ATP Challenger Tour

THE 2024 SPANISH CHALLENGER CALENDAR WILL START IN TENERIFE

Abama Tennis Academyin the south of the island of Tenerifewill host three circuit tournaments during the first quarter of 2024 ATP Challenger, organized by MEF Tennis Events. On this occasion the calendar will be made up of a Challenger 100 and two tournaments Challenger 75.

Of the January 14 to 21 The ATP Challenger 100 will be held. The two ATP Challenger 75 will be held consecutively between the February 18 and 25the first and among the February 26 and March 3, the second. The event will host around 220 professional tennis players, both recognized stars and some of the best promises in the world.

MEF Tennis Events, a company specialized in organizing ATP, WTA and ITF tournaments in Italy, reinforces its commitment to Tenerife as European headquarters. The facilities have seven fast lanes Flexipave surface on which the games are played Australian and United States Open. In addition, the center court has a capacity of 600 spectators.

In 2024, the ATP Challenger Tour circuit has 147 tournaments Worldwide.

In the first and second edition of these tournaments, in 2022 and 2023, great world-known tennis players participated, such as Fernando VerdascoFeliciano LopezTallon Griekspoor (current 24 ATP and tournament winner in 2021), Matteo Arnaldi (winner in 2023 and current 41 ATP) and players like Joao SousaElias Ymer or Benoit Paire.

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ALBOT, PASSARO AND VERDASCO LEAD THE SEEDING
GREAT EXPECTATION FOR NARDI AND THE “AZZURRI”

Tenerife, 28 December 2022 – The entry list of the Tenerife Challenger has been officially released. The circuit returns to the Canary Islands, more precisely to the Abama Tennis Academy, which will host three events between January and February. The first, scheduled for January 15-22, is an ATP Challenger 100; two ATP Challenger 75s will follow (from 29 January to 5 February and from 5 to 12 February). In the review organized by MEF Tennis Events on the outdoor hard courts of the renowned academy, the Moldovan Radu Albot will lead the seeding. Followed by the blue Francesco Passaro and the idol of the house Fernando Verdasco. Luca Nardi will also be at the starting line, one of the most interesting prospects in world tennis.

From Passaro to Nardi, lots of Italy in Tenerife – Thirty-three-year-old Radu Albot, who boasts an ATP best ranking of 39 in his career, will be the top seed in the tournament. The Moldovan starts the season as ATP number 103 and his new run-up to the top 100 will also pass to the Canary Islands. In 2023 the Umbrian Francesco Passaro will also try to reach this goal, who after last year’s exploits, wants to continue the climb that in 2022 led him to be a protagonist on the fields of the Foro Italico and the Next Gen ATP Finals; as well as conquering the first ATP Challenger title in Trieste. Fernando Verdasco, three times Davis Cup champion with Spain, semifinalist at the 2009 Australian Open and former world number 7, needs no introduction. The champion born in Madrid, already played in Tenerife in 2021 and distinguished himself by reaching the semi-final. The presence of Italian troops is rich, starting with Matteo Arnaldi (134 ATP) and Luca Nardi (135 ATP). The latter in particular is considered one of the top prospects in world tennis and is called to the maturity season. The tricolor picture is closed by the presence in the main draw of Flavio Cobolli and Riccardo Bonadio, while Spain will also be represented by Carlos Taberner. Among the most prominent names of the excellent entry list, also the German Jan-Lennard Struff and the French Benoit Paire.

The enthusiasm of director Marrero – “It is very important for us to continue organizing tournaments in Tenerife and doing it with MEF Tennis Events is an added value: it is a guarantee of excellent success”. These are the words of David Marrero, director of the three Tenerife Challengers scheduled soon. The former number 5 ATP doubles, as well as champion of the ATP Finals in 2013 paired with Fernando Verdasco, will once again lead the events organized by MEF Tennis Events in the Canary Islands: “We start immediately strong with an ATP Challenger 100 with an excellent entry list. We are always happy to be able to welcome high-level players and in general these tournaments are good for the Spanish movement and for Canarian tennis”.

