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TENERIFE CHALLENGER, ENTRY LIST UNVEILED

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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TENERIFE IS BACK. THREE CHALLENGER TOURNAMENTS ANNOUNCED

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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