Rodesch’s Oeiras Triumph Echoes College Roots
Luxembourg’s Chris Rodesch turned early 2026 frustrations into a second Challenger title on indoor hard courts, joining a surge of comebacks that highlight the pro pipeline from U.S. college tennis.
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. His heavy topspin forehand pinned Piros deep, while inside-out angles opened the court for down-the-line passes in the decider. The indoor hard surface rewarded his booming serve, which kicked high off the back wall, forcing errors on second returns.
“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.”
Trophy time in Oeiras #ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/bG9IWeblpN
— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) January 25, 2026
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. His path from campus drills to pro volleys underscores how structured college play builds the mental edge for these breakthroughs.
Vallejo Masters Clay After Aussie Quals
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. The 21-year-old, who snagged two crowns in 2025 including the final week at the Guayaquil Challenger, shifted seamlessly from hard-court efforts at the Australian Open to red clay dominance. Vallejo’s crosscourt backhand slices disrupted Seyboth Wild’s inside-in forehands, drawing net approaches that he countered with passing shots down the line.
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. Three of his titles have come on Brazilian clay, where his 1–2 patterns exploit slower bounces to wear down aggressive opponents like the local favorite.
Harris and Kwon Fuel Comeback Momentum
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. On the medium-paced hard courts, Harris revived his flat serve followed by inside-out forehands, dictating tempo before the withdrawal.
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, using steady topspin to hold in the tight tiebreak.
These victories across Oeiras, Itajai, Soma Bay, and Phan Thiet pulse with the Challenger circuit’s raw energy, where early-year pressure forges tactical resilience. Rodesch’s college-honed adjustments mirror Vallejo’s surface shifts, Harris’s injury defiance, and Kwon’s qualifying grind, each chipping away at doubts to propel rankings upward. As 2026 hard courts give way to clay swings, this wave of titles signals deeper runs for these fighters, blending mental fortitude with on-court precision.
