A LOOK BACK Challenger Banque Nationale de Drummondville (Drummondville, Canada): Denis Kudla is back in the winners' circle after nearly three years, claiming the trophy at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Drummondville on Sunday. Kudla marched to the title with a 6-0, 7-5 victory over France's Benjamin Bonzi, prevailing after just 64 minutes. The American converted five of six break opportunities to take his sixth Challenger crown and first since 2015. It has been a strong start to 2018 for Kudla, who kicked off his campaign with a second round run as a qualifier at the Australian Open. He would also reach the semi-finals at the $125,000 event in Dallas. With his title in Drummondville, he vaults 24 spots...
A LOOK BACK Oracle Challenger Series Indian Wells (Indian Wells, U.S.A.): Martin Klizan capped a sun-drenched week of tennis in paradise, taking the title at the inaugural Challenger in Indian Wells on Sunday. The Slovakian defeated Darian King 6-3, 6-3 to lift his first trophy in two years, since prevailing at the ATP World Tour 500 event in Hamburg in 2016. Klizan, a former World No. 24, is on the comeback trail after struggling with a left calf injury last year. He registered impressive wins over Sergiy Stakhovsky, Henri Laaksonen, Peter Polansky, Vasek Pospisil and King to take the $150,000 title. A five-time ATP World Tour champion, Sunday's victory was Klizan's seventh ATP Challenger Tour crown. The left-hander rose 52...
A LOOK BACK Trofeo Perrel Faip (Bergamo, Italy): As good as Matteo Berrettini's breakthrough 2017 campaign was, his 2018 season looks to be even better. The 21-year-old Italian capped a strong two-month stretch with the title at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Bergamo on Sunday. He secured his second Challenger crown with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 win over countryman Stefano Napolitano in one hour and 53 minutes. Both of Berrettini's titles have come on home soil, having also prevailed in San Benedetto last year. He joins Andreas Seppi (2008 & 2011) and Simone Bolelli as Italian winners in Bergamo. Now, up to a career-high of No. 104 in the ATP Rankings, the Top 100 is well within reach for...
A LOOK BACK Chennai Open (Chennai, India): After 22 years on the ATP World Tour, the Indian city of Chennai began a new chapter of professional tennis on the ATP Challenger Tour. Top seed Jordan Thompson claimed the title at the inaugural Chennai Open, defeating home hope and second seed Yuki Bhambri in a thrilling championship clash. The Aussie prevailed 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 in two hours and 37 minutes. He converted eight of 13 break chances to take his fifth Challenger crown. Thompson returns to the Top 100 of the ATP Rankings at No. 95, while Bhambri continues his quest to return to the Top 100 in his return from injury. His runner-up finish in Chennai saw him climb to...
A LOOK BACK Hungarian Challenger Open (Budapest, Hungary): It has been four years since Vasek Pospisil reached a career-high of No. 25 in the ATP Rankings, but the Canadian is fast returning to the top form that carried him to stardom. The 27-year-old has kicked off his 2018 campaign in dominant fashion, claiming consecutive ATP Challenger Tour crowns in Rennes, France and Budapest, Hungary. He did not drop a set en route to the title in Rennes two weeks ago and battled to a trio of three-set victories on Sunday in Budapest. The week culminated with a 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-3 win over Spanish teen Nicola Kuhn. Kuhn, aged 17, was contesting his second Challenger final after earning his maiden title...
