VALENCIA, May 16, 2026
The 2026 Copa Faulconbridge now has its finalists after a packed Saturday at the Club de Tenis Valencia, where full stands and a lively atmosphere in the tournament fan zone set the stage for an outstanding day of tennis.
In sunny conditions and temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius, Miomir Kecmanovic delivered a composed and high-level performance from the baseline to defeat Chilean top seed Alejandro Tabilo 7-6(0), 6-3 in a semifinal lasting one hour and 35 minutes.
The match began with both players producing excellent tennis in long baseline rallies. Tabilo looked to dictate with his power and aggressive shot-making, while Kecmanovic countered with remarkable consistency and defensive solidity, forcing the opening set into a tie-break.
There, the seventh-seeded Serbian produced his best tennis of the afternoon, dominating the breaker without dropping a single point.
Carrying the momentum into the second set, Kecmanovic maintained a very high intensity level, serving confidently and taking advantage of his opportunities on return to build a decisive lead. From there, the 26-year-old Belgrade native managed the match expertly to secure his place in Sunday’s final.
Feb 2025: Delray Beach 🏆
May 2026: Valencia 🥇 or 🥈🇷🇸 Miomir Kecmanovic beats Tabilo 7-6(0), 6-3 to advance to his first final in 15 months!#ATPChallenger | @copafbvalencia pic.twitter.com/m07tcByuTf
— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) May 16, 2026
Vallejo outlasts Munar in marathon match
Later in the afternoon, the second semifinal of the ATP Challenger 175 event featured an intense and closely contested battle between No. 2 seed Jaume Munar from Spain and Daniel Vallejo of Paraguay.
In the probably best match of the week, both players produced high-quality tennis in an encounter marked by constant momentum swings and fierce competitiveness, eventually requiring a deciding set to determine who would advance to the championship match.
Munar claimed the opening set 6-4, but Vallejo responded impressively to edge a dramatic second-set tie-break. In the decisive third set under the lights on Pablo Andujar Centre Court, the Paraguayan maintained his composure and intensity to complete a hard-fought 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 victory in three hours and 21 minutes and book his spot in the Copa Faulconbridge final. Vallejo and Kecmanovic will meet for the first time.
Final bound 🔜
🇵🇾 @danivallejo17: “Happy that I got through with this fight today” 😅#ATPChallenger | @copafbvalencia https://t.co/xOL4aU4NyG pic.twitter.com/4bzcslbFM2
— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) May 16, 2026
The doubles draw also confirmed its finalists on Saturday, with the teams of Nicolas Barrientos of Colombia and Uruguayan Ariel Behar, as well as Brazilian top seeds Orlando Luz and Rafael Matos, advancing after successful semifinal victories.
