Extreme heat forces the RD Open final in Cap Cana to be temporarily suspended

Punta Cana.- The final of the Dominican Republic Open Copa Cap Cana (ATP Challenger 175 category), which was being played between Italian tennis player Mattia Bellucci and Argentine Mariano Navone, has been temporarily suspended due to the high temperatures recorded during the day.

Given the conditions of extreme heat, the match referee and tournament organizers made the preventive decision to stop the match. The main objective of this measure is to protect the health of the players, who were starring in an intense duel in front of a stadium with a large influx of spectators. The break in activities has allowed both tennis players to receive the necessary medical attention and recover from the stifling climate before returning to action. Up to the moment of interruption, the final was developing with a high competitive level, with Bellucci and Navone fighting for every point in the search for the title. The meeting is expected to resume once the weather conditions improve and allow the game to continue as normal.

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The Dominican Republic Open – Copa Cap Cana is held from March 9 to 15, 2026 in Cap Cana, making the country a stage for international professional tennis for the second consecutive year. The tournament is part of the ATP Challenger Tour, the main platform prior to the ATP circuit, and is played on the hard courts of the Racquet Village complex.

In this category, the highest within the Challenger Tour, the champion obtains 175 points for the ATP ranking, which attracts players from the world's Top 100.

The 2026 edition brings together 21 international high-level tennis players, led by figures such as Hubert Hurkacz, Roberto Bautista Agut, Cristian Garín, Tomás Martín Etcheverry and Miomir Kecmanović, among others. In addition, the American Aleksandar Kovacevic returns to try to defend the title obtained in 2025. The tournament has a main draw of 28 players in singles and 16 pairs in doubles, consolidating itself as one of the most competitive Challenger events on the calendar.