Oscar Otte entered 2017 having not won a main draw match at an ATP Challenger Tour event, but the German continued his rapid rise up the Emirates ATP Rankings with his first Challenger title last week at the Lisboa Belem Open in Lisbon, Portugal. “It was really difficult to play that final, so I’m happy I could make it through. It was an amazing week for me,” said Otte. “I was a little bit tougher in the head and also physically. I tried to keep the rallies quick because I used a lot of energy in the matches that week, so it was a good tactic. “You never think you can win the title at the start of the week....
After a four-year absence, the ATP Challenger Tour is back in Portugal this week with the Lisboa Belem Open, a $50,000 event on the red clay of this historic city. The tournament is named after the Belém Tower, an iconic structure in Portugal that’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enthusiastic fans have already lined up to check out the tennis at the Club Internacional de Foot-ball, a world-class venue with 19 courts (17 with floodlights) that also hosted a Davis Cup tie in April. #ATPChallenger tennis is back in Portugal! Explore the grounds at inaugural Lisboa Belem Open. Free live streaming: https://t.co/BSGzRUzoZi pic.twitter.com/7tyi6YdJtb— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) June 14, 2017 Portugal last saw Challenger tennis in the city of...