TENNIS – UGO Blanchet from France posted a major upset yesterday in the Bahrain Open Tennis Challenger 2026, currently being played at the Police Officers Club in Gudaibiya.
Blanchet, ranked 142nd in the world, took down top seed and 50th-ranked Australian Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 7-6 (5) in their first-round match-up.
Blanchet now moves on to the last 16 where he will face off with countryman Hugo Grenier, who earned his spot following a hard-earned 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-1 triumph over lucky loser Beibit Zhukayev from Kazakhstan.
Meanwhile, also advancing yesterday were second seed Mattia Bellucci from Italy, who beat Turkish qualifier Yanki Erel 6-4, 6-4. Bellucci will battle Lithuanian qualifier Edas Butvilas in the last 16, with Butvilas beating Maxim Mrva from the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-2 in their match yesterday.
Other seeds to make it through were fifth seed Yannick Hanfmann from Germany and seventh seed Luca Nardi from Italy. Hanfmann was a 6-3, 6-2 victor against Indian qualifier Manas Dhamne, while Nardi beat Mexican Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez 7-6 (5), 7-6 (1).
Action in the tournament’s singles and doubles main draws continue today. Play will be held from 11am. All are welcome to attend at the Police Officers Club in Gudaibiya.
The tournament is part of this year’s calendar on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Challenger Tour. It is a Challenger 125 category event offering $225,000 in total prize money – up from last year’s purse of $200,000.
The competition is organised in cooperation between the Police Sports Association and the Police Officers Club.
This year’s tournament is its fifth edition. Last year’s event was named the 2025 ATP Challenger Tournament of the Year for the Challenger 125 category, which is the second-highest on the ATP Challenger Tour.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh