Eighteen-year-old Justin Engel produced a composed, crowd-pleasing performance to claim his first ATP Challenger title at the Hamburg Ladies & Gents Cup. The Nuremberg native, a fan favorite through the week, defeated fellow 18-year-old Federico Cina in the youngest Challenger final since 2003, when Mario Ančić faced Rafael Nadal in Hamburg.

The final began poorly for Engel as he dropped his opening service game and fell behind 3–4. He regrouped, fought back to earn set points at 5–4 and closed out the first set. The second set featured steady serving from both players and went to a deciding tiebreak, where Engel relied on the same composure that had carried him through the week. After having won six tiebreaks earlier in the tournament, he claimed his seventh and with it the title.

“It was just incredible,” said the teenager shortly after capturing his maiden Challenger crown. “Thanks to the fans, you were unbelievable.”

Earlier in Hamburg, Engel had notable success off the Challenger scene as well, including a victory over Jan-Lennard Struff at the ATP 500 event at Hamburg’s Rothenbaum. “Hamburg has become my favorite city.” He also reflected on his tournament form: “I often had a good start, and at times, luck was on my side as well,” and added, “I feel very comfortable here.”

At 18 years and 25 days, Engel became the fifth-youngest German Challenger champion in history. He noted longer-term goals following the win: “That’s been on my mind since the match against Struff in Hamburg. My goal is to qualify for the NextGen Finals and to finish the season inside the Top 200,” he said. “I’ve played many good matches and reached two Challenger semifinals, but consistency was often missing,” he added.

Engel’s manager and coach for the week was former world No. 14 and three-time Davis Cup champion Carl-Uwe Steeb, who praised the player’s discipline and potential: “He started working professionally with his father very early on,” he said. “You can see that, and it’s the foundation for how far he’s already come. He’s extremely disciplined, has clear goals, and possesses a strong will to win on court. The potential is definitely there. The road ahead is still long, but with every match he gains experience and maturity. There are still many things to improve in his game to reach the very top, but overall, he’s on a very good path.” Steeb also reflected on his temporary coaching role: “The role of coach this week was unusual for me. I can still hit balls, but when real training starts, it gets too fast and isn’t ideal for my body anymore. I’d rather stand on the sidelines and leave it to the players.”

The ATP Challenger Tour will see its total prize money rise to a record $32.4 million in 2026, the governing body confirmed. The increase includes a $5 million boost for singles prize money compared with 2025 and accompanies a significant expansion of the calendar from 216 events to 265 events next year.

The ATP said Challenger prize money has climbed 167 percent since 2022, when the total stood at $12.13 million. The organization credited its long-term strategic plan “One Vision” for helping to deliver the financial gains for the lower-tier tour.

ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi placed the package in the context of that plan and its objectives. “This is what OneVision was designed to do–create the foundation for investment in our sport to deliver greater financial security to more players,” he said.

Officials also pointed to an expansive global media rights deal as a contributor to the Tour’s rising profile. Before the end of the year, Challenger events will have been broadcast from 20 countries to a record 33.8 million viewers, a marked increase in exposure for those tournaments.

The combined effect of higher prize money, a fuller calendar and wider international coverage is aimed at strengthening financial opportunities and visibility for players who compete below the main tour level. The measures announced represent the largest single-season totals for the Challenger circuit and continue a multi-year trend of investment in the tier.

© 2024 Andy Cheung

At 30, Szymon Walków is an established doubles specialist on the ATP Challenger Tour seeking steadier results after a productive break and a recent title. Currently ranked world No. 145 with a career-high No. 86 in June 2022, Walków has won 12 ATP Challenger doubles trophies, the latest coming in early September in Genoa alongside Mick Veldheer. From Genoa he went straight to his home event in Szczecin, intent on improving on last year’s runner-up finish at the Invest in Szczecin Open.

“The season has been up and down—some good moments, some weaker. After the Kozerki Open, I felt I needed a break and a new perspective. I took three weeks off, rested, regained freshness, and that brought me the victory in Genoa,” Walków said in Szczecin.

During the break he mixed light training with family time. “I played a padel tournament with Karol Drzewiecki, but mostly I spent time with family. My wife and a friend and I went to the seaside, relaxed, trained a bit with friends, then went home and worked hard again. That freshness gave me more fire.”

Walków emphasizes how fine margins decide doubles matches and the value of a stable partnership. “It’s something a lot of players face, especially around rankings 130 to 150,” he said, recalling that he entered the Top 100 with Jan Zieliński. He noted Zieliński’s path upward: “Janek had a great run with Hubert [Hurkacz], won an ATP 250 in Metz, then teamed with Hugo Nys, got into the Grand Slams, and they made it work. There was some luck, but also quality tennis. That’s why he went higher.”

On the court he stressed the closeness of levels. “In doubles the margin is minimal—one ball, one lapse of concentration, one tiebreak. The best teams maintain a high level all year, but that doesn’t mean a lower-ranked team can’t beat the top. At the US Open, Hubert and I beat a seeded pair, I think No. 4 in the world. We served well, got one or two breaks—that was enough.” He also voiced frustration with scoring formats. “You can lose several matches in a row on match tiebreaks. With advantage scoring and a full third set, maybe the better team would win more often. But the rules are set by others, and our job is to adapt.”

Off court, basketball remains a passion. “I’m a real fan. I go to games, follow transfers, know the league,” Walków said, recalling NBA visits and family influence. “My dad played as a youth and later at university. He taught my brother and me to play, so basketball was always with us. It’s one of my favorite sports, if not the favorite.”