Fourteen ATP Challenger events held in November to count towards 2026 Race

Monastir, Tunisia. It’s late October, early November—the ATP Challenger Tour 50 event in North Africa is in full swing. So far, so familiar.

Yet beneath the usual intensity of competition, an extra layer of tension hangs in the air. It’s the season’s final stretch, and many players are fighting for precious ATP ranking points—and, for some, the chance to secure a coveted spot in the 2026 Australian Open.

Adding to the pressure, players received an announcement from the ATP on October 20 that raised eyebrows—particularly among those aiming to extend their season deep into November. The message stated that the ATP rankings would be finalized the Monday after the Nitto ATP Finals, on November 17. That date would effectively serve as the cutoff determining the standings for the first three weeks of the 2026 season.

The ATP explained the move as an effort to relieve players of the pressure to keep chasing points during the “ATP Tour off-season,” with any points accumlated after the 2025 year-end rankings counting towards the 2026 Race.

Challenger Season Outlasts the ATP Tour

However, the ATP Challenger Tour extends two weeks beyond the main ATP Tour season. Between November 17 and 30, 14 Challenger events remain on the calendar—from Italy to South America—but their results will no longer influence the rankings used at the start of the new year.

The change may inadvertently diminish the significance of some of these tournaments, including traditional late-season events such as the Trofeo Perrel–Faip in Bergamo, Italy—where a young Jannik Sinner captured his first Challenger title six years ago. Meanwhile, the clay-court swing in South America continues with stops in Ecuador, Brazil, Chile, and Colombia.

Mixed Reactions From Players

Italian veteran Lorenzo Giustino, who recently lifted the Monastir Open trophy, welcomes the change.

“I think it’s a good decision,” Giustino said last week. “In my opinion, there shouldn’t be any tournaments after the ATP Finals. What’s the point of events in November or December? The goal should be to reach the Finals, and if you’re not there, then it’s time to watch, rest, and prepare for the next season. We travel all year long. Every sport has its breaks, but in tennis, we play nonstop.”

Giustino’s relaxed stance is perhaps understandable. The 34-year-old Italian has already competed eight times at the Australian Open and now sits at world No. 229, just inside the range typically needed to qualify for Melbourne. In recent years, players ranked around No. 230 have secured spots in the qualifying draw of the “Happy Slam”.

For Alejandro Moro Cañas, who lost to Giustino in the Monastir semifinals, the situation is a bit different. The Spaniard is currently ranked No. 238, just outside the expected cutoff. Determined to make one last push, he’s staying another week in Tunisia, using a wild card to compete in an ITF World Tennis Tour M25 event in search of vital ATP Ranking points.