Milan, July 5, 2026 – Three hours and twenty-three minutes of running, battling, and hitting. And running, battling, and hitting some more. Relentlessly, under a scorching sun, with only the occasional, deceptive gust of wind offering a brief respite from the sweltering heat of this grueling Milanese Sunday. There is no mercy, forgiveness, or redemption here. It is just tennis—cruel as life, mocking as the cruelest fate. It is just tennis; nothing more.
Socks stained with red clay, worn-out soles, shirts clinging to chests, bandanas and wristbands soaked in sweat. That is how Facundo Diaz Acosta and Marco Cecchinato finished—utterly spent after the final of the 2026 Aspria Tennis Cup (Trofeo BCS), the longest in the tournament’s twenty-year history.
There could be no better way to celebrate the Milan ATP Challenger’s anniversary: this record-breaking twentieth edition saw a final that will go down in the tournament’s legend. In the end, Diaz Acosta prevailed—6-7, 7-6, 7-6—over a heroic and moving Cecchinato, who came agonizingly close to a historic hat-trick of victories on the red clay of the Aspria Harbour Club, having previously triumphed in 2016 and 2025.
The Match
The heroes of this Milanese tennis epic take the court at 11 a.m., bathed in already scorching sunlight. It is immediately clear that this will be no ordinary match. There are no service breaks leading up to the tie-break; every point is hard-fought, with intense rallies. Then, Cecchinato shows greater composure at the crucial moment, taking the tie-break decisively—winning seven points to zero.
Diaz Acosta refuses to yield an inch; he holds firm. Neither player drops serve, and the second set also goes to a tie-break—this time, the Argentine prevails, 7–5. It goes to a third set. The humidity is unbearable and oppressive; even the spectators in the stands are struggling to breathe. Yet, the two heroes feel neither fatigue nor pain—only the drive to win. Cecchinato secures an early break to lead 3–1; victory seems within reach, but it is merely an illusion. Diaz Acosta’s *Albiceleste* heart beats strong: he first claws back the break, then saves himself from two situations where the Italian is just two points away from winning the match.
And so, for the third time, it comes down to a tie-break. With the score at 5–5 in the tie-break, the unthinkable happens: Cecchinato commits a double fault, losing his grip on the racket and mishitting his second serve. The following point seals the Argentine’s triumph. The *Albiceleste* celebration begins with his coach, Federico Delbonis—himself a former champion in Milan. For Diaz Acosta, this marks his second triumph at the Aspria Tennis Cup 2026-Trofeo BCS, following his 2023 victory.
“It was an incredibly tough match in sweltering heat; thank you to everyone who came out to watch us, even in these conditions,” said Diaz Acosta after the awards ceremony. “It’s wonderful to win here again; the crowd is amazing, and I really feel at home at this tournament. Congratulations to everyone, especially Marco. I hope to play many more finals against him.”
Cecchinato, meanwhile, tried to come to terms with his disappointment: “It was an incredible battle; unfortunately, that’s life. Thank you to all the organizers, the tournament staff, and the club—I feel at home here; it’s a fantastic event. I really wanted to win for the third time, so I’m truly disappointed, but I’m not giving up. A year ago, I was on the verge of quitting; now, thanks to my coach—who is also my cousin—I’ve rediscovered the drive to fight, and my goal is to break back into the top 100.”
See you in 2027
And so, the 20th edition of the Aspria Tennis Cup-Trofeo BCS comes to a close; the next date is set for 2027. “We are proud to have hosted the twentieth edition of the Aspria Tennis Cup ATP, a milestone that testifies to our unwavering commitment to promoting top-tier tennis. Over these twenty years, we have seen the tournament’s prestige and public interest grow, confirming the Harbour Club as a tennis landmark in Milan—a place where athletes, fans, and the city come together to enjoy an exceptional sporting experience,” stated Roberta Minardi, General Manager of Aspria Harbour Club.
Tournament Director Massimo Lacarbonara highlighted the significance of the event: “The 2026 edition is a source of immense pride for us, marking the historic 20-year milestone. There are so many memories and so much hard work behind this, and we have been rewarded with this achievement. Today’s final was the icing on the cake; congratulations to Diaz Acosta, and we are delighted to have seen Marco in the final again. It would have been wonderful to see him triumph for a third time—both players deserved to win. We look forward to next year and the twenty-first edition.”
The Partners
The 20th edition of the Milan ATP Challenger was a record-breaking event, made possible thanks to the partners and sponsors who supported the tournament organization: title sponsor BCS, along with Febal Casa, Norqain, Mood, and Co.Ver.Lit. Srl, Imoon, Carol, KoRo, Equistasi, Numero Blu, Motta, Fineco, EA7, Metro 5, Eglue, Vimex, Non solo giardini, Powerade, CDI, Vivay, Shark|Ninja, Forte Village, Rummo, ApenGroup, Ecolife Milano, Head, Supertennis, We4Show, Centri Estivi FIT, Profineco, Woyage, Ercole, Passione Pizzeria, Food Writers, Felmoka, Latteria Sorrentina, Monsupello, Pizza a Teatro, Don’t call me Base, Poke&Go, Gruppo Felsineo. Special thanks to Lombarda Motori, the exclusive transportation provider, and Melià Hotel for accommodation.
