SZCZECIN/STARNBERG, September 19, 2026
Saturday’s semi-finals at the Invest In Szczecin Open produced two contrasting matches, but ultimately the same outcome: Thiago Monteiro and Nikolas Sanchez Izquierdo will meet in Sunday’s final. The Brazilian needed three sets to overcome Marco Trungelliti, while the Spaniard defeated Luka Mikrut in straight sets. For Sanchez Izquierdo, Sunday could be a historic occasion, as no Spanish player has ever won the Szczecin Challenger.
Monteiro and Trungelliti were first onto the Centre Court at exactly 2 p.m. local time. The second-seeded Argentine was the favourite on paper, although there was little to separate the two experienced competitors.
Monteiro’s journey to professional tennis is one that underlines how unpredictable the road to elite sport can be. Adopted shortly after birth, the Brazilian grew up in a modest family and only discovered tennis at the age of eight, at a time when his country was celebrating the success of Gustavo “Guga” Kuerten at Roland Garros. It was his brother who first put a racket in his hands. His talent quickly became apparent, eventually taking him to Kuerten’s own academy. Monteiro reached a career-high No. 61 in the ATP Rankings.
In Szczecin, he had defeated Stefano Travaglia, Vitaliy Sachko and Diego Dedura on his way to the semi-finals, dropping just one set.
Standing across the net was 36-year-old Trungelliti, the most experienced of the four semi-finalists and a player enjoying one of the best seasons of his career. In 2026, the Argentine reached a career-high No. 76 in the ATP Rankings.
His own journey has been far from conventional. In 2015, Trungelliti was offered money to fix matches. He reported the approach to the relevant authorities, and his testimony subsequently contributed to the suspension of several players. The social consequences of the case eventually led him to move to Europe and settle in Andorra. His coach today is Albert Portas, who was a finalist at the Szczecin Challenger in 2003.
Trungelliti had also endured a demanding route to the semi-finals. He first defeated Sean Cuenin, then battled past Filip Pieczonka in an almost three-hour encounter before eliminating Marco Cecchinato in Friday’s quarterfinal.
The semi-final was played at a high level from the opening games. Both players showed impressive consistency and patience, but Monteiro appeared to have the slightly clearer game plan. The Brazilian repeatedly pushed his opponent deep with heavy balls and converted a break-point opportunity in the seventh game of the opening set. He held on to that advantage to take the set.
Trungelliti responded in the second set to force a decider, but Monteiro once again proved the more solid player when it mattered most. The Brazilian prevailed 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to book his place in Sunday’s final.
“Marco is having an incredible year. This season, he broke into the Top 100 for the first time and reached an ATP final. It’s really nice to see all the work he has put in over so many years finally paying off. I knew he was a very dangerous player – he is really good, so I had to play my best tennis. I think this was my best match of the tournament so far,” Monteiro said, praising his opponent.
The Brazilian’s opponent was decided in the second semi-final, where Luka Mikrut faced Sanchez Izquierdo. Once again, the stands were packed with spectators, while there was an additional storyline surrounding the match: the two had previously met in US Open qualifying, with the Croatian coming out on top.
The 22-year-old Mikrut is from Split, a city with a rich tennis tradition that has also produced players such as Goran Ivanisevic and Mario Ancic. The Croatian reached a career-high No. 159 in the ATP Rankings and has steadily built his position through World Tennis Tour and ATP Challenger events across Europe.
Sanchez Izquierdo, meanwhile, was making his fourth appearance in Szczecin, but it was only this year that he put together a winning run on the local courts. The Spaniard comes from Sant Andreu de Llavaneres, where he has long benefited from excellent training conditions. The 2026 season has been a breakthrough year for him: he reached a career-high ranking and captured his first ATP Challenger title.
On Saturday, it was the Spaniard who dictated play from the beginning. He kept the ball in play more effectively, made fewer errors and patiently built his advantage. One break was enough for him to take the opening set.
The second set saw more momentum shifts, with Mikrut receiving treatment from the physiotherapist as he attempted to turn the match around. Sanchez Izquierdo quickly regained control, however, and closed out a 6-3, 6-4 victory.
Vamos! 😤💪🫡
Nikolas Sanchez Izquierdo is into the final in Szczecin!#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/45lt6S1wjL
— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) September 19, 2026
The Spaniard will now have the opportunity to end one of the tournament’s longest-running streaks. Spanish players have come close to winning in Szczecin on numerous occasions, but none has ever lifted the singles trophy.
“I hope I will be the first one,” Sanchez Izquierdo said after his victory.
His preparations for Sunday’s final will be straightforward.
“Physio, stretching, massage and good food. I don’t watch video myself because that’s the coach’s job. Later, he will call me, we discuss the most important things and I simply try to give everything I have on court,” he said.
