Paraguay’s rising star Daniel Vallejo has continued his sensational start to the 2026 season. The Paraguayan tennis star clinched his second ATP Challenger title in as many weeks in Concepción, Chile. The 21-year-old overcame home favourite and top seed Alejandro Tabilo in a three-set thriller on Sunday, 1 February.
Vallejo entered the Challenger tournament brimming with confidence after his trophy win in Brazil one week prior to his latest win. He dismantled the world No. 79 in a clinical opening set. Despite a spirited fightback from Tabilo in the second, Vallejo regained his composure to dominate the decider, eventually triumphing 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 in just under two hours.
The match was a tactical battle on the red clay of Cancha Central. While Tabilo managed to out-ace the young Paraguayan, Vallejo’s discipline proved decisive; he committed zero double faults throughout the entire match and maintained a relentless pressure that saw him earn 14 break point opportunities.
A meteoric rise in the Challenger world
This latest Challenger victory marks a significant milestone in Vallejo’s professional journey. Having turned pro only in 2023, the young Paraguayan has demonstrated remarkable consistency on the South American clay-court circuit.
Vallejo has now extended his unbeaten run to 10 matches. His title in Concepción has propelled him to a new career-high of world No. 104, leaving him on the cusp of the prestigious Top 100. Additionally, the win further solidifies his position as a primary contender for the Next Gen ATP Finals later this year.
Vallejo’s defensive resilience and improved serve were the hallmarks of his performance this week. After defeating Tomás Barrios Vera in a gruelling semifinal at the Challenger, he showed no signs of fatigue against Tabilo. He was maintaining a high intensity that the Chilean ultimately could not match in the final set.
With the clay season in full swing, all eyes will be on Vallejo as he looks to make his debut in the main draw of the upcoming European tournaments.
