Lloyd Harris continues ‘new career’ with victory over Tenerife Challenger | ATP tour | Tennis

Challenger

Harris, former number 31, celebrates ‘step towards new career’

The 28-year-old won the Tenerife Challenger, his second title run of 2026
February 15, 2026

After returning to the Tour in 2025 after a serious back injury, Lloyd Harris has embarked on two ATP Challenger title runs this season.

The 28-year-old returned to the winner’s circle at the Tenerife Challenger 2 on Sunday, beating Alejandro Moro Canas 7-5, 7-5 in the final. Harris, who won the Soma Bay Challenger in January, now has eight titles at that level to his name.

“A trophy means a lot, especially on the Challenger Tour. It will help me a lot to get back into bigger tournaments, hopefully soon,” Harris said. “A trophy is a special feeling, winning a final gives you a lot of confidence. Overall, it’s just a big deal for me to win a trophy this week.”

Harris reached career-high No. 31 in 2021, shortly after reaching his first major quarterfinal at the US Open. In 2024, Harris suffered a herniated disc in the L4/L5 vertebral segment (lower back), ultimately requiring discectomy surgery.

“After any surgery, especially the one I’ve had, it’s very tough. It’s a new career for me, it’s a new path,” said Harris, now No. 155 in the PIF ATP rankings. “I’m raising the load, I’m raising the level from where I was, which essentially came back from nowhere. It’s a stepping stone.”

Zhang dominant on his way to the Brisbane title
Zhang Zhizhen, whose career high is also #31 (reached in 2024), claimed his own Challenger title, triumphing at the Brisbane Tennis International #2. The 29-year-old didn’t drop a set all week. Zhang defeated home hope Alex Bolt 6-2, 6-4 in the final.

^{Zhang Zhizhen wins the Brisbane Challenger. Credit: Tennis Australia}

Zhang appeared in just 17 matches at all levels in 2025 after missing six months due to a shoulder injury.

Collignon defends the Pau crown
Raphael Collignon successfully defended his title at the Terega Open Pau Pyrénées, an indoor Challenger 125 event in France. The top-seeded Belgian defeated Benjamin Bonzi 7-6(5) 6-1 in the final and now sits at number 59 in his career in the PIF ATP rankings.

Raphael Collignon wins the Pau Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/images/news/2026/02/16/02/46/collignon-pauch-2026.jpg”>
^{Raphael Collignon lifts his fifth ATP Challenger trophy. Credit: Alexis Atteret}

Dostanic moves from qualification to title list
American Stefan Dostanic captured his first Challenger crown at the Baton Rouge Challenger, where as a qualifier he won seven matches in eight days to lift the trophy. The 24-year-old Dostanic, a former standout for Wake Forest University, defeated Alexis Galarneau 6-4, 6-1 in the championship match.

Stefan Dostanic in action at the Baton Rouge Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/images/news/2026/02/16/02/44/dostanic-batonrougech-2026.jpg”>
^{Stefan Dostanic in action at the Baton Rouge Challenger. Credit: Nick Adams/LSU Athletics}

Ferreira Silva wins the almost three-hour final and triumphs in Chennai
Portugal’s Frederico Ferreira Silva won his first Challenger title in his fifth final at that level. The 30-year-old claimed the Coromandel Open, escaping Argentina’s Federico Agustin Gomez 6-4, 6-7(10), 6-4 in a marathon final lasting two hours and 58 minutes.

Frederico Ferreira Silva in action at the Chennai Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/images/news/2026/02/16/02/43/ferreira-silva-chennaich-2026.jpg”>
^{Frederico Ferreira Silva during the Chennai final. Credit: Coromandel Open}