In order to run a world-class tennis tournament like the $125,000 ATP Challenger Tour event in Mons, Belgium, it helps to have someone in charge that has played in many of them. Enter Dominique Monami. During her 10-year career, she peaked at No. 9 in the WTA rankings in 1998 and won four singles titles. Since moving on to become the tournament director at the Ethias Trophy, she’s drawn from her time on tour to offer everything that a player could need during their week in Mons. The tournament debuted in 2005 and with her help, was selected as a 2015 Challenger of the Year (along with events in Braunschweig, Germany, and Monterrey, Mexico). Not only has it become one...
After graduating from college this year, Sem Verbeek is now ready to graduate onto a pro tennis career. The 22 year old from the Netherlands took another step towards that at this week’s $100,000 ATP Challenger Tour event in Stockton, California. Verbeek received a main draw wild card for his success as a player at Stockton-based University of the Pacific and fittingly drew reigning NCAA champion Mackenzie McDonald in the first round. Although he lost in straight sets on Tuesday, he said the match was an experience that will serve him well. “Coming home is always a great experience, especially getting to play at this level. There’s a lot to learn, but that’s what makes these matches exciting,” said Verbeek....
Thiago Monteiro has arguably established himself as the most improved player of the year, but he isn’t done creating new memories in 2016. The 22 year old from Brazil is looking for his ATP Challenger Tour on home soil at the $40,000 ATP Challenger Tour in Campinas. Monteiro is the second seed and will play his opening match against fellow Brazilian Andre Ghem on Wednesday. “I like to perform at home,” said Santos. “The energy of the people and their support is very good for me and I really do feel it in the tough matches.” Watch Free Challenger Live Streaming After starting the year ranked No. 463 n the Emirates ATP Rankings, Monteiro is now inside the Top 100...
Before July, you had two career Challenger quarter-finals. Now you have three Challenger titles. What does this mean about the progression you’ve made? I’m very stoked. Me and [coach and brother] Chris, we go pretty hard on court and in the gym. I’ve been doing two-a-days and it’s now showing on court. I’m much stronger, much fitter, much faster. I’m now trying to believe in my game and it’s working, so I’m going to stick to it and hopefully keep progressing. I always talk about knowing who you are, knowing what you can and can’t do on a tennis court. How has getting a better understanding of who you are as a tennis player impacted your game? I think it’s...
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...
