MONZA/STARNBERG, April 13, 2025
The inaugural edition of the Atkinsons Monza Open lived up to expectations, with World No. 91 and top seed Raphael Collignon proving exactly why he was the man to beat. After a week packed with 64 matches across singles and doubles on the courts of Villa Reale Tennis, the 23-year-old Belgian, who was born in Rochester, Minnesota, claimed the title of the ATP Challenger Tour event in dominant fashion.
In Sunday’s championship match, which was delayed due to rain, Collignon was simply too strong—and too fresh—for his opponent, Ukrainian Vitaliy Sachko. The 27-year-old from Kremenchuk had spent nearly nine hours on court in his previous four matches and entered the final both physically drained and struggling with a hip issue, which required physio treatment after the first set. He ultimately fell 6-3, 7-5 in 97 minutes.
Collignon controlled the match from start to finish, facing only one minor setback when he was broken while serving for the match at 5-4 in the second set. But he quickly regrouped, raised his level in the 11th game, and sealed the win shortly after. With the victory, he claimed his fourth ATP Challenger Tour career title, all earned since August 2024. He earned 100 ATP Ranking points as well as over €20,000 in prize money, boosting him to a career-high World No. 83.
TRIUMPHANT IN MONZA
Raphael Collignon defeats Sachko 6-3, 7-5 to secure his second title of the year! #ATPChallenger | @TennisBelgium pic.twitter.com/e0hwx18iVl
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) April 13, 2025
“I came in as the top seed, so people expected me to win,” said Collignon. “But it was a tough week with many strong opponents. I managed to play close to my best tennis throughout and stayed mentally solid, which made the difference. I’m really happy with this win, which guarantees me a place in the main draws at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. If I get the chance, I’d love to come back to Monza—it’s rare to find such a well-organized tournament, especially in its first edition.”
The success was echoed by Villa Reale Tennis Club president Cristiano Crippa during the trophy ceremony. “It’s been a triumphant journey,” he said. “The club lit up with so many amazing players, and we’re thrilled with how everything went. We owe huge thanks to our sponsors and the club’s members, whose support was incredible. This is not a finish line but the beginning of something great.”
Tournament director Giorgio Tarantola agreed: “The outcome of this first edition exceeded even our most optimistic hopes. We had over 20,000 spectators throughout the week, with high-quality matches and excellent feedback from sponsors and the media. But we’re not stopping here—we’re already working on the 2026 edition, with the aim of making this tournament a permanent fixture on the ATP calendar.”
