Luxembourg's Chris Rodesch secured his second ATP Challenger trophy by defeating Hungary's Zsombor Piros 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 in the final of the Indoor Oeiras Open 1 in Portugal. The 24-year-old, a former University of Virginia standout, rose 55 places to No. 154 in the live rankings. In doubles, Britain's David Stevenson and Canada's Cleeve Harper claimed the title after a dramatic comeback.
On Sunday, Chris Rodesch triumphed at the Indoor Oeiras Open 1, an ATP Challenger event in Portugal that offers €145,000 in prize money and has been held since 2021. The 6-foot-6 Luxembourger, ranked No. 209 entering the week, overcame No. 170 Zsombor Piros in a three-set battle. After dropping the second set, Rodesch mounted a strong comeback in the decider, trailing 1-2 before winning the next five games to seal the 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 victory.
This marks Rodesch's second Challenger title, following his maiden win in Tallahassee in April 2025. A 2024 graduate of the University of Virginia, where he earned ITA All-American honors three times, Rodesch joins former World No. 21 Gilles Muller as one of only two Luxembourgers to win on the Challenger circuit. Reflecting on the week, he said, “I’m really happy, it was a really tough week. I felt like my first two tournaments in Australia, I had a really good level, but I didn’t get rewarded the way I wanted to. So to get rewarded now, in the third tournament of 2026, with the level I’m playing, is really nice. It’s a really, really special feeling to win my second Challenger.”
In the men's doubles final, David Stevenson of Britain and Cleeve Harper of Canada saved four match points to defeat Portugal's Francisco Rocha and Tiago Torres 6-3, 3-6, 12-10. This victory is Stevenson's second Challenger doubles title of 2026, adding to his earlier success at the Lexus British Pro Series in Nottingham.
Rodesch's success highlights the growing impact of college tennis alumni on the professional circuit, with 23 such players earning at least one Challenger title in 2025.
