🏆 Meet the Future Champions: Rising ATP Players to Watch in 2026

11 days ago

Written by Christian R

Martín Landaluce & Nicolai Budkov Kjær. Meet the Future Champions: Rising ATP Players to Watch in 2026

11 days ago

Written by Christian R

💡 Introduction

Every tennis champion has a moment when few believed in them. When the stands were empty, the cameras were off, and progress was slow.

At Vexo, we exist for that moment — the grind before the breakthrough.
We’re built for the underdogs, the players who work quietly, stay consistent, and fight to rise.

2026 will be the year when a new wave of athletes steps into the spotlight — players climbing from the ITF and Challenger circuits toward ATP recognition.

Here’s our Vexo Watchlist: the future champions, the underdogs we believe in, and the Vexo ambassadors leading the charge.

💛 Our Guys — The Vexo Ambassadors

🎾 Enzo Wallart (France) 887

Current Rank: ~ATP 887 | Career Best: 590
Background: Former University of Kentucky player, coached Coco Gauff during her 2021 season, now training full-time in France.
Goal: Break into the Top 350 in singles & doubles.
Why We Back Him: Enzo embodies the Vexo ethos — intelligent, composed, and relentless. His path mirrors our mission: to rise, not rest.

“We’re not chasing hype. We’re building champions.”

🎾 Follow Enzo: @enzowallart

🎾 David-Jeanne Grandinot (France)

Background: Former Division I college tennis player at Alabama State University (@alabamastate1867)
Achievements:
🏆 4× SWAC Conference Champion
✨ Freshman of the Year + 3× Player of the Year
💪 Wins against ATP-ranked players
Current Goals: Break into the Top 100 in France 🇫🇷 and reach the ATP Top 1000
Why We Back Him: David-Jeanne represents consistency and quiet confidence — the athlete who works without shortcuts, chasing his next level with humility and hunger.

“He’s not waiting to be discovered — he’s earning it, one point at a time.”

🎾 Follow David-Jeanne: @davidjeanne_g

🔎 Rising ATP Players to Watch in 2026

Beyond our ambassadors, here are 8 rising stars we believe you should keep an eye on in 2026 — talented players climbing the ranks, building consistency, and proving that the next breakthrough is always earned, never given.

These are athletes who reflect Vexo’s values: grit, growth, and belief — the ones pushing quietly but relentlessly toward their next milestone.

🇪🇸 Martín Landaluce (Spain) 111

Age: 19
Trajectory: From Junior Grand Slam winner to Challenger Contender
Why He‘s Rising: Compact technique, mental maturity, and consistent deep runs in Spain’s ITF swing.
Current ATP Rank: 111
Breakthroughs: Clinched his first ATP Challenger Tour title in Olbia, Italy (October 2024).
ATP Debut Performance: Scored his first ATP Tour match win at the Miami Masters 1000 event in March 2024. ATP Tour .
Playing Style & Background:
🎾 Favourite Shot: Down-the-line backhand
🌱 Surface of Choice: Grass
🌟 Idol: Rafael Nadal
💡 Fun Fact: Became passionate about tennis from age 1; started competing at age 9

🇲🇽 Rodrigo Pacheco Méndez (Mexico) 220

Age: 20
Trajectory: Former ITF Junior World No. 1, now transitioning steadily into Challenger-level success.
Why He’s Rising: Exceptional tennis IQ, fearless baseline aggression, and rapid adaptation to faster surfaces.
Current ATP Rank: ~220
Breakthroughs: Captured multiple M25 and M15 titles across Latin America. . Scored first Challenger wins in Mexico and Spain during the 2024 season.
Playing Style & Background:
🎾 Favourite Shot: Heavy topspin forehand
🌱 Surface of Choice: Clay
🌟 Idol: Rafael Nadal
💡 Fun Fact: Known for training twice daily in Yucatán’s humidity — mastering endurance early

