ITAJAI/STARNBERG, January 24, 2026
Another day of full stands and passionate support highlighted Friday at the Itajaí Open, an ATP Challenger 75 being played at the Itamirim Clube de Campo.
Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild will carry the home hopes in the singles draw. The Paraná native defeated Igor Marcondes in straight sets, 6–2, 6–4, to book his place in the semifinals, where he will face Argentina’s Alex Barrena. The matchup is a repeat of their only previous meeting, in 2023, when Seyboth Wild claimed a convincing win.
“Today was a bit tricky. I played a very good first set, then dropped my level a little in the second, but mentally I stayed strong and managed to win,” said Seyboth Wild. “I hope the crowd is on my side tomorrow. Today they supported Igor, who has lived here for many years and trains at the club. That’s normal—but tomorrow I hope they’re with me.”
Barrena, 23, currently ranked world No. 190, advanced with a 6–4, 6–3 win over Peru’s Gonzalo Bueno. A former world No. 170, the Buenos Aires native owns eight career titles, including two at Challenger level.
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“The crowd here is very lively and energetic, which is great,” Barrena said. “I want to keep playing the same way and find my rhythm. I feel mentally calm, even with changing conditions like the strong wind today.”
In the bottom half of the draw, Daniel Adolfo Vallejo lived up to his seeding. The Paraguayan, seeded No. 2, edged Thiago Monteiro in a nearly three-hour battle, winning 6–2, 4–6, 6–3. Vallejo, 21, is ranked No. 146 in the world, with a career-high of 143. A former junior world No. 1 in 2022, he already owns seven professional titles, three of them at Challenger level.
Vallejo will face Spain’s Nikolas Sanchez Izquierdo in the semifinals. The 26-year-old from Barcelona, ranked No. 306, reached the last four after continuing his solid run in Itajaí. The match opens Saturday’s schedule at 10:30 a.m. on Center Court.
“Playing Thiago pushed me to the limit. It was very tough and I had to serve extremely well to win,” Vallejo said. “I know Izquierdo already—he’s a solid player and very used to these conditions.”
“I made a deal with my coach to enjoy today’s win first and only then think about tomorrow,” Sanchez Izquierdo added. “Playing on a Saturday is always special. Conditions are very good here, and in Brazil we’re always treated extremely well.”
All-Brazilian doubles final set
In doubles, Vallejo was forced to withdraw from the semifinals due to cramps, sending Matheus Pucinelli and Bruno Oliveira directly into the final. They will take on Igor Marcondes and Eduardo Ribeiro, who beat Joao Lucas Reis and Joao Schiessl in an all-wild card match-up 6-3, 7-5.
The second singles semifinal will be played not before 11:30 a.m. local time, followed by the doubles final. The Itajaí Open features $107,000 in total prize money and awards 75 ATP Ranking points to the singles champion.
