Tenerife Challenger series continues with Hawk-Eye System
Following the success of the first ATP Challenger Tour 100 tournament in mid-January won by Russian Alexander Shevchenko, the second of a three-week hard-court swing in Tenerife is underway.
The Tenerife Challenger 2, which offers a total prize money of €75,000, is being held at the stunning Abama Tennis Academy in Guía de Isora in the western part of the largest of the Canary Islands.
Thanks to the support of Turismo de Tenerife, the Ayuntamiento de Guía de Isora, the Real Federación Española de Tenis and the Federación Insular de Tenis de Tenerife, the event will feature the Hawk-Eye System, which has been installed on Centre Court for the first time.
The use of Hawk-Eye has been a rarity on the ATP Challenger Tour until now. The well-known computer vision system, which uses several video cameras positioned at different angles of the court, makes it possible to reconstruct the trajectory of the ball and to verify whether the bounce point is in or out. The players of the tournament will be able to ask for the verification of doubtful shots, a further guarantee for them.
“We are very happy to use the Hawk-Eye System for the second of three tournaments we have organised on the island of Tenerife,” explains Marcello Marchesini, president of MEF Tennis Events and tournament director. “We are among the first to adopt this solution on the ATP Challenger Tour and it is something that enriches the tournament.”
Arnaldi leads the field
This week’s semi-finals line-up is led by World No. 130 Matteo Arnaldi. The second-seeded Italian, who had to go the distance in his opening two matches, defeated Oleksii Krutykh from Ukraine 6-4, 6-1 on a sunny Friday afternoon. Arnaldi capitalized on four of his seven break-point chances to prevail in one hours and 10 minutes.
“Krutykh is a friend, and it was not easy to face him. Throughout the challenge I played more and more aggressive tennis and made fewer and fewer mistakes, so I am happy with my performance,” said Arnaldi. “It was not easy to adapt to the surface, but today’s match was my best match of the tournament.”
The 21-year-old Sanremo native will next take on Spaniard Nicolas Alvaraz Varona, who is competing in his first tournament of the season. The wild card entry rallied past his compatriot and qualifier Alejandro Moro Canas 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 in one hour and 54 minutes.
Harris continues fine run of form
In the top half of the draw, Lloyd Harris defeated Italian veteran Roberto Marcora 7-6(4), 6-3. The 175th-ranked South African, who knocked out World No. 111 and top seed Francesco Passaro of Italy in the second round, struck nine aces and won 75 per cent of his first-service points to seal victory in one hour and 38 minutes.
“It wasn’t an easy match. The first set was very tight. I got through some break points there. I served pretty well, which helped me today and I got some more free points,” said Harris, who saved three set points in the first set and needed to take a medical time out in the second when he received treatment on his right thigh.
“I am feeling a bit of stiffness. I was playing a lot of matches. Now, I am trying to recover and let’s see how I will feel tomorrow,” said Harris.
The 25-year-old will next play third-seeded Italian Raul Brancaccio, a 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-0 winner over No. 7 seed Carlos Taberner from Spain. The longest encounter of the day lasted three hours and 24 minutes.