Tennis News

Darderi wins Santiago title, continuing clay dominance

Luciano Darderi won his fifth ATP Tour title Sunday with a battling victory in the BCI Seguros Chile Open final. Two weeks after falling short in the Buenos Aires final, the Argentine-born Italian defeated Yannick Hanfmann 7-6(6), 7-5 to claim the trophy on the red clay of the Santiago ATP 250.

Now 5-1 in ATP Tour finals, all on clay and all since 2024, Darderi owns the most tour-level clay titles of any player since the start of the 2024 season — breaking a tie with Carlos Alcaraz. He has also recorded 48 wins on clay in that period (second only to Francisco Cerundolo’s 49), including a 16-2 mark since July.

“It’s feeling really great. I didn’t expect to win this week here because I never played more than the quarter-final here, so I’m very happy,” the 24-year-old said before the trophy ceremony. “It’s my second final of the year, so taking a title early is very impressive and I take a lot of confidence for the rest of the year.”

Coupled with Flavio Cobolli’s title this week in Acapulco, Darderi’s triumph also marks the fifth time in the Open Era that two Italians have won a tour-level title in the same week. The pair also achieved the feat in March of 2025, when Darderi won Marrakech and Cobolli won Bucharest.

After taking a tight opening set in which he was two points from losing on three occasions, Darderi’s strong response after going a break down early re-established his control of the match. From 1-2, he won eight straight points to lead 3-2. Neither player faced another break point until Darderi broke serve in the final game, improving to 2-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Hanfmann.

The German was seeking to become the third-oldest first-time ATP Tour champion at 34, but fell to 0-3 in tour-level finals. He hit 10 aces to Darderi’s six, according to Infosys ATP Stats, but struggled in the face of Darderi’s 80 per cent win rate on first serve.

Quinto in Santiago 🏆

Luciano Darderi captures his fifth career title in Chile! 🇨🇱@chile_open | #ChileOpen | @Lucianodarderi_ pic.twitter.com/DeaE7rmiRm

— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 2, 2026

Darderi, who entered the week at a career-high of No. 21 in the PIF ATP Rankings, gained an additional 200 points in the PIF ATP Live Rankings this week, moving within 66 points of the Top 20.

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Cina, 18, saves 5 championship points to claim first Challenger crown

#NextGenATP Federico Cina earned an ATP Challenger breakthrough in dramatic fashion Sunday.

The 18-year-old fended off five championship points en route to a 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(1) victory against Briton Felix Gill at the PMR Maha Open in Pune, India. Cina is the fifth Italian to win his first ATP Challenger trophy before turning 19, a list led by Jannik Sinner, the No. 2 player in the PIF ATP Rankings.

“It feels amazing having never won a Challenger title,” Cina said. “I hope this is only the first one.”

Youngest Italians To Win First Challenger Title

Cina reached three Challenger finals in 2025, but was unable to enter the winner’s circle. In the Pune final, the teenager courageously held his nerve while serving at 5-6 in the decider, during which he saved five championship points.

“It was very difficult to keep the focus on [those points], but I really wanted to win this match so I fought until the end and fortunately I won,” said Cina, who is up to No. 183 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, setting him up for his Top 200 debut.

Last year, Cina made his ATP Tour debut and earned main-draw wins at the ATP Masters 1000 events in Miami and Madrid. The Palermo native will be one to watch throughout this season.

Cina is second in the PIF ATP Live Next Gen Race, only behind Spaniard Rafael Jodar.

Let’s call it CINAma 🍿🤩🎬

Italian teenager Cina captures the Pune title in a 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(1) thriller 🆚 Gill#OnTheRise | @msltatennis | @federtenis pic.twitter.com/H58m6UoXZu

— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) March 1, 2026

Cina is not the only #NextGenATP player who enjoyed success this week. Joel Schwaerzler reached the Lugano Challenger final, but was stopped short of a title by Zsombor Piros, who defeated the Austrian 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in the championship match.

Following his title run at the Challenger Città di Lugano, Piros is up 38 places to No. 142 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. Piros, 26, is an eight-time Challenger champion.

<img alt=”Zsombor Piros in action at the Lugano Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2026/03/02/03/21/piros-luganoch-2026.jpg” />
^{_{Zsombor Piros in action at the Lugano Challenger. Credit: Dave Wong Production}}

Two former Top 50 players claimed ATP Challenger titles this week: Facundo Diaz Acosta and Sebastian Ofner.

