As the sun sets over the turquoise waters of Juanillo Beach, the rhythmic “thwack” of tennis balls is set to replace the gentle lapping of waves in Cap Cana in southern Punta Cana. The second edition of the República Dominicana Open – Copa Cap Cana is returning from 9 to 15 March 2026, solidifying this Caribbean “destination city” as a premier stop on the professional tennis circuit.
In making the announcement, Minister of Tourism David Collado highlighted the event is part of the country’s diversification of tourism. Sports tourism is a growing segment for the Dominican tourism industry. The country has invested heavily in prime sports facilities that together with abundant and good quality accommodation and some of the best air connections in the world puts the Dominican Republic on the sports map as a choice location for sports events.
The Copa Cap Cana is not your average satellite event. As an ATP Challenger 175, it occupies the highest tier of the Challenger Tour. These “Super Challengers” were designed by the ATP to bridge the gap for elite players between the two legs of the “Sunshine Double”—Indian Wells and the Miami Open.
Played on world-class Laykold hard courts, the exact surface used at the Miami Open, the tournament offers a staggering US$300,000 prize pool and 175 crucial ranking points. For players who exit early from Indian Wells, Cap Cana serves as the ultimate high-stakes training ground, offering the same climate and court conditions they will face just days later in Florida.
The stars of 2026
The 2026 entry list reads more like a main-draw ATP 250 than a Challenger. Leading the pack is the recent Rio Open champion, Tomás Martín Etcheverry (ARG), currently ranked world No. 33.
He is joined by a formidable lineup of Top 100 talent, including:
• Hubert Hurkacz (POL): A former Top 10 staple and Wimbledon semifinalist looking to find his rhythm on the hard courts.
• Aleksandar Kovacevic (USA): The defending champion, who returns to the site of his 2025 triumph to protect his crown.
• Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP): The veteran Spaniard and former world No. 9 adds a layer of prestige to the draw.
• Alejandro Tabilo (CHI): A rising star in South American tennis who looks to avenge his recent final loss to Etcheverry.
• Other notable entries: Botic van de Zandschulp (NED), Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB), and Alexandre Müller (FRA).
A “Grand Slam” for Dominican tourism
“Events like this confirm that sports tourism is a key piece in our strategy to diversify our offerings,” stated Minister of Tourism David Collado. The goal is clear: prove the Dominican Republic is more than a “beach-and-sun” destination by attracting a high-spending, international demographic that stays longer and engages more deeply with local infrastructure.
Beyond the baseline, the event features a “Fan Village” with gourmet dining, live music, and a “Sustainability Square” managed by the Cap Cana Foundation. This year also introduces a high-tech edge, utilizing the same electronic line-calling system featured at Wimbledon.
About the ATP Challenger 175
The ATP Challenger 175 is the highest and most prestigious category of the ATP Challenger Tour. Introduced in 2023 as part of a major overhaul of the men’s professional tennis structure, these events are often referred to as “Super Challengers.”
Here is a breakdown of what makes the 175 category unique:
- The ranking points
As the name suggests, the winner of the tournament earns 175 ATP ranking points. For context, this is significantly higher than a standard Challenger (which usually offers 50 to 125 points) and bridges the gap toward an ATP 250 main-tour event (where the winner gets 250 points). - Strategic scheduling (The “Sunshine Double” Connection)
The ATP specifically designed the 175 events to take place during the second week of ATP Masters 1000 tournaments—specifically Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, and Rome.
• The purpose: At Masters 1000 events, the draw is large, but many top players lose in the first week.
• The solution: Instead of these high-ranking players having nowhere to play for 10 days while waiting for the next big tournament, the ATP 175 events give them a high-level competitive environment to earn points and stay in match rhythm. - Elite player fields
Because of the scheduling mentioned above, the caliber of players in a 175 event is much higher than a typical Challenger.
• Players ranked between No. 11 and No. 50 in the world are eligible to enter.
• In a standard Challenger, you rarely see players inside the Top 50; in a 175 event, the “seedings” often look like a main-tour ATP 250 or 500 event. - Increased prize money
To match the high level of talent, these tournaments offer significantly larger prize pools than standard transition-tour events. They typically offer around US$225,000 to US$300,000 in total prize money, along with increased hospitality and amenities for the players that mimic the experience of the main ATP Tour.
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Copa Cap Cana
ATP Tour
24 February 2026