MAIA/STARNBERG, October 17, 2026
Zsombor Piros and Francesco Passaro will meet in Sunday’s singles final at the Maia Open, with both players having compelling reasons to fight for the title. The Hungarian is aiming to break into the Top 100 for the first time in his career, while the Italian returns to the final two years after finishing runner-up at the same tournament.
World No. 114 Piros took another important step towards his ranking goal by defeating Spanish qualifier Alejo Sanchez Quilez 6-4, 6-4 in Saturday’s semi-finals. The 27-year-old Sanchez Quilez, currently ranked No. 375, had reached the last four of a Challenger event at this level for the first time, but was unable to halt the Hungarian’s progress.
Piros is a familiar face in Challenger finals on Portuguese soil. He won the Oeiras Open 125 in 2023 and finished runner-up at the Indoor Oeiras Open in both 2025 and 2026. A triumph in Maia would finally take him into the Top 100, a milestone he came close to achieving in March 2024, when he reached a career-high ranking of No. 106.
“When I looked at the rankings at the beginning of the week, I knew I would be exactly No. 100 if I reached the final. But, of course, things can change from one day to the next, and now I know I need to win the title. Breaking into the Top 100 for the first time is a big step for any player, and I know I will wake up nervous tomorrow. I was already nervous this morning because reaching a new career-high ranking also makes me very happy.
“I will be fighting for many things tomorrow, but if I don’t manage to achieve it, it won’t be the end of the world because I still have a few more weeks ahead of me. I am very confident because I have the level to do it, and I believe in myself,” said Piros after reaching his seventh Challenger final of the season and the 18th of his career.
Standing in his way is Francesco Passaro, who extended his winning streak to nine matches with another comeback victory. Following his impressive win over top seed Marco Trungelliti, the world No. 229 overcame Croatian Matej Dodig, ranked No. 174, 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 in two hours and 38 minutes. Dodig had claimed the Braga Open title the previous weekend.
Piros leads their head-to-head record, although Passaro won their most recent encounter in 2024. The Italian will be looking to turn the tables on Sunday and complete another successful week in Portugal.
“I am very happy to be back in the final here in Maia, but this time I hope for a different result. I really like the conditions here. This is the second time I have played here and the second time I have reached the final. I am also happy with the level I am finally managing to recover after my injuries.
“I had a problem with my hand, but now I am feeling fit again. I am grateful to be healthy and able to compete. I enjoy working hard and putting in the effort to become the best player I can be, so it is good to feel that I am capable of doing that again,” Passaro said.
The Italian captured an ATP Challenger 50 title in Palermo last Sunday, ending a wait for a tournament final that had stretched back to November 2024, when he lost the Maia Open final.