Diaz Acosta triumphed on home soil at the AAT Challenger IEB+ Edicion Tigre II, marking the Argentine’s first trophy at any level since his 2024 title run at the ATP 250 event in Buenos Aires. The former World No. 47 ousted Spaniard Miguel Damas 1-6, 6-3, 6-0 in the clay-court final.

<img alt=”Facundo Diaz Acosta plays in front of a full crowd Sunday at the Tigre Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2026/03/02/03/24/diaz-acosta-tigrech-2026-fh.jpg” />
^{_{Facundo Diaz Acosta plays in front of a full crowd Sunday at the Tigre Challenger. Credit: Asociación Argentina de Tenis}}

Ofner, who reached a career-high No. 37 in January 2024, was crowned champion at the Open Saint-Brieuc Armor Agglomération. Ofner defeated Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4, 7-6(4) to win his fifth Challenger crown.

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Cobolli beats Tiafoe for Acapulco crown, joins Alcaraz & Sinner in this feat…

Flavio Cobolli captured his first hard-court ATP Tour title and third overall Saturday at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC. Seeded fifth in Acapulco, the Italian produced a high level to down Frances Tiafoe 7-6(4), 6-4 in the championship match.

Cobolli pummelled his forehand with pinpoint accuracy and displayed his shotmaking ability throughout the clash. Thanks to his title run, Cobolli will rise to a career-high No. 15 in Monday’s PIF ATP Rankings.

“When I was a kid, I was dreaming for this moment,” said Cobolli. “For this kind of tournament, playing on the center court with people cheering for me. I’m very proud, not only for me, but also for the people that work for me — my dad, my family, the rest of my team. They will help me a lot.”

The 23-year-old is the fourth man born in the 2000s to win ATP 500 titles on multiple surfaces, joining Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Arthur Fils. 

Despite entering the final winless against Tiafoe in their previous two Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings, Cobolli showed no signs of hesitation. Shortly after letting slip a set point on return at 5-4 in the opener, he trailed 1/3 in the tie-break, but won six of the final seven points to gain a one-set advantage.

Tiafoe did not earn a break chance until the eighth game of the second set, converting his third opportunity to that game to level the score at 4-4. It offered a glimpse of hope for Tiafoe, who earned multiple wins in dramatic fashion this week, saving two match points to beat in Aleksandar Kovacevic in the second round. Tiafoe also needed a heroic effort in the semi-finals to overcome Brandon Nakashima, who served for a straight-sets win before the eighth seed launched his comeback.

Such theatrics were not to be in the final. Cobolli held his nerve after dropping serve, earning a break back and successfully serving out the match after two hours and nine minutes.

“I think I deserve it for how I work outside the court,” Cobolli said. “After the losses, I work again on court and I just want to say that I’m very proud of myself. It was a great match today, I think it was the best of the tournament for me. I never won against [Frances] before today, so I’m very happy.”

Last year, Cobolli won the ATP 250 event in Bucharest and the ATP 500 tournament in Hamburg. He is the youngest Acapulco champion since a 22-year-old Dominic Thiem in 2016.

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How can you watch the Indian Wells draw?

The draw for the 2026 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells will take place on Monday, 2 March at 3 p.m. PST (6 p.m. EST/11 p.m. GMT). The No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings Carlos Alcaraz, No. 2 Jannik Sinner and joint-record five-time champion Novak Djokovic will headline a star-studded field at the opening ATP Masters 1000 event of the season, where main-draw play takes place from 4–15 March.

Their rivals chasing success in the California desert include World No. 3 Alexander Zverev, home favourites Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton, and defending champion Jack Draper.

Fans in the United States can watch the draw on Tennis Channel 2 and the Tennis Channel App. ATP Tour channels will have all you need to know about the draw shortly after it is complete.

Alcaraz will enter Indian Wells aiming to maintain his perfect record in 2026. The 22-year-old Spaniard is 12-0 for the season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, after lifting trophies at the Australian Open and the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha. Alcaraz is a two-time titlist in Indian Wells, where he triumphed in 2023 and 2024.

His great rival Sinner is chasing his maiden Indian Wells trophy. His best runs at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden came in 2023 and 2024: On both occasions, Sinner fell to eventual champion Alcaraz in the semi-finals, and he arrives in ‘Tennis Paradise’ this year trailing the Spaniard 6-10 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

Meanwhile Djokovic will aim to bounce back quickly from his Australian Open final defeat to Alcaraz with a strong showing in Indian Wells. The 38-year-old is looking for a sixth BNP Paribas Open crown to move clear of Roger Federer for the most men’s singles titles won in the California desert. 

