbert for an incredible 3:56 hours, made up for a break deficit in the third set and then fended off two match points and still got the biggest title of his still young career.

There was no shortage of drama in the longest endgame in Challenger history. "I'm very happy," declared van Assche after his victory. "I led, then I was behind. I had match point myself, then I had some against me. It was a fantastic match with great support from the crowd.” Van Assche will never be short of that in France if he continues successfully on his way.