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
| Player | Age | Title |
| Jannik Sinner | 17 years, six months | 2019 Bergamo |
| Stefano Pescosolido | 17 years, 10 months | 1989 Parioli |
| Luca Nardi | 18 years, five months | 2022 Forli |
| Lorenzo Musetti | 18 years, six months | 2020 Forli |
| Federico Cina | 18 years, 11 months | 2026 Pune |
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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