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Zverev/Melo capture Acapulco crown

Alexander Zverev and Marcelo Melo completed a dream run Saturday when they claimed their first title together at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC.

The German and Brazilian, who first teamed in 2017, defeated Alexander Erler and Robert Galloway 6-3, 6-4 in the championship match to clinch the trophy at the ATP 500 event in Acapulco. The pair won 72 per cent (28/39) of its first-serve points and saved two of the three break points it faced, en route to a dominant 69-minute win.

“Marcelo has been my best friend for over 10 years now, and we finally won a tournament,” Zverev said. ” We have been in a couple of finals and we finally did it. So it’s special.”

Zverev and Melo compete together regularly and also reached the final at the 2024 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. They now hold a 20-25 record as a team, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

With the victory, Melo captured his 42nd tour-level doubles title, tying Mate Pavic for the most trophies won among active players and extended his winning streak to eight matches after capturing the ATP 500 title in Rio de Janeiro last week alongside Joao Fonseca.

“Thanks to Sascha’s family, it’s amazing,” said Melo. “We have known each other for almost 10 years now, they’re always together, supporting. Sascha, thank you to you as well.”

Zverev, currently No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings, lost to Miomir Kecmanovic in the second round of singles but returned to the court three days later to win his first doubles crown since 2019 when he partnered with his brother Mischa Zverev to clinch the title in Acapulco.

Luz/Matos triumph in Santiago

Rafael Matos and Orlando Luz capped another dominant week this season Saturday when they defeated Ariel Behar and Matthew Romios 6-3, 6-4 to clinch the trophy at the BCI Seguros Chile Open.

With the victory, the Brazilians, who also won the Buenos Aires crown two weeks ago, joined Harri Heliovaara/Henry Patten and Theo Arribage/Albano Olivetti as the only teams to have won at least two titles in 2026.

“It’s amazing,” said Luz. “It’s my first title in South America. It feels very special to be playing with a friend. To be playing with somebody that I consider family. It’s really nice. It’s even more special.”

Competing in their third tour-level final together, the second-seeded Brazilians saved all three break points they faced and won 76 per cent of their first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats, en route to an 80-minute triumph.

With two trophies and runs to the Brisbane and Australian Open quarter-finals, Luz and Matos hold a 15-4 record this year, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index and have climbed to No. 8 in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings.

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Hanfmann reaches first ATP final in six years in Santiago

Yannick Hanfmann is into his first ATP Tour final in six years and now stands one win away from his maiden title.

The German advanced to the championship match at the BCI Seguros Chile Open Saturday, when he upset top seed Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 6-4 in the semi-finals. Prior to this week, Hanfmann had not reached a final since September 2020, when he lost to Miomir Kecmanovic in Kitzbuhel.

“I think from the first point to the last, I played such a good match,” said Hanfmann. “I have to [do that] against him. He’s a great player and I knew that I had to bring my ‘A game’ today. I’m really, really happy.”

Cerundolo claimed the Buenos Aires crown two weeks ago and did not drop a set en route to the semi-finals in Santiago. However, he was unable to cope with the German, who struck cleanly and dominated the clash behind his serve.

Hanfmann won 79 per cent (27/34) of his first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and capitalised on Cerundolo’s 27 unforced errors. He also fended off both break points he faced, including a crucial save at 5-4 in the second set while serving for the match.

“It is normal to have some nerves to get into a final,” the German said. “But ultimately, I believed, and even on the break point, I believed in my shots and in my ability to stay in the rally.”

The 34-year-old will try to capture his first ATP Tour title when he faces second seed Luciano Darderi in Sunday’s title tilt.

In the second semi-final of the day, Darderi delivered a commanding performance to defeat 2024 champion Sebastian Baez 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 29 minutes. The Italian has now claimed all three of the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings in 2026.

“Sebastian is a tough opponent,” Darderi said. “We have already played three times this year. He’s an amazing player on clay. He has won more than six or seven titles. So it’s always a tough match against him.”

Darderi, who reached the championship match in Buenos Aires, will compete in his second final of the season and his sixth overall on Sunday. The Italian leads Hanfmann 1-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. Their sole meeting came in the quarter-finals of the ATP 250 event in Cordoba where Darderi won in straight sets.

Watch extended highlights from Saturday’s semi-final clash in Santiago:

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