With 70 successes in the Challengers and ITFs, our movement proves to be an absolute powerhouse even on the smaller circuit. The names destined to enter the top 100
Luigi Ansaloni
December 30th – 12.40pm – MILANO
Italy scores 70 successes in the Challengers and ITFs, proving itself to be an absolute power even on the “minor” circuit. Of course, there are Jannik Sinner, Flavio Cobolli and Luciano Darderi with their eleven ATP titles won in 2025, but there are also many tennis players who in that undergrowth too often unfairly forgotten have built or are building a very respectable career. The Italian who has won the most Challengers (3) is Francesco Maestrelli, 23 years old, 139 in the world, the next Italian candidate to enter the top 100 and, think about it, the current Italian number one in the Race, sixth in the world. How is this possible? Simple: Maestrelli won points in the Challengers at the end of the year (his last success in Bergamo, in November) which are already valid for the 2026 Race, contrary to what was done, obviously, by Sinner and other colleagues. It matters little, however, for a player like Maestrelli who has just turned 23 and who seems to be on the rise.
FIFTH POST
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In 2025, Italy has won a total of 13 Challengers, fifth overall behind the United States (23), France (19), Argentina (16) and Great Britain (15). Aside from the instructors, Matteo Gigante in Roma Garden, Andrea Pellegrino in Perugia, former top 20 Marco Cecchinato in Milan, Stefano Travaglia in Modena, Mattia Bellucci in Sumter, Giulio Zeppieri in Shanghai, Luciano Darderi in Genoa, Stefano Napolitano in Biella, Franco Agamenone in Targu Mures and Lorenzo Giustino in Monastir won one title each. The Italian players have won eight of the Challengers in Italy and five abroad, with nine victories obtained on clay, three on hard courts and one on fast indoor.
DOMAIN
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As regards the ITF circuit, Italy has largely dominated in the men’s field, with 18 victories out of 31 tournaments played in the Bel Paese. Three successes for Gianmarco Ferrari, two for Gabriele Piraino, Jacopo Berrettini, Manuel Mazza, Andrea Picchione Gianluca Cadenasso, one success each, finally, for Alexander Weis, Lorenzo Carboni, Samuele Pieri, Lorenzo Sciahbasi and Giorgio Tabacco. Out of 29 women’s ITF tournaments played in Italy, the girls have won 11 titles, with ten finals. The queen was Jennifer Ruggeri from the Marche, capable of scoring a hat-trick.
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