ATP Tour

Blockx breaks 'Top 100 babyyyy' after Challenger triumph

Alexander Blockx has begun the 2026 season in memorable fashion. The Belgian, who was a finalist at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in December, built upon that momentum to win the Workday Canberra International, an ATP Challenger 125 event, on Sunday.

By triumphing in Canberra, Blockx made his Top 100 debut in Monday’s PIF ATP Rankings. The 20-year-old defeated fellow 2025 Jeddah competitor Rafael Jodar 6-4, 6-4 in the final, an exciting clash between two emerging talents. Trailing 1-4 in the second set, Blockx tallied five consecutive games to lift his fourth career Challenger trophy.

☝️st title of 2026 for Alex Blockx ‼️#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/kZZSeiNwYo

— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) January 10, 2026

"Top 100 babyyyy⚡️," Blockx wrote in excitement in an Instagram post. "Happy to start the year with another title."

Jodar, 19, won three Challenger titles in 2025 and announced his decision to turn pro on New Year’s Eve, foregoing his remaining eligibility at the University of Virginia. The teenager is at a career-high No. 150 following his deep run from qualifying in Canberra.

Gea wins first Challenger crown
Frenchman Arthur Gea claimed his maiden Challenger title at the BNC TENNIS OPEN in New Caledonia, where the 21-year-old downed Jurij Rodionov 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 in the final. Having won four titles on the ITF Men's World Tennis Tour in 2025, Gea’s latest milestone achievement has helped him climb to a career-high No. 197.

^{Arthur Gea at the Noumea Challenger. Credit: BNC Tennis Open}

Martinez returns to winner’s circle
Former World No. 36 Pedro Martinez dropped just one set all week to win the Dafa News Bengaluru Open in India. The top-seeded Spaniard defeated Kazakhstan’s Timofey Skatov 7-6(5), 6-3 in the championship match. Martinez is an eight-time Challenger champion.

Noguchi defends Thailand title
Japan’s Rio Noguchi successfully defended his title at the Bangkok Open, where he beat Czech Marek Gengel 6-3, 6-4 in the final. Noguchi’s two Challenger trophies have both come in Thailand. As the top seed at this week’s second leg of a two-week Thailand stay, Noguchi will aim to add to that title haul.

^{Rio Noguchi wins the Bangkok Open. Credit: The Lawn Tennis Association Of Thailand}

Chidekh survives deciding-set tie-break to win Nottingham
Clement Chidekh earned his third Challenger trophy in as many years with a triumph at the Lexus Nottingham Challenger in Great Britain. Seeded second, the 24-year-old Chidekh rallied from a set down in the final to escape top seed Johannus Monday 5-7, 6-2, 7-6(5) after two hours and 46 minutes. Both Chidekh and Monday played collegiate tennis. Chidekh played at the University of Washington and Monday, 23, competed for the University of Tennessee.