MURCIA/STARNBERG, March 9, 2026
The courts of the Real Murcia Club de Tenis 1919 will once again host top-level professional tennis as the seventh edition of the Challenger Costa Cálida Región de Murcia takes place from March 15 to 22. The ATP Challenger 75 tournament continues to strengthen its position on the tennis calendar, bringing a strong international field to the Spanish city.
This year’s main draw will feature several notable names from the circuit. Among them are Carlos Taberner and Jesper de Jong, last year’s finalists, who return to Murcia after contesting the 2025 championship match. Their presence adds an extra storyline to the tournament as both players look to make another deep run.
Former World No. 10 Pablo Carreno Busta will also be among the headline acts. One of Spain’s most accomplished players of the past decade, Carreno Busta won the bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and has captured multiple ATP Tour titles during his career. Joining him is fellow Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena, known for his consistency and strong performances on clay courts. Italy’s Marco Cecchinato, a former Roland Garros semifinalist in 2018 and winner of several ATP titles, completes the group of players with extensive international experience competing in the tournament.
Representing the Real Murcia Club de Tenis 1919 will be Andrea Pellegrino, Pablo Llamas and Ivan Gakhov, players linked to the club who will compete in front of the local crowd during this year’s edition of the Challenger.
Club president Francisco Martinez Ruiz expressed his satisfaction during the tournament presentation. “It is a great source of pride for the club to continue hosting a tournament of this caliber, which allows us to see some of the best players on the international circuit competing on our courts and brings professional tennis closer to fans in the region,” he said. Martinez Ruiz also noted that nearly 100 people, including professionals, support teams and communication staff, are involved in the organization of the event. He added that in recent years the tournament has consistently attracted players ranked between No. 80 and No. 200 in the world and that new initiatives are being introduced this season, including the implementation of a statistical data collection and management system.
The presentation ceremony, held at the Real Murcia Club de Tenis 1919 facilities, was also attended by several local and national authorities, including Carmen Conesa, Regional Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports; Fran Sanchez, Director General of Sports; Miguel Angel Noguera, Sports Councillor of the City of Murcia; and Miguel Diaz, president of the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation.
As in previous years, tennis fans will be able to attend the matches free of charge until the venue reaches full capacity. Organizers expect more than 5,000 spectators to visit the club throughout the week. In addition, the tournament will be broadcast worldwide on the Eurosport thematic channel.
A major novelty of this year’s edition will be the introduction of the first Sub-15 Costa Cálida Región de Murcia tournament. The youth competition will run from March 20 to 22 and will feature eight invited players competing via wild cards. By staging the event alongside the final stages of the Challenger tournament, organizers aim to promote emerging talent and give young players the opportunity to compete in the same environment as professional athletes.
