Chris Rodesch wins Oeiras Challenger | ATP Tour Tennis

Challenger

Rodesch wins Oeiras Challenger as the college tennis pipeline delivers results again

The 24-year-old is among last week’s four Challenger titlists
January 26, 2026

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, joins the list of collegiate alumni who could succeed at the next level. Last year, 23 different players with college tennis experience won at least one ATP Challenger title, including Rodesch, who won his first crown in Tallahassee in April.

Now back in the winner’s circle, the 198cm tall Rodesch defeated Hungarian Zsombor Piros 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 in the Oeiras final.

Trophy time in Oeiras 🏆#ATPCchallenger pic.twitter.com/bG9IWeblpN

— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) January 25, 2026

“I’m very happy, it was a very tough week,” said Rodesch, who rose 55 places to number 154 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. “I felt like I was at a really good level in the first two tournaments in Australia, but I didn’t get the reward I wanted.

“So to be rewarded now, in the third tournament of 2026, with the level I play is very nice. It is a very special feeling to win my second Challenger.”

Rodesch graduated from the University of Virginia in 2024 and earned ITA All-American honors three times during his college career. Rodesch and former world number 21 Gilles Muller are the only players from Luxembourg to win on the ATP Challenger circuit.

Paraguayan Vallejo wins the fourth Challenger trophy
Adolfo Daniel Vallejo captured his fourth Challenger title at the Itajai Open in Brazil, beating home hope Thiago Seyboth Wild 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 in a final lasting three hours and 13 minutes.

Vallejo, 21, captured two Challenger titles in 2025, including in the final week at the Guayaquil Challenger. After reaching the final qualifying round at the Australian Open, Vallejo traveled to Brazil and easily made the transition to clay. Vallejo is ranked No. 125 in the PIF Live ATP Rankings, setting him up for a new career high.

Adolfo Daniel Vallejo wins the Itajai Challenger.
^{Adolfo Daniel Vallejo wins his fourth Challenger title, three of which have come in Brazil. Credit: João Pires}

Harris, former No. 31, returns to Titletown
Former world number 31 Lloyd Harris won his first title at any level since June 2024 with his victory at the Soma Bay Open in Egypt. Fifth-seeded Harris, who was a quarter-finalist at the 2021 US Open, was leading Jack Pinnington Jones 6-1, 5-2 in the final when the Briton retired with a right foot injury.

The smile of a champion 😁

Lloyd Harris lifts his first trophy since 2024 with a 6-1, 5-2(ret) win over Pinnington Jones in Soma Bay#ATPCchallenger | @TennisSA pic.twitter.com/4N90w1ZdiQ

— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) January 25, 2026

Kwon, a two-time tour-level titlist, advances through qualifying on his way to the trophy
South Korean Soonwoo Kwon also returned to the winner’s circle with his victory at NovaWorld Phan Thiet Challenger 1 in Vietnam. With his first title at Challenger level or above since winning the ATP 250 in Adelaide in 2023, Kwon reached qualifying on his way 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.