Belgians Collignon and Blockx win in Cap Cana

American teen Darwin Blanch earned the best win of his career by PIF ATP Ranking on Tuesday at the Arizona Tennis Classic, an ATP Challenger 175 event in Phoenix.

The 18-year-old, who received a wild card into Phoenix, upset World No. 52 Terence Atmane 6-4, 6-4 to begin his tournament in standout fashion.

“It feels amazing,” said Blanch, who won 82 per cent (28/34) of his first-serve points and saved all three break points he faced. “I feel like I served super well and that helped me a lot in important points and definitely gave me a lot of confidence. I also feel like I returned well, reading his serve super well. It feels amazing to get this win and happy to move on.”

The #NextGenATP lefty earned a crucial break at 4-4 in both sets, deflating the hopes of the Frenchman, who arrived in Phoenix following his Indian Wells first-round loss to Grigor Dimitrov. Blanch, the No. 287 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, reached his first Challenger final last November in Knoxville, Tennessee.

“I was a little nervous at the start, a little shaky,” Blanch admitted after stunning Atmane. “When he was serving at 4-4 in both sets, I just had to play aggressive and return super aggressive through the middle.”

Blanch will be one to watch this season as he aims for his maiden trip to the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF.

Collignon, Blockx advance in Cap Cana
Belgians Raphael Collignon and Alexander Blockx were among those to advance at the Republica Dominicana Open - Copa Cap Cana. Collignon, who won the Pau Challenger last month, downed Tomas Barrios Vera 7-6(4), 6-3 while Blockx ousted Roberto Cid Subervi 6-0, 7-5.

Blockx won the Canberra Challenger in January to crack the Top 100. The 20-year-old finished runner-up at the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF.

To watch the Phoenix and Cap Cana Challengers, fans can live stream all matches for free at Challenger TV.