Top-level professional tennis is set to return to Quito with the launch of the ATP Challenger Quito Copa Banco Guayaquil, a tournament that will award $63,000 in prize money and 50 ATP ranking points to the champion.

After a five-year absence, the ATP Challenger Tour will once again stop in Ecuador’s capital, with the tournament scheduled to take place from June 29 to July 5, 2026, at the Club Rancho San Francisco on clay courts.

The official presentation of the event was held at the club’s Salón La Candelaria and featured tournament director Andres Gomez, organiser Luis Adrian Morejon, representatives from Banco Guayaquil and Suzuki Ecuador, as well as club officials.

“The idea came from the ATP, who asked us to organise a tournament in Quito,” explained Andres Gomez, one of Ecuador’s greatest tennis legends. “We saw it as an opportunity to grow as an organisation, involve the capital city in the development of Ecuadorian tennis, and give young players the chance to experience something similar to what I lived in my early years.”

Gomez, who won 21 career titles including the Grand Prix of Quito in 1982, also invited local fans to embrace the event.

“I want to invite everyone in Quito to come from June 28 to July 5 and enjoy the Challenger de Quito Copa Banco Guayaquil,” he said. “We will see not only Ecuador’s future talents, but also some of the best young players from across South America competing on the ATP Tour.”

The tournament is expected to feature a strong international field, including players from Latin America, other regions of the world and Ecuador itself. The official entry list will be announced during the week of June 8.

For Luis Adrian Morejon, the event carries personal significance. The former Ecuadorian player was the first-ever champion of the Quito Challenger back in 1995.

“Quito has always been a very important place in my career,” Morejon said. “I have incredible memories of the support from the fans here. Now, being able to organise an event like this fills me with pride and nostalgia, but also with responsibility. We want everything at Club Rancho San Francisco to be first class.”

Morejon also stressed the importance of expanding the Challenger circuit across Latin America.

“This tournament is part of the growth of tennis in the region,” he explained. “Having more professional events in South America is extremely valuable for player development.”

The organisers highlighted the club’s facilities as ideal for hosting an international tournament, meeting all ATP standards for players, fans and tournament operations.

Denisse Melgarejo, Brand Analyst for Banco Guayaquil’s sports division, underlined the importance of supporting tennis development in Ecuador.

“We strongly believe that sport is a tool for national development,” she said. “That is why we continue supporting Ecuadorian tennis and backing this tournament because of the impact it can have on new generations.”

The ATP Challenger Quito Copa Banco Guayaquil is being organised by Andres Gómez and Luis Adrian Morejon, who also oversee the long-running Challenger Ciudad de Guayaquil — a tournament that has been held uninterrupted for 21 years and has received recognition from the ATP for its longevity and contribution to the Challenger circuit.