ATP Tour

Rodesch wins Oeiras Challenger as college tennis pipeline delivers again

Luxembourg’s Chris Rodesch captured his second ATP Challenger trophy on Sunday when he triumphed at the Indoor Oeiras Open 1 in Portugal.

The 24-year-old, a former standout at the University of Virginia, adds to the list of collegiate alums to succeed at the next level. Last year, 23 different players with college tennis experience earned at least one ATP Challenger title, including Rodesch, who won his maiden crown in Tallahassee in April.

Now back in the winner’s circle, the 6’6” (198cm) Rodesch defeated Hungary’s Zsombor Piros 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 in the Oeiras final.

Trophy time in Oeiras 🏆#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/bG9IWeblpN

— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) January 25, 2026

“I’m really happy, it was a really tough week,” said Rodesch, up 55 places to No. 154 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. “I felt like my first two tournaments in Australia, I had a really good level, but I didn’t get rewarded the way I wanted to.

“So to get rewarded now, in the third tournament of 2026, with the level I’m playing, is really nice. It’s a really, really special feeling to win my second Challenger.”

Rodesch graduated from the University of Virginia in 2024, earning ITA All-American honours three times during his college career. Rodesch and former World No. 21 Gilles Muller are the only players from Luxembourg to win on the ATP Challenger circuit.

Paraguay's Vallejo wins fourth Challenger trophy
Adolfo Daniel Vallejo captured his fourth Challenger title at the Itajai Open in Brazil, where he overcame home hope Thiago Seyboth Wild 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 in a three-hour, 13-minute final.

Vallejo, 21, captured two Challenger titles in 2025, including in the final week at the Guayaquil Challenger. After reaching the final round of qualifying at the Australian Open, Vallejo travelled to Brazil and easily made the transition to clay. Vallejo is No. 125 in the PIF Live ATP Rankings, setting him up for a new career high.

^{Adolfo Daniel Vallejo wins his fourth Challenger title, three of which have come in Brazil. Credit: João Pires}

Harris, former No. 31, returns to titletown
Former World No. 31 Lloyd Harris won his first title at any level since June 2024 with his victory at the Soma Bay Open in Egypt. The fifth-seeded Harris, who was a quarter-finalist at the 2021 US Open, led Jack Pinnington Jones 6-1, 5-2 in the final when the Briton retired with a right foot injury.

The smile of a champion 😁

Lloyd Harris lifts his first trophy since 2024 with a 6-1, 5-2(ret) victory over Pinnington Jones in Soma Bay#ATPChallenger | @TennisSA pic.twitter.com/4N90w1ZdiQ

— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) January 25, 2026

Kwon, two-time tour-level titlist, advances through qualifying en route to trophy
South Korean Soonwoo Kwon also returned to the winner’s circle with his triumph at NovaWorld Phan Thiet Challenger 1 in Vietnam. His first title at Challenger level or above since winning the ATP 250 in Adelaide in 2023, Kwon advanced through qualifying en route to lifting the trophy. The 28-year-old, who won seven matches in eight days, defeated Ilia Simakin 6-2, 7-6(5) in the championship match.