OLBIA/STARNBERG, October 17, 2026
Jacob Fearnley and Damir Dzumhur will meet in the final of the fourth edition of the Olbia Challenger. Organised by MEF Tennis Events in collaboration with Tennis Club Terranova, the tournament will conclude with the highest-ranked final possible, as the top two seeds go head-to-head for the trophy on Sunday.
On the Cloto Arena, former world No. 23 Dzumhur defeated Maks Kasnikowski 6-1, 7-5. In the following match, former world No. 49 Fearnley overcame Luca Nardi 6-2, 6-4. Sunday’s encounter will be the third meeting between the two players, with their head-to-head record currently tied at one win apiece. Their most recent clash took place at the beginning of 2026 at the Indian Wells Masters 1000, where Fearnley came out on top.
Following his title runs in Ilkley, Newport and Bloomfield Hills, Fearnley will contest his fourth Challenger final of the season, aiming to capture the sixth title of his career on the circuit. The Briton secured his place in the Olbia final with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over an injury-hampered Luca Nardi, who was affected by a muscular problem in his inner thigh.
“I know Luca was not at his best physically, and I feel sorry for him,” said the current world No. 96. “He probably even considered retiring, but he respected the crowd and honoured his commitment. When he strikes the ball well, he can still make things difficult for me. I really hope he recovers quickly.”
Fearnley and Dzumhur will meet for the third time in their careers, with the head-to-head standing at 1-1.
“Damir has a great deal of experience and has shown some excellent tennis here. The same has been true of me. I haven’t dropped a set in Olbia and I feel really comfortable on these courts. I know the crowd would have liked to see an Italian player in the final, but I think we will still put on a great battle.”
Dzumhur: “I Have Rebuilt My Confidence in Olbia”
With a 6-1, 7-5 win over Maks Kasnikowski, Dzumhur reached his second final of 2026, following his appearance in the title match at the ATP 250 event in Umag.
U N S T O P P A B L E 🤯
Damir Dzumhur è il primo finalista dell’Olbia Challenger 🇮🇹
#tennis #OlbiaChallenger #ATPChallenger #Olbia https://t.co/e0j2NSv7wN
— MEF tennis events (@meftennisevents) October 17, 2026
“After my quarterfinal match, I think I played another great match,” said the former world No. 23, who is currently ranked No. 103. “I tried to take Maks out of his comfort zone, but after an easy first set I knew he would have to change something, and he did. I stayed solid and waited for the right opportunity to break. I managed to do that at 6-5 in the second set.”
On Sunday, the Bosnian will compete for the 15th Challenger title of his career. Dzumhur has rediscovered his form after an oblique injury that also affected his participation at this year’s US Open.
“A final is always a different kind of match, so tomorrow will feel different from the matches I’ve played so far. Honestly, I arrived in Olbia without knowing what to expect from my body and, above all, with very little confidence. I rebuilt that confidence match by match, and now I finally feel good.
“What motivates me at 34? I’m no longer that young, but I also have a lot of experience on my side. To be honest, I enjoy playing more now than I did a few years ago. I love tennis, competing and being out on court. It is my job, the sport for which I have always made sacrifices, and it is a joy to still be a competitive player. I would like to thank the Olbia crowd for the great support. There are always plenty of people watching the matches, and the atmosphere is spectacular.”
Meanwhile, the doubles title has already been decided, with Jarno Jans and Joran Vliegen defeating Daniel Cukierman and Fernando Romboli 6-3, 6-4.
