The University of Virginia has set the benchmark for success at the collegiate level and that prosperity is translating to the professional ranks this week at the Charlottesville Challenger. The contingent of talented Cavaliers, led by freshman Carl Soderlund, are sending a message to the established veterans and surging #NextGen stars on the ATP Challenger Tour. Senior Ryan Shane and junior Alexander Ritschard took full advantage of their main draw wild cards in snatching sets from top seeds Frances Tiafoe and Jared Donaldson, respectively. Seniors Thai-Son Kwiatkowski and JC Aragone also forced their first-round opponents - Tim Smyczek and Liam Broady - to go the distance. Shane, who made his tour-level debut at the US Open last year and appeared...
University of Virginia freshman Carl Soderlund registers the upset of the tournament in beating Sam Groth at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Charlottesville.
After an outstanding junior career, Alex De Minaur is now taking his first steps towards recreating that same success in the pros. The 17-year-old from Australia came through qualifying at this week’s $50,000 ATP Challenger Tour event in Eckental, Germany, then won his first round over Frenchman Kenny De Schepper. With the victory, he became just the third player born in 1999 to win a main draw match at a Challenger. On Wednesday, De Minaur backed up that win by moving into the quarter-finals over Federico Gaio of Italy. The Aussie has also yet to drop a set after five matches in Eckental. “It’s been an unbelievable experience. It's my first time playing on carpet and I obviously really enjoy...
American teen Reilly Opelka reflects on his time away from the courts due to a foot injury and discusses his chances at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Charlottesville.
Sadio Doumbia hasn’t taken a traditional path to being a professional tennis player, but has quickly been making up for his late start to the ATP Challenger Tour. The 26-year-old from France won his first ATP Challenger Tour title this past Sunday at the $50,000 event in Pune, India. Ranked No. 359 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, he rallied from a set down to defeat eighth seed and local favourite Prajnesh Gunneswaran in the final. In addition to coming back from a set down in four of his five matches, Doumbia also captured his first victory over a Top 200 player in the Emirates ATP Rankings by defeating top seed Evgeny Donskoy of Russia in the quarter-finals. “It’s my first...