Reilly Opelka knows quite well what the ATP Challenger Tour has to offer during its spring clay-court season. One year ago, the big-hitting American blasted into his first semi-final on the surface in Aix-en-Provence, France. And this week, Opelka finds himself in the last four on the green clay of Sarasota, U.S.A., rallying from a break down twice during the tournament. "I am better on hard, so it is nice to get a win on clay, especially when I have been in a slump the last six or seven weeks," said Opelka. "Tennis is such a confidence game, so it is just about finding that confidence when we hit the clay season. This gives me an opportunity to play tomorrow...
If you listen closely, you can hear the crunch of pristinely trimmed blades as players take to the grass courts of the Aegon Surbiton Trophy in suburban London this week. The grass-court season is here, and the fresh smell of carefully groomed lawns is in the air on the ATP Challenger Tour, with three weeks of tennis set to commence in England. The tournaments in Surbiton, Nottingham and Ilkley provide some of the more quaint and picturesque settings on the circuit, but which Challengers are held in the most scenic, breathtaking locales? We look at the 10 best, presented in alphabetical order by city... Kunming Challenger (Anning, China) One of two events in the Asia-Pacific region that feature on our...
LOOK BACK 2017 Kunming Challenger (Anning, China): Janko Tipsarevic remains unbeaten on the ATP Challenger Tour in 2017, following another stellar week in Asia. The former World No. 8 in the Emirates ATP Rankings has won all 20 matches at this level, clinching his fourth Challenger title of the season with a 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 triumph over #NextGenATP prospect Quentin Halys. The Serbian has dropped just two sets during this 20-match streak, including two titles in Bangkok and last week's trophy in Qingdao. The win streak is the longest run on the ATP Challenger Tour since David Goffin also won 20 in a row in 2014. Victory over the Frenchman boosted his ranking nine places to World No. 62 and...
After retaining his title at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Qingdao, China, last weekend, Janko Tipsarevic tweeted #keepdigging. The former World No. 8 in the Emirates ATP Rankings has had to be incredibly patient, with the best part of two years on the sidelines. Persistent foot issues, specifically in his left heel, which included two surgeries to remove a benign tumor, and then right knee patella tendinitis, kept the 32 year old out of competitive action until the spring of 2016. He was finally back on court and raring to go, but the Serbian had plummeted to World No. 528 this time last year. Within 12 months, Tipsarevic’s dedication has seen him soar up the ranking as the biggest...
A first ATP World Tour match win and a new coaching set up have given Gianluigi Quinzi a fresh impetus towards his 2017 goal. “I have been through a period that wasn’t that good, I wasn’t winning a lot of matches, but I’ve changed coaches to work with Fabio Gorietti,” said Quinzi. “It’s only the third week of working together and I’m feeling very good.” The switch has provided instant results. The 21 year old opened his account on the ATP World Tour earlier this month at the Grand Prix Hassan II with a 7-6(8), 6-3 victory over Paul-Henri Mathieu. The left-hander then narrowly fell 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-4 to countryman and World No. 38 Paolo Lorenzi. “We have already gone...
