The 2026 Internazionali di Tennis San Marino Open concluded on a high note, with organizers celebrating what they describe as one of the most successful editions in the tournament’s 33-year history. Argentina’s Facundo Diaz Acosta lived up to his top billing by capturing the ATP Challenger 125 title at the Centro Cassa di Risparmio di Fonte dell’Ovo, ending a 24-year wait for another Argentine singles champion in San Marino.

Tournament president Elia Santi praised an event that combined sporting excellence with organizational progress.

“I believe this edition will be remembered for a long time because what truly made it special was the passion and love for tennis that could be felt throughout the week,” Santi said. “If I had to summarize it in two words, they would be growth and sharing.”

Santi highlighted improvements across every aspect of the tournament, including the increased prize money, a stronger player field, a growing number of commercial and technical partners, higher attendance figures, and expanded media coverage. He credited the success to the collective effort of the San Marino Tennis Federation’s board, local institutions, sponsors and partners, emphasizing that the event remains a showcase for the Republic of San Marino on the international stage.

“We receive compliments from players, officials and everyone involved in the tournament,” Santi added. “In many areas, the services we provide exceed Challenger Tour standards thanks to an experienced organizing team. It is an event created entirely by people from San Marino, making it a source of pride for the entire country and an important asset for tourism.”

Santi also invited fans to continue supporting the ITF Junior Under-18 tournament currently taking place at the venue, calling it an opportunity to watch the stars of tomorrow.

Tournament director Nicola Lombardini, serving in the role for the first time, also reflected positively on the week.

“From the qualifying rounds onwards, we welcomed large crowds every day,” Lombardini said. “Fans came not only from the surrounding region but also from further away, enjoying the hospitality village, fan zone, restaurant area and the matches throughout the venue.”

One of the most encouraging signs, according to Lombardini, was that spectator interest remained high despite the early exits of all Italian players, marking the first time since 1997 that no home player reached the quarterfinals.

“The tournament demonstrated that its appeal is now well established and no longer depends solely on the presence of Italian players in the draw,” he explained. “Ticket sales remained very strong even during the evenings without Italians on court, while the fans embraced many of the international players and created a fantastic atmosphere through to the trophy ceremony.”

Lombardini also highlighted the tournament’s communication strategy, developed together with local media partners. The event generated more than 1.5 million social media impressions, reached nearly 304,000 accounts and grew its online community by 47.4 percent, with 87.2 percent of the engagement achieved organically without paid promotion.

The 2026 edition also marked the introduction of electronic line calling (ELC) and artificial intelligence tools to support key operational areas such as transportation, accommodation and prize money management.

“We are particularly proud to be among the first tournaments to test these technologies,” Lombardini said. “Together with the organizing committee, we have already identified areas where we can further improve the organization, facilities and player services ahead of the 2027 edition.”