Five ATP Challenger players to watch in 2026
From college standouts to young stars making a professional breakthrough, here are five ATP Challenger players to watch in 2026:
Michael Zheng
Zheng is a proven winner and his rise onto the ATP Tour is not a question of if, but when. The reigning two-time NCAA singles champion, who is a senior at Columbia University, tallied a 24-7 match record at ATP Challenger level in 2025, including three title runs.
Zheng made the best possible use of an ATP Next Gen Accelerator spot at the Chicago Challenger in August, going all the way to the winner’s circle as World No. 416 in the PIF ATP Rankings. Zheng then added to his title haul in September with consecutive trophies in Columbus and Tiburon. Celebrating his 22nd birthday later this month, Zheng begins the season at No. 182 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
Nicolai Budkov Kjaer
One of the fastest-rising teenagers on the ATP Challenger circuit, the Norwegian is coming off a standout season in which he was one of six players to claim a season-leading four titles at that level. That success helped Budkov Kjaer qualify for the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, where he reached the semi-finals. At No. 135 in the PIF ATP Rankings, the 19-year-old will aim for a second consecutive qualification for the 20-and-under event.
In 2025, the teenager won his maiden Challenger title in Glasgow in February and returned to the winner’s circle in July with back-to-back triumphs in Tampere and Astana, becoming the youngest Norwegian to claim multiple Challenger titles. The 2024 Wimbledon boys’ singles champion won the Mouilleron le Captif Challenger in October for his fourth triumph of the year.
Rafael Jodar
Few Challenger players made a more eye-catching, late-season surge than Jodar, who won three titles in as many months en route to qualifying for the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF. On New Year’s Eve, the 19-year-old announced that he is turning pro, forgoing his remaining eligibility at the University of Virginia, where he spent two seasons.
The Spaniard entered the Hersonissos Challenger in September as World No. 540 and was in the main draw as an alternate, yet in just his ninth Challenger appearance, he went all the way to the title. Jodar won the Lincoln and Charlottesville Challengers across a three-week span in October, the latter taking place at his home campus in Virginia. He earned two group-stage wins in Jeddah and is set to begin 2026 at a career-high No. 165.
Trophy time for Rafa Jodar 😎#ATPChallenger | @RFETenis pic.twitter.com/cvODPSHx8H
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) October 19, 2025
Federico Cina
Fresh off his first full season on the Challenger circuit, Cina is rapidly announcing himself on that stage and knocking on the door of his maiden title. The Italian competed in three Challenger finals in 2025, including a tight two-set defeat to fellow #NextGenATP star Justin Engel — the youngest Challenger championship match since 2003. The 18-year-old will be one to keep an eye on as he aims to qualify for the 2026 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF.
Elmer Moller
Power and momentum are firmly on Moller’s side as he approaches his Top 100 debut. Boasting a thunderous, damage-dealing backhand, the Dane closed his 2025 season in triumphant fashion, winning the Maia Challenger in the final week. It marked the 22-year-old’s third Challenger title of the year in his fourth final appearance. He also won the clay-court Challengers in Oeiras, Portugal and Iasi, Romania. Moller begins the year at No. 119 in the PIF ATP Rankings.