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FREE ENTRY FOR TENNIS SCHOOLS

The Tenerife Challenger opens its doors to Canary Islands’ tennis schools – The dream of many boys and girls who practice sport is to meet live those who have made that dream a reality. Young tennis fans from the Canary Islands will have the opportunity to experience a day in close contact with the professional tennis players participating in the three ATP Challenger Tour tournaments that will take place in Guia de Isora, Tenerife. The organization of the tournament, together with the Tennis Federation of Tenerife and the Canarian Tennis Federation, will involve the tennis schools of the Canary Islands with the KIDS DAY!
The instructors and representatives of the tennis clubs will be able to register their tennis school for one or more days, to be chosen between Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 January, Monday 30 and Tuesday 31 January, Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 February. Registration is done by filling in the attached form. A contact person will then contact the group manager to finalize the details of the visit to the Tenerife Challenger.

The KIDS DAY program varies according to the day and includes:
– PRACTICE SESSION WITH TENERIFE CHALLENGER PLAYERS: The tennis schools that will join will be able to play with the champions of the ATP Challenger tournament (30 minutes)
– PHOTO CALL: During and at the end of training, the boys will be photographed with the players. The photos will be sent via link to the group manager.
– AUTOGRAPH SESSION: Each boy and girl will receive a ball autographed by one of the tournament players.
– FREE ENTRY: Each participating boy will be given a free pass for the whole day. Each participant can bring two companions who will be allowed free access for the whole day.

**** HOW TO REGISTER: To register for the initiative, simply fill in the attached form, or send an email to ticket@meftennisevents.com indicating the day of interest, preferred time slot, number of children/teens (minimum 8 people). The contact person will be contacted to confirm the timetable. Entries by 13 January for Tenerife Challenger 1, by 27 January for Tenerife Challenger 2 and by 3 February for Tenerife Challenger 3.

 

Click here to register!

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ALCARAZ: “GREAT PLACE. THE LEVEL WILL BE HIGH”

MARCHESINI: “A RETURN WANTED BY THE PLAYERS”

 

Tenerife, 22 November 2022 – Professional tennis is ready to return to Tenerife. After hosting a WTA 250 and an ATP Challenger event in 2021, the island is back in the spotlight with three tournaments in the early season calendar. MEF Tennis Events consolidates the relationship with the Canary Islands and with the Abama Tennis Academy, which will be the stage of the events. An ATP Challenger 100 will be played on the outdoor hard courts of the renowned facility from 15 to 22 January, while two ATP Challenger 75 will be played from 29 January to 5 February and from 5 to 12 February. The events were presented at the press conference held at the Abama Resort Tenerife, with the number 1 in the world Carlos Alcaraz among the speakers. The announcement of the tournaments is great news for players who, mindful of last season’s success, have been anxiously awaiting Tenerife’s return to the calendar.

 

Alcaraz: “I have great memories of the ATP Challenger circuit” – “I have very good memories of my time in the Challenger Tour and I believe there is no better place for players to compete than Tenerife: the setting is stunning.” There is no doubt for the world number one Carlos Alcaraz, who among his appearances on the ATP Challenger Tour also recalled those in the tournaments in Todi and Gran Canaria in 2020 and 2021, when he was graced with wild cards from MEF Tennis Events. “This is my first time in Tenerife and I was positively surprised, the people are welcoming and the scenery beautiful – the impression of Alcaraz, who chose the island to rest and start recovering from the abdominal injury that prevented him from playing Nitto ATP Finals and Davis Cup -. These days I have been resting. Of course I’m looking forward to getting back on the court, but it’s important to be able to take moments to disconnect at the end of a very long season. I am going to the gym now, but without overdoing it.” During his enforced absence from the tennis courts, the Spanish prodigy has therefore had time to devote his passion for golf on the Abama Golf: “I really enjoy playing and when I can I take time for Golf. Competition with Nadal? I am absolutely not at his level, to get there I need years and a lot of training.”

 

 

Marchesini: “Abama Tennis Academy, a unique location” – The announcement of three tournaments is of course a great satisfaction for Marcello Marchesini, president of MEF Tennis Events: “During last season so many players asked us if we would be able to reorganize the tournaments in Tenerife, this is a testament to the great work done and the beautiful venue. We will play again at the Abama Tennis Academy, a unique place that boasts a Center Court overlooking the ocean.” Among the press conference speakers is proudly attending Carlos Alcaraz, who in his carrer has also participated to MEF Tennis Events tournaments, in fact in 2020 he was the protagonist in Todi and Gran Canaria tournaments: “Announcing these tournaments in the presence of Carlos is a great pleasure and is a confirmation of the importance of the ATP Challenger tour, which in terms of quality of players is close to the major circuit. Alcaraz himself is proof of this. In just over a year Carlos won ATP Challengers to triumphing at the US Open.” Therefore, the anticipation for the start of the new season is growing with the three tournaments that will showcase the island: “For a month Tenerife will be the beating heart of international professional tennis. We thank the Cabildo de Tenerife, Turismo de Tenerife, Real Federación Española, ATP, Ayuntamiento Guía de Isora, Abama Resort management, Federación Insular de Tenis de Tenerife and Federación Canaria de Tenis for the esteem and support they will give to the events.”

