VILLENA/STARNBERG, October 11, 2026
The ninth edition of the Ferrero & Forty Challenger came to a successful conclusion with Laslo Djere lifting the trophy at the Ferrero Tennis Academy in Villena, Spain. The 31-year-old Serbian, who reached a career-high ranking of world No. 27, showed that he has overcome his injury problems, producing an excellent display of tennis against a strong opponent in Daniil Glinka.
Djere defeated the Estonian 6-4, 6-4 in Sunday’s singles final. In front of packed stands, the world No. 179 won 81 per cent of his first-service points and capitalized on three of his five break-point chances to secure victory in one hour and 32 minutes.
A winning end to the week 🇷🇸
#ATPChallenger | @Ferreroacademy https://t.co/bOPNVbwj8q
— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) October 11, 2026
Djere captured his fourth ATP Challenger Tour career title, his second of the season following his triumph in Oeiras, Portugal.
The champion was presented with the Guardian of the Agora, the tournament’s trophy, which continues the legacy of the former OPEN Valencia 500, where Juan Carlos Ferrero once served as tournament director. Ferrero, president of the academy, and Hector del Barrio, managing director of the Forty Group, handed the trophy to Djere, marking the successful first edition of their new partnership.
The collaboration has also brought a change of name, with the tournament evolving from the Alicante Ferrero Challenger into the Ferrero & Forty Challenger. The latest edition once again proved to be a sporting and social success, offering a wide range of activities throughout the week for visitors of all ages and creating a vibrant atmosphere around the tennis.
Before the final, the tournament paid tribute to Antonio Martinez Cascales, founding partner of the academy. The ceremony was brought to a close by the Director General of Sports of the Generalitat Valenciana, who praised the academy not only for organising the tournament but also for its contribution to promoting tennis throughout the Valencian Community.
Particular recognition was given to Martinez Cascales, who coached Juan Carlos Ferrero throughout his professional career and founded the academy where the former world No. 1 developed as a player. The academy now bears Ferrero’s name. A respected figure who has influenced generations of tennis players, particularly in the region, Martinez Cascales also celebrated 50 years as a tennis coach.
