Joel Schwaerzler wins Rwanda Challenger | ATP Tour

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#NextGenATP Schwaerzler wins the Rwanda Challenger, immediately draws the final opponent again

Offer defeats Budkov Kjaer for back-to-back titles

March 08, 2026

#NextGenATP Joel Schwaerzler returned to the ATP Challenger winner’s circle on Sunday at the Rwanda Challenger, and in a rare move, he will meet opponent Stefano Napolitano in a championship match in the opening round of this week’s event in Kigali.

Schwaerzler, 20, beat Italy 7-6(5), 7-6(6) in the final to end the first week in the Rwandan capital. In just a few days, they will fight again.

“It never happened to me,” Schwaerzler said of the game’s quick turnaround. “It was unlucky to play in a draw I think for both of us. We were the two best players this week and now they are going to play next week, it’s tough. It was a good week for both of us and we will show it next week.”

He was crowned in Kigali 👑#ATPChallenger | @tennis_rwanda pic.twitter.com/VwUBM9wE26

– ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) March 8, 2026

Second in the PIF ATP Live Next Gen Race, Schwaerzler’s win in Kigali is his second Challenger title and first since May 2024. The left-hander went a step further than finishing second in Lugano last week, placing him first in the top 200 in the next PIF ATP Rankings.

The Kigali final started on Saturday, but was postponed due to rain with Schwaerzler leading 7-6(5), 2-3. Schwaerzler came back on Sunday and used the finishing touches in his victory.

“I remember my first title was almost two years ago, so I’m very happy to get another one today,” said Schwaerzler. “After a tough loss last week in the final, it feels so much better.

“My goal was to qualify for Roland Garros, which I was able to do now with this title and the finals last week.”

Schwarzler produced clutch tennis when it mattered most. Of the 12 sets that Schwarzler has played this week, 10 have gone to breaks, nine of which have been won by the former No. 1 seed. In his second-round match against Zdenek Kolar, Schwarzler created a staggering 25 break chances, converting 21 of them, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

“I think I played the big points very well. I played a lot of breaks, a lot of tie-breaks, a little bit of luck was involved,” Schwaerzler said. “But I was able to play at a good level when it mattered.”

Offer breaks Budkov Kjaer’s last record, claiming his second title in a row
Schwaerzler wasn’t the only #NextGenATP player to make a splash on the ATP Challenger circuit. Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, who competed in the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, reached the final of the Thionville Open before falling to Schwaerzler’s countryman Sebastian Ofner 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-6(7).

Offer won back-to-back Challenger titles, as he won the St. Brieuc last week. On a 10-match winning streak at the Challenger level, the former No. 37 will return to the Top 100 for the first time since December 2024.

19-year-old Budkov Kjaer was aiming to join Tomas Berdych as the only teenager to win five Challenger finals. Berdych went 5-0 to start his ATP Challenger career, dating back to 2003-04. Budkov Kjaer was one of six players to claim four Challenger titles in 2025.

Rocha defeated Vallejo in Brasilia
Portugal’s Henrique Rocha lifted his third Challenger trophy at the Brasilia Tennis Open, defeating Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 6-4, 6-4 in the final. The 21-year-old avenged his loss last week to Vallejo, who beat Rocha in qualifying for the ATP 250 event in Santiago.

Henrique Rocha in action at the Brasilia Tennis Open.” style=”width:100%” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/images/news/2026/03/09/02/42/rocha-brasiliach-2026.jpg”>
^{Henrique Rocha playing in the Brasilia Tennis Open. Credit: Luiz Candido/Luz Press}

Samuel goes on a roll, winning his third Challenger title since November
Briton Toby Samuel is playing the best tennis of his career. The 23-year-old’s latest victory came at the ITC Crete Challenger, where he won his third title at that level since November. Samuel beat local Harry Wendelken 6-3, 6-0 in the final.

Before arriving in Crete, Samuel captured the ITF M25 title in Vale do Lobo, Portugal. Last November, Samuel won the ITF M15 title before claiming subsequent Challenger titles in Soma Bay and Manama.

^{Sunday in the finals of the Crete Challenger. Credit: International Tennis Coaching}