The inaugural ATP Challenger edition of the AXA Open de Sion drew to a thrilling close on the red clay of Tennis Club Valère, crowned by home glory in the singles and an authoritative performance in the doubles final.
Singles Final: Dominic Stricker Triumphs on Home Soil
Switzerland’s Dominic Stricker delivered a masterclass in front of a passionate home crowd, capturing the men’s singles title with a hard-fought 6–1, 2–6, 6–2 victory over qualifier Benjamin Hassan.
Stricker set the tone early, dominating the baseline exchanges and dismantling Hassan’s serve to sweep the opening set 6–1. Hassan, who had battled through qualifying to reach the final, launched a spirited counter-attack in the second set, finding heavy depth on his groundstrokes to level the match at 2–6.
In the deciding set, the 24-year-old Swiss left-hander regrouped decisively. Backed by clinical serving and aggressive net play, Stricker secured two crucial breaks to take the decider 6–2, sealing the title and ensuring the Sion crown remained on Swiss soil.
Doubles Final: Neuchrist and Poljak Claim the Tandem Crown
In the doubles championship, the unseeded pair of Maximilian Neuchrist (AUT) and David Poljak (CZE) produced a seamless display to defeat the South American duo of Murkel Dellien (BOL) and Facundo Mena (ARG) in straight sets, 6–4, 6–4.
Neuchrist and Poljak relied on sharp serving, aggressive net coverage, and timely baseline returns, converting single breaks of serve in each set to secure the ATP Challenger 50 doubles title in straight sets.
The 2026 edition marked a milestone for the tournament in its elevation to ATP Challenger status, drawing enthusiastic crowds throughout the week and setting a high benchmark for professional tennis in the Canton of Valais.