Start Romagna Cup – ATP Challenger 50

Cesenatico Welcomes Big Tennis Back

With the Start Romagna Cup – 1st Trofeo Città di Cesenatico, the seaside town in the Province of Forlì-Cesena, in Emilia-Romagna, officially enters the major international professional circuit. This is an ATP Challenger 50 tournament with a prize pool of 56,700 euros, the first Italian event on the ATP Challenger calendar of the year, held just a few days after the conclusion of the Australian Open.

Where to Play

The venue for the event is the Circolo Tennis Anselmo Godio in Cesenatico, with its indoor hard courts. The club is no stranger to important events: over the years it has hosted youth tournaments and ITF events, and in the past, a young Roger Federer even played there during a Winter Cup. Cesenatico, moreover, is an established sports hub: it has already successfully organized three editions of the Beach Tennis World Championships and has hosted a federal training center for years.

A Tournament for the Whole City

The Start Romagna Cup is the result of collaboration between the Circolo Tennis Cesenatico, the Municipality of Cesenatico, and the main sponsor Start Romagna, the local public transport company that gives the competition its name. The tournament direction is entrusted to Carlos Bernardes, a legendary former ATP tour chair umpire, assisted by supervisor Riccardo Ragazzini. The stated goal of the organizers and the municipal administration is to make Cesenatico a reference point for winter professional tennis in Italy.

Atmosphere and Audience

One of the characteristics that most impressed the players themselves is the warmth of the Romagna public. The popular admission formula – with tickets starting from a few euros and reduced rates for young people – makes the tennis week accessible to everyone, from enthusiasts to casual observers. Among the protagonists in the draw are Italians and local favorites, such as Romagna's own Francesco Forti, who draw enthusiastic and participatory cheering from the stands.

Why It's Worth Attending

For tennis lovers, the Start Romagna Cup is an opportunity to see the emerging talents of the world circuit up close, those players who are fighting to climb the ATP rankings and break into the big leagues of major tournaments. For the Romagna Riviera out of season, it is an event that brings sport, tourism, and vibrancy in the middle of winter.