🇺🇸 Michael Zheng (USA) 227

Age: 21
Trajectory: From NCAA dominance to professional promise.
Why He’s Rising: Balances raw athleticism with a calm match temperament built in college competition.
Current ATP Rank: ~227
Breakthroughs: 2024 NCAA Singles Champion (Princeton University). Earned first Challenger title in Chicago through the ATP’s Next Gen Accelerator.
Playing Style & Background:
🎾 Favourite Shot: Inside-out forehand
🌱 Surface of Choice: Hard courts
🌟 Idol: Roger Federer
💡 Fun Fact: Majored in Economics while competing full-time — known for analytical match prep

🇳🇴 Nicolai Budkov Kjær (Norway) 149

Age: 19
Trajectory: Norway’s quiet force rising from Futures into Challenger draws.
Why He’s Rising: Technically clean strokes, strong indoor record, and disciplined training approach.
Current ATP Rank: ~149
Breakthroughs: Reached multiple ITF finals across Scandinavia in 2024. Recorded first Challenger main-draw win late 2024.
Playing Style & Background:
🎾 Favourite Shot: Two-handed backhand
🌱 Surface of Choice: Indoor hard courts
🌟 Idol: Casper Ruud
💡 Fun Fact: Balances tennis with university studies — mirrors Ruud’s professionalism and focus.

🇮🇹 Federico Cinà (Italy) 218

Age: 18
Trajectory: Emerging from Italy’s prolific Next Gen pipeline with polished fundamentals.
Why He’s Rising: Smooth technique, composure under pressure, and success on clay at youth level.
Current ATP Rank: ~218
Breakthroughs: Claimed first ITF M15 title on clay in Italy (2024). Training stints with Italian Davis Cup squad.
Playing Style & Background:
🎾 Favourite Shot: Backhand
🌱 Surface of Choice: Hard
🌟 Idol: Novak Djokovic
💡 Fun Fact: Grew up hitting with his father, a coach, on the courts of Palermo.

🇯🇵 Rei Sakamoto (Japan) 188

Age: 19
Trajectory: From junior standout in Asia to first steps on the professional circuit.
Why He’s Rising: Quick footwork, compact technique, and tactical maturity beyond his age.
Current ATP Rank: ~188
Breakthroughs: Consistent quarterfinals at Asian M25 events in 2024. Wildcard appearances in Japanese Challenger qualifiers.
Playing Style & Background:
🎾 Favourite Shot: Backhand down the line
🌱 Surface of Choice: Hard courts
🌟 Idol: Kei Nishikori
💡 Fun Fact: Trains in Tokyo but spends off-seasons in Spain to refine clay movement.

🇧🇪 Alexander Blockx (Belgium) 128

Age: 20
Trajectory: Former junior Slam champion now building credibility on the pro tour.
Why He’s Rising: Ball-striking power, indoor dominance, and strong Belgian tennis pedigree.
Current ATP Rank: ~128
Breakthroughs: Captured first Challenger semifinal on indoor hard courts in 2024. Regular practice partner of Belgian Davis Cup team.
Playing Style & Background:
🎾 Favourite Shot: Flat backhand
🌱 Surface of Choice: Indoor hard
🌟 Idol: David Goffin
💡 Fun Fact: Known for pre-match chess games to sharpen focus.

💪 What It Takes to Break Into the Top 500

🎯 Consistency > Flash

Multiple ITF finals or titles in a single season = ranking leap
Quarterfinal or semifinal runs in Challenger events = +80–120 points

🔥 Scheduling Smart

Cluster tournaments on preferred surfaces
Avoid long travel gaps to keep rhythm

💼 Support Systems

Coaching stability, fitness programs, sponsorships, and apparel that performs under pressure (that’s where Vexo comes in).

🧠 Why Vexo Cares

Because the future of tennis isn’t just the top 50 — it’s the players chasing the first breakthrough, building careers with grit, not noise.

We believe in supporting those climbing, not just those already there.
Every Enzo. Every David-Jeanne. Every unknown name grinding under the radar.

They are the reason we exist.