![\"Kei](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/nishikori-2025-backhand.jpg\")
<\/p>\n Challenger
\n Nishikori leads the way as 2026 ATP Challenger season begins<\/p>\n
Five Challenger events across opening week of 2026 season<\/p>\n
January 04, 2026<\/p>\n
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Dylan Buell\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Kei Nishikori will compete at the 2026 Workday Canberra International, which runs from 5-10 January.
\n By ATP Staff<\/p>\n
The 2026 ATP Challenger season begins Monday, with five tournaments taking place in opening week. The Workday Canberra International<\/a> kicks off the Australian hard-court swing, with former No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings Kei Nishikori<\/a> headlining the action. Nishikori, who has competed in just two tournaments since last May, begins against top seed Vit Kopriva<\/a>.<\/p>\n \nAlexander Blockx<\/a> and Nicolai Budkov Kjaer<\/a>, who both competed at the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF<\/a>, will meet in the opening round of the Canberra Challenger. Jeddah finalist Blockx beat the Norwegian in the semi-finals of the 20-and-under event to take a 1-0 lead in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.<\/p>\n Learning a language \ud83d\udde3\ufe0f Aiming high for the season ahead…#ATPChallenger<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/9e5C645IPg<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) January 1, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n \nThe Workday Canberra International<\/a> is one of two Challenger 125 events this upcoming week. The Dafa News Bengaluru Open<\/a> in India is also slated to take place, with Spaniard Pedro Martinez<\/a> leading the draw as the top seed.<\/p>\n \nTwo-time NCAA singles champion Michael Zheng<\/a> is among the field at the BNC TENNIS OPEN<\/a> in New Caledonia. Former World No. 19 Hyeon Chung<\/a> returns to action at the Bangkok Open 1<\/a>, an ATP Challenger 50 event. Briton Henry Searle<\/a>, who won the 2023 Wimbledon<\/a> boys\u2019 singles event, will compete on home soil at the Lexus Nottingham Challenger<\/a>.<\/p>\n \nSix continents will host ATP Challenger events across the first two months of the season, underscoring the global footprint of the circuit. With the addition of 50 new Challenger 50 tournaments this season, players across the world will have greater opportunities to compete, further strengthening the professional pathway to the ATP Tour.<\/p>\n
Ranking rise \ud83d\udcaf
Staying fit and healthy \ud83d\udcaa<\/p>\n