 

Brendan Breen’s joy – On a special day for the Abama Tennis Academy, the words of Abama Tennis and Abama Golf director Brendan Breen could not be missed: “For me it is a pride to be here with world number one Carlos Alcaraz. The Abama Resort Tenerife has invested in the facilities to be recognized more and more as an excellence. This is also why the ATP and MEF Tennis Events have once again placed their trust in us by awarding us three ATP Challenger tournaments in 2023. Our goal is to continue to host great events in the future and to do better and better,” remarked the director, who with MEF Tennis Events in 2021 has already taken away the satisfaction of having organized what was awarded as the best WTA 250 of the season. Along with him and Carlos Alcaraz, Pedro Martin, president of the Tenerife Cabildo, and Josefa Mesa, mayor of Guía de Isora, also spoke at the conference.

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MEF TENNIS EVENTS IN TENERIFE

A WTA 250 IN OCTOBER, AN ATP CHALLENGER IN NOVEMBER

MARRERO: “GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CANARIES”

 

Tenerife, August 17, 2021 – Great tennis returns to the Canaries. From 18 to 24 October the Abama Tennis Academy in Tenerife will host a new WTA 250 tournament, while from 1 to 7 November the fast courts of the same academy will host a men’s tournament on the ATP Challenger circuit. Both events will be organized by MEF Tennis Events, which returns to the wonderful Spanish islands after the two Gran Canaria Challengers at the beginning of the season.

The joy of Marrero – The director of both tournaments will be David Marrero, former number 5 in the world of doubles: “These tournaments are a great opportunity for the Canaries. People will be able to attend the matches of the best tennis players in the world: it will be the first time that one of these islands will host a WTA 250. Tenerife will prove to be up to par and clearly also for everything that concerns tourism it will be a huge chance. I hope the players will feel right at home and I am sure that the entry list will be of the highest level. Two weeks after our tournament, the WTA Finals will be held, so important points will be up for grabs in Tenerife: I expect a great show in front of an enthusiastic audience ”. Then the speech of the native of Las Palmas on the ATP Challenger: “The climatic conditions of the island are ideal for playing tennis. It will be the third men’s event of the year after the two Gran Canaria Challengers: these tournaments give enormous motivation in particular to the youngest, who have the opportunity to compete and live a week alongside great players. I have to thank MEF Tennis Events for trusting me: my goal is to take advantage of the experiences I have faced as a player alongside the best in the world, to put professionals at ease on and off the court. The tournament director must know what the boys want and what they are looking for during a demonstration ”. There is also room for an idea for the future: “I would like the other Canary Islands to host tournaments like these next season as they consider that MEF Tennis Events is a guarantee of success”.

Marchesini does not stop – Particularly satisfied Marcello Marchesini, president of MEF Tennis Events: “I am extremely happy to continue the collaboration with the Canary Islands. After reaching an agreement with the ATP to organize the first ATP Challenger in the history of the island from 1 to 7 November, we were proposed by the WTA, after the Asia tournaments cancellation, to organize a WTA 250, and the choice more logical was to propose it in the same venue, the prestigious Abama Tennis Academy. For our part, we are very proud to have received this call from the WTA, which acknowledged the excellent work done in May at the Parma tournament, which was attended by the Williams sisters. These are months full of satisfactions, which repay us for the courage we had in the worst period of recent years, when in 2020 we organized the Italian Absolute Championships and then the Challenger of the restart of international tennis, both in our home town, Todi”. In just 18 months, MEF Tennis Events has therefore organized the Absolutes, the Serie A1 finals, 7 ATP Challengers in Italy, an ATP 250 and a WTA 250 in Italy and, at this point, 3 ATP Challengers in the Canary Islands and a WTA 250 in Tenerife.

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