A new national tennis centre in Chisinau was officially opened ahead of the Moldova Open ATP Challenger 100, marking a major development for Moldovan tennis. Located at Satul German (The German Village) near the airport, the complex will serve as the country’s professional tennis hub.

The facility features six outdoor clay courts and a modern indoor arena and has received ITF certification, enabling it to host events at a high level. Special central stands with a capacity of more than 1,000 spectators were installed for the opening. The ceremony drew representatives from the International Tennis Federation and Tennis Europe, including ITF Chief Executive Officer Ross Hutchins and Tennis Europe President Henrik Thorsøe Pedersen.

The project has been driven by Moldovan Tennis Federation president Ceslav Ciukhrii, whose long-term commitment helped bring the plan to life. The afternoon’s highlight was an exhibition mixed doubles match featuring Simona Halep and Juan Martín del Potro alongside Moldovan No. 1 Radu Albot and 17-year-old local player Lia Belibova. Halep partnered Albot, while del Potro teamed with Belibova.

“It is a huge day for Moldovan tennis,” said former world No. 39 Albot. “We haven’t had such an event ever before here. I hope the players and spectators enjoy it. The venue is crazy. The national tennis center is unbelievable. The courts are top class. You have everything you need, and I am really looking forward to playing here.”

One memorable moment came when Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu unexpectedly stepped onto the court in full tennis attire to join the exhibition, drawing loud applause. The match concluded with Halep and Albot prevailing in a championship tiebreaker after an entertaining contest.

Munteanu reflected on the facility’s purpose: “This is a place where character, discipline, ambition and performance will be built. For years, many talented young people have had to go abroad to access good courts, competitions and professional training. Today, we are proving that Moldova can also offer conditions of international level,” Munteanu said in his speech.

Away from the court, del Potro and Halep offered comments on the sport and their own plans. del Potro said “Novak [Djokovic] can’t be ruled out.” He added, “He’s still capable of posing serious competition to [Jannik] Sinner, especially without Alcaraz,” and “I support the players,” he said. “Largely because I was among those who raised this issue [behind the scenes] before. These conversations have been going on for a while.” Halep said, “The players are right when they say they’re not always treated with the respect they deserve,” the 34-year-old former world No. 1 said. “Sometimes it feels like tennis at the highest level is treated like a showpiece, rather than a sport where people give their best every day.” On coaching, del Potro said, “Right now, I’d like to take a little break from tennis in general,” he said. “I only watch the big matches when the billing is strong, or when the Grand Slam finals are big. But if I ever work with a player, I’d be interested in someone with a similar style to mine.” Halep added: “I’m not ready to coach anyone right now. I’ve given my all to tennis, and now I want to help develop the sport in Romania.”

Two headline performances on the ATP Challenger Tour produced late momentum for players heading into Roland Garros. At the Copa Faulconbridge in Valencia and the BNP Paribas Primrose Bordeaux, both Challenger 175 events, Juan Manuel Cerundolo and Miomir Kecmanovic captured titles with composed finishes.

In Valencia, seventh-seeded Miomir Kecmanovic overcame Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 on a sunny Sunday at Club de Tenis Valencia. Playing in front of a packed Centre Court, the 26-year-old Belgrade native controlled the first set by dictating tempo and keeping unforced errors low. Vallejo, 22, answered in the second set with increased aggression to level the match, but Kecmanovic regained control in the decider, serving with authority and winning 74% of his first-serve points. The final lasted one hour and 55 minutes. Kecmanovic collected €43,635 and 175 ATP ranking points, moving back into the Top 50. The title is his third on the ATP Challenger Tour in addition to two ATP Tour titles in Kitzbühel in 2020 and Delray Beach last year.

“I am proud of the fight, the team, and the work behind the scenes,” Kecmanovic said afterwards. “Thank you to everyone who supported me throughout the tournament. I am grateful to lift a trophy again.”

In Bordeaux, Juan Manuel Cerundolo emerged victorious at the BNP Paribas Primrose Bordeaux, defeating Raphael Collignon in a dramatic three-set final. Collignon took the opening set 7-5, but Cerundolo responded by dominating the second 6-1. The deciding set remained tight, with both players holding serve through long rallies before a tie-break decided the match. Cerundolo produced a memorable lob to move ahead 6-4 in the breaker and closed out the victory after two hours and 37 minutes. The Buenos Aires native earned €43,635 and 175 ATP ranking points, notching his 12th ATP Challenger Tour title and his first of the season while rising to a career-high world No. 54.

“I am very happy to win the title here in Bordeaux. It was an amazing match and a great battle with a lot of long rallies,” Cerundolo said after the final. “It was a great match for me. I came back from a set down. That makes it even better.”

At 18, Darwin Blanch is moving quickly through the early stages of a professional career. The Boca Raton native has reached a career-high ranking of world No. 228 and collected two ITF World Tennis Tour titles in 2025. He was runner-up at the Knoxville Challenger last year and reached the semifinals at the Sarasota Open and, most recently, at the Danube Upper Austria Open.

A former junior world No. 4, Blanch grew up in a tennis family alongside siblings Ulises, Dali and Krystal. His development unfolded across different countries: practicing on a backyard court in Thailand with his brothers until age eight, then training in Argentina, Spain and the United States. He is now based in Florida at the USTA National Campus and has entered a new phase working with former world No. 15 Juan Ignacio Chela.

“I left the Ferrero Tennis Academy in Alicante last year and now I practice at the USTA in Florida,” Blanch explained following his semifinal run at the Danube Upper Austria Open in Mauthausen two weeks ago. “I started working with my coach Juan Ignacio Chela in November. I’m really enjoying it and learning a lot. We have a great relationship. I felt I needed someone who has played at the top level and understands what I’m feeling during matches – especially emotionally.”

On court, Blanch says he prefers to take charge. “I have a good serve and forehand,” he said. “I’m very energetic on court — that’s how I want to see myself.”

The jump from juniors to the professional tour has required adjustment. “The biggest challenge is maintaining a high level throughout a match,” he said. “At this level, if your level drops for even ten minutes, the match can be over.”

He has also found comfort on European clay while keeping hard courts as his preferred surface. “I feel comfortable on European clay, but my favorite surface is still hard court,” he admitted. “That said, Americans are improving on clay. You can see it — Ben Shelton won in Munich. It’s not our natural surface, but we’re getting better.”

Away from competition he balances routines and downtime. “Sometimes you have time in the afternoon, so I like to go into the city, walk around, maybe do some shopping or grab a coffee,” he said. “I like video games. I play a lot with my friends — mostly FIFA. I’m really good at it,” he said with a smile. “I’m also a big football fan and support FC Barcelona. Unfortunately, we got knocked out of the Champions League.”

Family support remains central. “Honestly, it’s kind of a mess sometimes,” he laughed. “There are days when all four of us are playing, and my parents don’t know who to watch. But it’s fun. We text a lot, and it’s great to have that support. My oldest brother Ulises has the most experience, and he helps me a lot with advice.”

With momentum building, Blanch set a clear target for the season. “My goal this year is to win a Challenger title,” he said. “I made a final last year, and I believe I have the level to win one.”