CESENATICO/STARNBERG, February 7, 2026

Raul Brancaccio and Oleg Prihodko are the finalists of the Start Romagna Cup – 1st Trofeo Città di Cesenatico, a new ATP Challenger 50 event offering a total prize money of €56,700.

Brancaccio brought to an end the impressive run of Italian wild card entry Filippo Romano to reach his fourth ATP Challenger final. The 28-year-old from Torre del Greco did not drop a set all week, having already beaten France’s Calvin Hemery, the tournament’s third seed, Laurent Lokoli, and Italy’s Pietro Fellin before the semifinals.

In the all-Italian clash, Brancaccio had to save four break points early on before striking first to take control of the opening set, which he closed out 6–4. In the second set he broke Romano in the fifth game and maintained his composure to seal a 6–3 win after one hour and five minutes. Romano, who was playing his first Challenger semifinal after wins over Alex Martinez, Charles Broom and Enrico Dalla Valle, paid a bit for the tension and Brancaccio’s tactical solidity, but can take consolation in a new career-high ranking of around No. 556.

“I managed to keep my level consistent without any drops in intensity, just like in the previous matches, especially in the important moments,” said Brancaccio, who will play his first Challenger final in three years. “I’m really happy to be back in a final and I’ll give everything to finish this week in Cesenatico in the best possible way and start 2026 on a positive note.”

In the second semifinal, Ukraine’s Oleg Prihodko, who had already beaten three Italian players earlier in the week, defeated Russia’s Ivan Gakhov, the fourth seed, 6–3, 7–6(6) in just over an hour and a half. Gakhov was somewhat hampered, particularly on serve, by a shoulder issue. For the 28-year-old from Pavlohrad, this is the second Challenger final of his career after Antalya in December 2021.

Cat and mouse tennis in Cesenatico

Oleg Prihodko comes out on top of an entertaining exchange#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/CjvUnwYSpU

— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) February 7, 2026

The first trophies of the tournament were awarded in doubles, where third-seeded Dutch pair Jarno Jans and Niels Visker claimed their first Challenger title by defeating home favorites Francesco Forti and Filippo Romano 7–6(7), 6–3 in one hour and 13 minutes.

SATURDAY RESULTS

Singles – Semifinals

Raul Brancaccio (ITA) d. Filippo Romano (ITA, WC) 6–4, 6–3
Oleg Prihodko (UKR) d. Ivan Gakhov (RUS, 4) 6–3, 7–6(6)

Doubles – Final

Jarno Jans/Niels Visker (NED, 3) d. Francesco Forti/Filippo Romano (ITA, 4) 7–6(7), 6–3