Five ATP Challenger players to watch in 2026 | ATP tour | Tennis

Challenger

Five ATP Challenger players to watch in 2026

Zheng, Jodar on the list
January 5, 2026

From college standouts to young stars making professional breakthroughs, here are five ATP Challenger players to watch in 2026:

Michael Zheng
Zheng is a proven winner and his rise to the ATP Tour is not a matter of if, but when. The reigning two-time NCAA singles champion, a senior at Columbia University, compiled a 24-7 match record at the ATP Challenger level in 2025, including three title runs.

Zheng made the most of an ATP Next Gen Accelerator spot at the Chicago Challenger in August, reaching the winner’s circle as world No. 416 in the PIF ATP Rankings. Zheng then extended his title win with back-to-back trophies in Columbus and Tiburon in September. Zheng will celebrate his 22nd birthday later this month and will start 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 has had an excellent season, in which he was one of six players to claim four season-leading 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 number 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 first Challenger title in Glasgow in February and returned to the winner’s circle in July with back-to-back victories 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 win of the year.

Raphael Jodar
Few Challenger players made a more notable late-season rise 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 he is turning pro, waiving his remaining eligibility at the University of Virginia, where he spent two seasons.

The Spaniard entered the Chersonissos Challenger in September as world number 540 and was an alternate in the main draw, but in his ninth Challenger appearance he went all the way to the title. Jodar won the Lincoln and Charlottesville Challengers over a three-week period in October, with the latter taking place on his home campus in Virginia. He scored two group stage wins in Jeddah and will start 2026 at career No. 165.

Trophy time for Rafa Jodar 😎#ATPCchallenger | @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 quickly announces himself on that stage and knocks on the door of his first title. The Italian has 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 watch as he looks 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. With a thunderous, damaging backhand, the Dane ended his 2025 season triumphantly, 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 challengers in Oeiras, Portugal and Iasi, Romania. Moller starts the year at number 119 in the PIF ATP rankings.