Raul Brancaccio claims the II Open Menorca ATP Challenger 100 title
The Italian defeats Alex Martínez 6-1/6-4 in Menorca, extending his head-to-head dominance in a final played before a full crowd and strong institutional presence at Club Tenis Ciutadella
The Open Menorca ATP Challenger 100 concludes its second edition with victory for Raul Brancaccio, who defeats Álex Martínez 6-1/6-4 in Sunday’s final, held on 5 April at the Centre Court of Club Tenis Ciutadella. The match is played under sunny skies and warm conditions, with the stands completely full.
The VIP box features a notable institutional presence, led by the president of the Consell Insular de Menorca, Adolfo Villafranca, and the president of the Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET), Miguel Díaz Román. They are joined by Joan Antoni Ramonell Miralles, Director General of Sports for the Government of the Balearic Islands; Llorenç Ferrer, Councillor for Sports at Ciutadella City Council; and Toni Capó, the tournament promoter.
A final between two rising paths
The match brings together two players outside the initial spotlight: alternate Raul Brancaccio (ATP 348) and qualifier Álex Martínez (ATP 412), both standout performers in a tournament defined by breakthrough runs beyond the seeded field.
The contest is decided in 1 hour and 9 minutes, with the Italian delivering a composed performance on serve and showing strong efficiency in key moments. Brancaccio lands 71% of first serves and wins 70% of points behind them (28/40), allowing him to dictate the tempo throughout.
He also proves more effective on return, converting 4 of 5 break points (80%) compared to Martínez’s 1 of 3, and leads the overall points tally (61/104, 59%).
The first set goes clearly in Brancaccio’s favour (6-1), while Martínez raises his level in the second but struggles to hold serve at crucial moments, eventually conceding 6-4.
Brancaccio: experience and consistency
Raul Brancaccio, born in Torre del Greco (Italy) in 1997 and based in Jávea (Valencia), confirms his pedigree on the ATP Challenger Tour. The Italian secures the third Challenger title of his career, following wins in San Benedetto del Tronto (2022) and Nouméa (2023).
His run in Menorca includes a notable victory in the round of 32 over second seed Sebastian Ofner, as well as a demanding semi-final against American Dali Blanch.
The 100 points earned this week lift him to No. 279 in the ATP rankings, closing in on his career-high of No. 121 (February 2023).
Head-to-head: Italian dominance continues
The win in Ciutadella further strengthens Brancaccio’s perfect record against Martínez. The two players had previously met three times, all ending in victories for the Italian:
- R32: Santa Margherita di Pula (Italy) | 7 April 2025 | Clay
- Quarter-finals: Villena (Spain) | 24 February 2025 | Hard
- R16: Madrid (Spain) | 17 September 2018 | Clay
That trend holds in Menorca, where Brancaccio once again prevails through greater consistency in decisive moments.
Martínez: breakthrough week and career-high ranking
Álex Martínez, born in Sant Andreu de Llavaneres (Barcelona) in 2001, delivers the best week of his career in Menorca. Coming through qualifying, he reaches his first Challenger 100 final after a series of standout performances.
His run includes a round-of-16 win over top seed Valentin Royer, a quarter-final victory against Pol Martín Tiffon — runner-up in the 2025 edition — and a semi-final win over Daniel Rincón.
The result earns him 50 ATP points and lifts him to No. 372 in the rankings, surpassing his previous career-best (No. 388, achieved on 21 July 2025).
A wide-open and competitive tournament
The final brings to a close an edition defined by competitive balance, early exits for top seeds, and the emergence of players from qualifying and alternate spots.
The II Open Menorca ATP Challenger 100 sends a clear message: performance and adaptability on court outweigh ranking in a demanding week on clay.
With the main backing of the Consell Insular de Menorca and support from AETIB, the tournament continues to establish itself as a key event on the international calendar, combining high-level competition, emerging talent and strong institutional and public engagement.
