Vallejo, 19, makes Challenger history; Nardi wins in Napoli

Giovani Paim

Adolfo Daniel Vallejo made history Sunday when he became the youngest Paraguayan to win an ATP Challenger Tour title.

The 19-year-old wild card triumphed in Sao Leopoldo, Brazil, where he raced past Frenchman Enzo Couacaud 6-3, 6-2 in the final to win the Circuito Banco BRB/Engie de Tenis Profissional - Sao Leo Open.

Now up to eighth in the PIF ATP Live Race to Jeddah, the #NextGenATP Vallejo is the fourth Paraguayan champion in ATP Challenger Tour history and first since Ramon Delgado in 2009. Vallejo is the third teenage titlist of 2024, joining Gonzalo Bueno and Henrique Rocha.

Following his triumph in Sao Leopoldo, Vallejo is up to a career-high No. 312 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

In other ATP Challenger Tour action, Luca Nardi capped a dream month by earning his sixth title at that level on home soil. Less than three weeks after the Italian stunned Novak Djokovic at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Nardi triumphed at the Napoli Tennis Cup.

The second seed rallied from a set down in three of his five matches in Napoli, including in the final, where he marched past Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert 5-7, 7-6(3), 6-2.

🏆 x 6️⃣@Luca___Nardi is now a SIX-time Challenger champion!#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/Mrv5XymNJS

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) March 31, 2024

Colombian Nicolas Mejia secured his maiden ATP Challenger Tour crown at the San Luis Open in Mexico after winning seven matches in eight days as a qualifier. Playing in his first final since 2021, the 24-year-old Mejia held his nerve to overcome Matias Soto 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 in two hours, 40 minutes.

Up 100 spots to No. 344 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Mejia earned his first Top 100 win in the quarter-finals when he defeated top seed and World No. 99 Thiago Agustin Tirante. Mejia is the first Colombian Challenger champion since Daniel Elahi Galan in 2022.

^{Nicolas Mejia wins his first Challenger title in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Credit: San Luis Open}

Pedro Martinez returned to the winners' circle in dominant fashion, dropping just one set all week at the Eurofirms Girona - Costa Brava in Spain. The home favourite downed Radu Albot 7-5, 6-4 in the final during which he did not face a break point.

The 26-year-old, who is a five-time ATP Challenger Tour titlist, is up to No. 77 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

^{Pedro Martinez in action at the Girona Challenger, where he lifted his first title of 2024. Credit: Eurofirms Girona - Costa Brava}