CESENATICO/STARNBERG, February 6, 2026

Filippo Romano and Raul Brancaccio emerged as the semifinalists from the bottom half of the draw at the inaugural Start Romagna Cup – 1st Trofeo Città di Cesenatico, an ATP Challenger 50 indoor hard-court event held at the Circolo Tennis “Godio.”

Romano, 20, captured his first Challenger semifinal after defeating qualifier Enrico Dalla Valle in a tightly contested quarterfinal, 7-6(4), 6-3 on Friday. The Sarzana native, competing on a wild card from the Italian Tennis Federation, had already impressed by defeating Spain’s Alex Martinez and Britain’s Charles Broomin earlier rounds. After saving set points and coming back from behind in the first set, Romano carried the momentum into the second to seal a one-hour-and-45-minute victory, earning praise from his coach and local observers.

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A BIG win for Filippo Romano

The 20-year-old advances to his maiden ATP Challenger semifinal with a 7-6(4), 6-3 victory over Dalla Valle in Cesenatico#ATPChallenger | @federtennis pic.twitter.com/NVk1shUPHm

— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) February 6, 2026

In the next quarterfinal, 28-year-old Brancaccio continued his winning form, overcoming Pietro Fellin 6-1, 6-3. The Neapolitan, who had previously beaten French contenders Calvin Hemery and Laurent Lokoli, displayed solid and consistent tennis, losing just four points on his first serve and conceding only a single break point, securing his place in the semifinals and guaranteeing at least one Italian in Sunday’s final.

In the top half of the singles draw, Russian No. 4 seed Ivan Gakhov reached the semifinals after defeating 19-year-old Czech Petr Brunclik 6-4, 7-6(3). Gakhov will face Oleg Prihodko of Ukraine, who defeated Italian qualifier Federico Iannaccone 6-0, 7-6(3).

FRIDAY RESULTS

Singles – Quarterfinals

Filippo Romano (ITA, WC) def. Enrico Dalla Valle (ITA, Q) 7-6(4), 6-3

Raul Brancaccio (ITA) def. Pietro Fellin (ITA) 6-1, 6-3

Ivan Gakhov (RUS, 4) def. Petr Brunclik (CZE, 7) 6-4, 7-6(3)

Doubles – Semifinals

Francesco Forti/Filippo Romano (ITA, 4) def. Giorgio Ricca/Mick Veldheer (ITA/NED, 1) 7-6(3), 6-3

Jarno Jans/Niels Visker (NED, 3) def. Charles Broom/David Poljak (GBR/CZE, 2) 5-7, 6-3, 10-6