Felix Balshaw is a 20-year-old French right-hander whose rapid rise through the rankings has made him one of the top talents to watch in the 2026 season. After winning his first ATP Challenger title and breaking into the Top 200, he claimed his maiden ATP Tour match win in Lyon and moved into contention for the Next Gen ATP Finals.
Felix Balshaw’s tennis racquet
Balshaw uses a Dunlop CX 200. It looks like the 2024 generation. We are just about due for the updated version, the Dunlop CX 200 2027, which we gave a positive review. If he uses a Dunlop poly, it is like Dunlop Explosive Speed. If you have more information about Balshaw’s racquet, please comment below.
Quick facts
| Detail | Profile |
|---|---|
| Nationality | France |
| Born | 15 June 2006, Leeds, England |
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in), as reported by ATP |
| Plays | Right-handed, one-handed backhand |
| Preferred surface | Hard |
| Career-high ranking | No. 178, October 2026 |
| Current ranking | Verify against the official ATP ranking dated 26 October |
| Challenger singles titles | 1 |
| Next Gen ATP Finals Race | No. 8, 322 points (26 October 2026) |
Background and junior career
Balshaw was born in Leeds, England, and moved to Biarritz in southwestern France in 2009, when his father, Iain Balshaw, joined the local rugby club. He grew up in France and has represented the country throughout his tennis career.
His father was part of England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning team, but Felix chose tennis over rugby at around 12–13 years old. He began playing tennis at four and developed a very distinctive one-handed backhand.
Unlike some of his peers, Balshaw’s rise has come primarily through the professional ITF circuit rather than a high-profile junior career. He started 2026 ranked around No. 718 and climbed fast through consistent results on the lower-level pro tour.
Player to watch, Felix Balshaw, using the Dunlop CX 200 ?? https://t.co/7JPjDykVeN
— Tennisnerd (@Tennisnerdnet) October 19, 2026
We watched Felix play at the 2026 Lyon Open and were impressed by his game in the win over Faria, especially his lethal backhand.
Pro career so far
2026 has been Balshaw’s breakthrough season, taking him from outside the Top 700 to the world’s Top 180 and delivering both his first Challenger title and first ATP Tour win.
- Early 2026: Built momentum on the ITF World Tennis Tour, accumulating wins and moving into the Top 300. By late June, he had reached consecutive Challenger finals in Lyon and Targu Mures, losing to David Jordà Sanchis in Lyon and Sumit Nagal in Romania. lequipe.
- August: Qualified for the Winston-Salem ATP Tour event, making his main-draw debut. He lost in the first round to Aleksandar Kovacevic but gained valuable experience at tour level.
- September: Won his maiden Challenger title at the Rafa Nadal Open in Manacor, Mallorca. He came from a set down to beat Inaki Montes-De La Torre 3–6, 6–2, 6–3 in the final, in only his 10th Challenger event.
- October: Earned his first ATP Tour victory at the Lyon Open, defeating world No. 56 Jaime Faria 6–2, 4–6, 6–3. He then lost to Corentin Moutet in the second round, 4–6, 4–6.
His win over Faria was a significant milestone: it was his first victory at tour level and his first against a Top 100 opponent.
Playing style
Balshaw is an aggressive, right-handed player with a particularly distinctive one-handed backhand. He is comfortable taking the ball early, redirecting it down the line and using his backhand to attack rather than simply defend.
