SAN MARINO/STARNBERG, July 24, 2026
The 33rd edition of the Internazionali di Tennis San Marino Open promises one of the strongest fields in recent years, with a host of title contenders set to compete in the ATP Challenger 125 event from July 26 to August 2 at the Centro Tennis Cassa di Risparmio in Fonte dell’Ovo.
Tournament officials officially launched the event during a press conference on the Ciacci Damiani VIP Terrace, highlighting not only the quality of the player field but also several innovations for this year’s edition. For the first time, electronic line calling will replace line judges on all courts, while the tournament will receive expanded television coverage from SuperTennis beginning with the first round of the main draw on July 28, alongside broadcasts by San Marino RTV later in the week.
Leading the entry list is Argentina’s Facundo Diaz Acosta, who has already claimed four Challenger titles in 2026 and sits just outside the world’s Top 100. Among the other favorites are Hugo Dellien, fresh off his Challenger triumph in Trieste, Finland’s Otto Virtanen, Lithuanian rising star Vilius Gaubas, former World No. 16 Nikoloz Basilashvili, Spain’s Pedro Martinez, and defending 2024 champion Alexandre Muller, who climbed as high as No. 38 in the ATP Rankings less than a year ago.
Italy will also be strongly represented. Andrea Pellegrino, runner-up in San Marino in 2023, returns after an impressive season highlighted by victories over Arthur Fils and Frances Tiafoe at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia before falling to Jannik Sinner in the fourth round. Also in the field are Francesco Maestrelli and Marco Cecchinato, whose career breakthrough came with his San Marino title in 2013 before reaching the Roland Garros semifinals in 2018. Luca Nardi, however, has withdrawn due to an adductor injury.
Tournament director Nicola Lombardini, making his debut in the role, also announced the three main-draw wild cards. They have been awarded to promising Italians Filippo Romano, Carlo Alberto Caniato, and Jacopo Vasamì, all regarded among the country’s brightest young prospects. The qualifying draw will feature additional local interest with Francesco Forti, Manuel Mazza, Alberto Bronzetti, Lorenzo Angelini, and Malta’s Alex De Gabriele, the latter receiving a wild card as part of a collaboration between the San Marino and Malta tennis federations.
During the presentation, Secretary of State for Sport Rossano Fabbri described the San Marino Open as one of the Republic’s flagship sporting events, emphasizing its importance for tourism, the local economy, and international visibility. He also noted that this year’s tournament forms part of the celebrations marking San Marino European Community of Sport 2026.
National Olympic Committee president Christian Forcellini, himself a former president of the San Marino Tennis Federation, praised the event as an international showcase for the country, while federation president Elia Santi highlighted the continuous growth of the Challenger circuit. Prize money for ATP Challenger 125 tournaments has increased significantly over the past two years, reflecting the rising standards required to stage events at this level.
