Noumea, Orlando & Playford Usher In 2019 Challenger Season

Welcome to 2019! The new year is upon us and that means a fresh season on the ATP Challenger Tour has arrived.

Today's stars on the ATP Tour aren't the only ones seeking to make a winning start to 2019, with those competing on the Challenger circuit also looking to make an immediate impact. We unwrap the season with a trio of tournaments across the globe, as players hit the hard courts of Noumea, Orlando and Playford.

The ATP Challenger Tour visits many scenic locations throughout the year and the island paradise of Noumea is among the most stunning. For the 16th consecutive year, the French territory of New Caledonia kicks off the season, with its capital city of Noumea hosting a Challenger 90 event. 

Also featuring on the schedule is the City of Playford Tennis International (Challenger 90), the first of four events in Australia. And the inaugural Orlando Open (Challenger 80) is held in Florida, as the United States joins the opening-week party. 

Note that tournaments are now divided into five categories - Challenger 80, 90, 100, 110 and 125 - providing the tour with a clear and defined structure. The change is part of a sweeping overhaul to the player pathway and prize money, signaling the beginning of a new era in the landscape of professional tennis. Learn More

[ALSO LIKE]

The first edition of the Orlando Open is held at the sprawling USTA National Campus in central Florida. The $60 million, 64-acre facility includes 100 tennis courts. Darian King is the top seed, with Mitchell Krueger leading the American charge.

Player to watch in Orlando: Ulises Blanch also scored his maiden Challenger title in 2018 as a lucky loser. Champion in Perugia, Italy, the 20-year-old American remains in search of an ATP Rankings breakthrough as he pushes towards the Top 200. He faces Dutchman Gijs Brouwer in the third round, following an upset victory over third seed Thiemo de Bakker on Wednesday.

Located off the eastern coast of Australia, the paradise of Noumea welcomes players to the Ligue de Tennis de Nouvelle Caledonie. Frenchmen have accounted for seven of the 15 winners, including Gilles Simon and Jeremy Chardy. The tournament once again features a stacked draw, with reigning champion Noah Rubin seeded third. Fellow Top 150 players Federico Delbonis, Quentin Halys and Yuichi Sugita also lead the field.

Player to watch in Noumea: At 19, Jurij Rodionov is the youngest player in the field. The Austrian teen will be looking to make a significant push as he seeks to build on his current standing of No. 217 in the ATP Rankings. Rodionov won his maiden Challenger crown a year ago in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Meanwhile, in Playford, Australia, the second edition of the City of Playford Tennis International welcomes eight players in the Top 150. Italy's Lorenzo Sonego is the top seed, with #NextGenATP star Casper Ruud seeded second, followed by Lloyd Harris and Adrian Mendendez-Maceiras. 

Player to watch in Playford: Finally healthy, Tommy Paul is plotting his ascent as his 2019 campaign kicks off Down Under. The 21-year-old American lifted his first Challenger trophy just two months ago in Charlottesville as a lucky loser. After struggling with a knee injury for the majority of 2018, Paul is on the precipice of a Top 200 return, sitting at No. 202. 

 

from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://bit.ly/2TrX1AF