MONZA, April 9, 2026
For Raphael Collignon, there could hardly be a better place to begin the clay-court season than Monza, a city just north of Milan, known for combining elegant Italian charm with a strong sporting tradition. It is home to the famous Autodromo Nazionale Monza, one of the most historic Formula 1 circuits in the world, but also offers green spaces, historic villas and lively cafés.
The 24-year-old Belgian returns this week to the Monza Open as defending champion, world No. 68 and one of the most improved players on the ATP Challenger Tour. Twelve months ago, he left northern Italy with the title. Since then, he has climbed into the Top 70, reached the third round of the Miami Open and added two more Challenger trophies in Pau, France to bring his total to five.
“I always like coming back to places where I’ve been successful and where I feel comfortable,” he explained. “I like the people and the atmosphere here in Italy. The food is also very good, which is important. The weather is nice and the courts are very good. The hotel is a little outside the city, so you can focus well on tennis. On the other hand, Monza is not far from Milan, so you can also visit the city quite quickly. Overall, it is a great combination here.”
Monza is therefore much more than just another tournament stop. It is a place where Collignon feels settled – and where he hopes to build on the momentum of the strongest period of his career.
Born in Rochester, Minnesota, Collignon spent only the first year of his life in the United States. His father, Frédéric, worked as a brain surgeon at the Mayo Clinic before the family moved to Belgium. It was there that “Raph” first picked up a tennis racket, hitting balls against a wall at the local club while his father played.
Now, after years of steady development, he arrives in Monza with the confidence gained from a successful American hard-court swing. This spring, he made the main draw of both Indian Wells and Miami and reached the third round in Florida.
“It was a great experience playing the ATP Masters in Indian Wells and Miami. These are tournaments we have been looking forward to playing since we are kids. These are special places to go, very well-organized tournaments. The sites were incredible. You see all the top players and I was twice in the main draw. I am very happy about this experience.”
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Switching from hard courts back to clay can often be difficult, but Collignon believes his game is versatile enough to adapt quickly.
“It’s the first clay-court tournament of the new season and clay is a tricky surface, so you have to practice a little bit more on it. I practiced two weeks after Miami but my game suits very well on hard as well as on clay. I can switch easily.”
That versatility has become one of his trademarks. Collignon does not see himself as a specialist limited to one style or one surface.
“I am a quite complete player. I can attack but also have good defensive skills. I can serve big and I am able to mix up the game. These are my strengths. Sometimes, I need to be a bit more aggressive on the court. That’s what I am working on. But I am very happy with my progress over the last few years, and I hope to continue like this.”
An important figure in that progress has been coach Steve Darcis, the former world No. 38 who continues to guide Collignon through the Belgian Tennis Federation.
“I have two coaches from the federation. Steve is taking care of me, but he spent one month in the U.S. and needed a little break. He will be back on my side in Madrid.”
Collignon values not only Darcis’s experience, but also the trust between them.
“He is a former top 40 player, and you can learn a lot from him. I can trust him, which is very important. He can give you a lot of good advice and I am very happy to have him as a coach.”
Off court, Collignon appears just as grounded and interested in the places, where the tennis tournaments take place.
“I like to spend time with friends. My girlfriend came to Monza for the weekend. I rented a car and we went to Milan. I try to mix hard practice with some fun off the court.”
Away from tennis, he follows football and cycling closely. His favourite clubs are FC Barcelona and Standard Liège, while Belgium’s rich cycling culture has also left its mark on him.
“I am interested in football and like to watch cycling. We have a lot of good sprinters in Belgium.”
Collignon also has a passion for fashion.
“I also like shopping and I am interested in fashion. I like to buy good clothes, which are maybe also atypic.”
And if he ever had to design his own look?
“Oversized pants, good sneakers but not too much – just stylish. Maybe in the next few days I’ll show up at the venue wearing a good outfit,” he said with a smile.
