MONZA, April 8, 2026
The leading contenders at the Atkinsons Monza Open 26 continued to live up to expectations on Wednesday, as top seed Raphael Collignon, Mattia Bellucci, Stefano Travaglia and Luca Van Assche all booked their places in the quarterfinals of the ATP Challenger 125 event.
Collignon once again produced the most convincing display of the day. The Belgian, defending champion and top seed, defeated Switzerland’s Remy Bertola 6-2, 7-6(1) in front of a special audience: the entire AC Monza football squad, who made a surprise visit to the Villa Reale Tennis Club.
The opening set was completely one-sided, with Collignon overpowering his opponent through relentless baseline tennis. Bertola, whose elegant one-handed backhand kept him in contention during the second set, managed to force a tie-break without either player conceding a break. But once again Collignon raised his level at the crucial moment, racing through the breaker 7-1 to secure his place in the last eight.
Steaming through to the QFs 🚂
🇧🇪 Raphael Collignon beats Bertola 6-2, 7-6(1) to edge closer towards defending his crown!#ATPChallenger | 🇮🇹 Monza pic.twitter.com/u7j2t7QXBq
— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) April 8, 2026
Earlier in the day, Stefano Travaglia had underlined his own impressive form with a dominant performance in the all-Italian clash against last week’s Open Menorca champion Raul Brancaccio. The 34-year-old former world No. 60 needed only 64 minutes to complete a commanding 6-2, 6-2 victory.
Brancaccio never found a way to trouble the experienced Italian, who appears to be rediscovering the level that once took him into the world’s top 60. Travaglia will now face another Italian in the quarterfinals: local favourite and third seed Mattia Bellucci.
Bellucci also came through in straight sets, defeating qualifier Andrea Guerrieri 6-3, 6-4. The left-hander from Varese looked in complete control in the first set, but encountered more resistance early in the second when Guerrieri moved ahead 2-0. Bellucci quickly recovered the break, however, and soon regained control of the match.
“The opening matches of a tournament are always complicated,” Bellucci said. “You need to find your rhythm and every opponent is very hungry. I’m happy with my performance, especially because clay has never been my favourite surface.”
The 23-year-old added that he is working hard to improve on clay as he pursues his season goal of finishing inside the world’s top 50.
“I’m trying to find the right balance between solidity and creativity. I want to become more consistent and win many matches on clay as well.”
Luca Van Assche also advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating Japan’s Rei Sakamoto 6-3, 7-5. The 2004-born Frenchman, whose mother is from Bergamo, reached the semi-finals in Monza last year and once again looks capable of a deep run.
Van Assche had to save two set points in the second set before completing the victory. The result continues his strong start to the season, during which he has climbed around 70 places in the rankings and returned to the world’s top 100 for the first time in almost two years.
His next opponent will be Collignon in what promises to be one of the most intriguing quarter-finals of the tournament.
WEDNESDAY RESULTS
Singles – Second Round
Stefano Travaglia (ITA) bt Raul Brancaccio (ITA) 6-2, 6-2
Raphael Collignon (BEL) bt Remy Bertola (SUI) 6-2, 7-6
Luca Van Assche (FRA) bt Rei Sakamoto (JPN) 6-3, 7-5
Mattia Bellucci (ITA) bt Andrea Guerrieri (ITA) 6-3, 6-4
Doubles – First Round
Ho/Jebens (TPE/GER) bt Bondioli/Caniato (ITA/ITA) 6-4, 6-3
Liutarevich/Pieczonka (-/POL) bt Raymond/Sanchez (FRA/FRA) 6-2, 3-6, 10-2
Barrientos/Behar (COL/URU) bt Escobar/Serdarusic (ECU/CRO) 7-5, 6-7, 15-13
Duda/Latinovic (CZE/SRB) bt Kirkov/Stevens (USA/NED) 6-4, 3-6, 10-8
Paul/Vocel (SUI/CZE) bt Romano/Vasamì (ITA/ITA) 6-4, 7-6
Drzewiecki/Nouza (POL/CZE) bt Cadenasso/Travaglia (ITA/ITA) 6-2, 6-2
