The ATP Challenger Tour event in Orleans, France, has become one of the most popular Challengers among players for its extraordinary attention to detail, right down to the winner’s prize.
Open D’Orleans director Didier Gérard noted that all of the trophies he had won during his career were tucked away in his garage. Determined to make sure his event wouldn’t be forgotten about by its champions, he gained inspiration from the annual tradition by Roland Garros organisers of hiring a painter to create a frame for the tournament’s poster.
Since the first edition of the tournament in 2005, a different artist each year creates two identical, but original pieces of artwork. One piece is given to the singles champion during the trophy ceremony, while the other goes to the tournament and is added to a collection.
"I thought the painting was very beautiful when I first saw it earlier in the week. I’m very happy to win it," said Pierre-Hugues Herbert after receiving his winner’s painting on Sunday. "It is very original to offer a painting to the winner. It is different from other tournaments and I like it very much. I already know where I will put it in my apartment at home. I'm honoured to have it with my other trophies."