GUIA DE ISORA/STARNBERG, February 5, 2026
International tennis has returned to Tenerife with the staging of two ATP Challenger 75 tournaments at the Abama Tennis Academy from February 1 to 15. Organized by MEF Tennis Events with the support of the Cabildo of Tenerife through Turismo de Tenerife, the Tenerife Challenger back-to-back tournaments feature a strong presence of Spanish and Canary Islands players this year, thanks to the wild cards granted by the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET) and the Canary Islands Tennis Federation.
Lope Afonso, Vice President and Councillor for Tourism of the Cabildo, underlined the importance of the tournaments for the island’s international profile, noting that “the Tenerife Challenger 75 strengthens our position as a benchmark destination for sports tourism, combining high-level competition with exceptional climate conditions and infrastructure.” He also stressed the impact on the development of local and national talent, adding that “it is especially meaningful for Tenerife that young Canarian and Spanish players can compete at home on such a demanding circuit as the Challenger Tour. These tournaments are a gateway to professional tennis and a real opportunity for our athletes to continue growing.” Afonso further emphasized Turismo de Tenerife’s commitment to initiatives that diversify the island’s offer, reduce seasonality and project an image linked to sport, excellence and quality of life.
Dimple Melwani, CEO of Turismo de Tenerife, highlighted that “Tenerife offers a privileged environment for sport in general, and in this case for high-level tennis, thanks to its year-round mild climate, which allows continuous use of outdoor facilities and the organization of international competitions such as ATP Challenger Tour events.” She added that these tournaments reinforce the island’s positioning as a sports tourism destination and generate a direct impact on key sectors such as hospitality, restaurants, activity companies and local commerce. For Melwani, hosting events of this kind also helps place Tenerife firmly on the international tennis calendar and strengthens the strategic link between sport and tourism as a driver for diversification.
The CEO also pointed out that welcoming the tournament at home represents a unique opportunity both for the destination and for the young Canarian prospects selected by the federation, who, thanks to wild cards, can give a decisive boost to their careers while Tenerife’s international visibility is enhanced by the presence of well-known tennis figures.
The President of the Canary Islands Tennis Federation, José J. Sepúlveda, praised the commitment shown by the Cabildo and Turismo de Tenerife, stating that Tenerife represents “60 per cent of Canarian tennis” and describing the island as a true tennis stronghold, where the sport is lived with passion and has deep roots.
Brendan Breen, Director of Abama Golf and Tennis SLU, also expressed his gratitude to the Cabildo, Lope Afonso and Dimple Melwani for their continued support, noting that the Tenerife Challenger 75 brings outstanding international tennis talents to the island over these two weeks. Oliver Jesús Afonso, Sports Councillor of the Guía de Isora City Council, likewise thanked the institutions for their support and stressed the importance of the event for promoting both the municipality and Tenerife through sport.
The presentation, held at the Cabildo of Tenerife, was attended by several representatives, including Miguel del Prado Trallero, President of the Tenerife Island Tennis Federation, as well as local players Samuel García Hernández and Joel Toral Ocaña.
Tenerife Challenger 75 reúnen en la isla a destacados talentos del tenis internacional El circuito profesional regresa a la Abama Tennis Academy del 1 al 15 de febrero. Una cita que reunirá a tenistas nacionales y locales en una competición de carácter internacional. pic.twitter.com/PmoUSoe1sP
— Turismo De Tenerife (@webtenerife) February 5, 2026
The tournament will be crowned by special guests, with former world No. 9 Fabio Fognini, one of the most charismatic figures in Italian tennis, set to be present at the club during the final days together with his wife, Flavia Pennetta. Fognini will also take part in the final press conference on February 15 at 10:00 a.m. at Abama.
As always, the Tenerife tournaments represent a key opportunity for local players to gain experience on the Challenger circuit. This year, four Canarian players are competing thanks to wild cards: Rodrigo Ledesma Sosa and Saúl Pacheco Benasayag played in Tenerife Challenger 1, while Joel Toral Ocaña and Samuel García Hernández will take part in Tenerife Challenger 2.
