Baseball has long dominated the sporting landscape in the Dominican Republic. But that is slowly changing. Long represented by 36-year-old and three-time ATP World Tour titlist Victor Estrella Burgos, tennis in the Caribbean island is steadily becoming a significant presence in the nation's culture. And, as the 2018 season kicks into high gear, the Dominicans have a new star to cheer for: Santo Domingo native Roberto Cid Subervi. Last week at the San Luis Open, 24-year-old Cid Subervi made great strides in just his fifth ATP Challenger Tour appearance. The recent University of South Florida graduate, who was the school’s first-ever All-American, had largely been a presence on the Futures circuit since turning pro in 2016. But the Dominican reached...
LOOK BACK Open Citta Della Disfida (Barletta, Italy): Aljaz Bedene remains undefeated on the ATP Challenger Tour in 2017, having secured back-to-back titles this weekend. The Brit moves to 15-0 for the season in Challenger matches after he navigated through the field in Barletta to oust top seed Gastao Elias 7-6(4), 6-3 and secure a tour-leading third title of the season. Bedene’s third Barletta title (2011 and 2012) is projected to move him back into the Top 70 of the Emirates ATP Rankings. [ALSO LIKE] San Luis Open (San Luis Potosi, Mexico): Fifth seed Andrej Martin returned to the tour following a prolonged absence out with illness to clinch his first Challenger trophy since 2015. Martin defeated the No. 1...
Miomir Kecmanovic continues to break new ground in 2017. The Junior World No. 1 is currently embarking on his professional career, hoping to follow in the footsteps of countryman Novak Djokovic. A host of recent juniors, the likes of #NextGenATP players Denis Shapovalov, Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas to name a few, are enjoying recent success on the ATP Challenger Tour. Kecmanovic is certainly on the right track to join the group and break into the Top 200 in the Emirates ATP Rankings. This week in Mexico at the San Luis Open, the 17 year old is truly making strides. A 6-2, 7-5 victory over #NextGenATP player Stefan Kozlov, in a rain interrupted contest, was backed up by a fighting...
Cast your mind back to Mexico in 1980. Most players were still plying their trade with wooden racquets when the inaugural edition of the longest-running ATP Challenger Tour event, the San Luis Open, took place at the historic Club Deportivo Potosino, one of the most renowned sports clubs in the country. This week, the clay-court event, one of seven Challengers to debut in the 1980s that's still in existence today, is celebrating its 31st edition. “I think it’s so special because it’s the oldest tournament on the Challenger Tour. Great players have come here, we’ve had a former World No. 1 play here (Marcelo Rios played his last competitive match here in 2004) and we get top junior players,” said...
