challenger
The 2026 ATP Challenger season kicks off, with Kei Nishikori leading the pack
Five challenge games in the opening week of the 2026 season
January 4, 2026
Dylan Burr/Getty Images
Kei Nishikori will compete in the 2026 Canberra International Workday Competition from January 5th to 10th.
Written by ATP Staff
The 2026 ATP Challenger Tour season begins on Monday with five matches in the opening week. The Canberra International Working Day kicks off Australia’s hard-court action, with former PIF ATP No. 4 Kei Nishikori leading the charge. Nishikori has competed in just two matches since last May, against top seed Vit Kopriva.
Alexander Blockx and Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, who have both competed in the 2025 Next Generation ATP Finals hosted by PIF, will meet in the first round of the Challengers Canberra event. Jeddah finalist Blox defeated the Norwegian in the semi-finals of the 20-and-under event to take a 1-0 lead in the Lexus ATP Head2Head Series.
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The Canberra International Working Day is one of two Challenger 125 events in the upcoming week. The Indian Bangalore Open will also take place, with Spain’s Pedro Martinez leading the draw as the top seed.
Two-time NCAA singles champion Michael Cheng competes in the BNC Open in New Caledonia. Former world No. 19 Jung Hyun returns to action at the ATP Challenger 50 Bangkok Open 1. Englishman Henry Searle, who won the men’s singles title at Wimbledon 2023, will compete at home in the Lexus Nottingham Challenger.
Six continents will host ATP Challenger Tour events in the first two months of the season, underscoring the event’s global reach. With 50 new Challenger 50 events added this season, players from around the world will have more opportunities to compete, further strengthening their path to a professional career on the ATP Tour.
Check out the ATP Challenger Tour schedule
In October, the ATP announced that the prize money for the ATP Challenger Series in the 2026 season would reach a record high of US$32.4 million, of which singles bonuses would increase by US$5 million compared with 2025. ATP Challenger prize money has soared 167% since 2022, driven by the launch of OneVision, the ATP’s long-term strategic plan.
