AROUND THE GLOBE THIS WEEK
With the Miami Open into its second week, there aren’t any ATP or WTA tournaments on the calendar for week 13. Here are the highlight tournaments this week at Challenger and ITF level.
ATP Challenger Tour:
Mexico City 125, Mexico:
Taking place in Mexico’s ‘cathedral of tennis’, Switzerland’s Marc Andrea-Huesler is looking to go back to back here. This time around, he’s ranked about 130 places higher, at 47, and clearly takes the top seed position.
James Duckworth has already secured a first round winas the fourth seed, but Bernard Tomic has bowed out first round. San Remo 125, Italy:
No returning champion here, as the reigning title holder is top ten player, Holger Rune. Last year he was top seed, and ranked 88 at this event, which shows just what a huge 12 months it’s been for him.
Somewhat co-incidentally, this year’s top seed is also ranked 88. Peru’s Juan Pablo Varillas is unlikely to be in the top 10 this time next year, but has a good chance to make some valuable points this week. There are also three players in the draw, who made Challenger finals this week…Sebastian Ofner, Billy Harris, and Alessandro Giannessi. Lille, 100, France:
Another indoor hardcourt event in France, and this week, it’s at the oldest tennis club in Lille.
Now in its fifth year, there has been 3 previous French winners, Quentin Halys last year, and Gregoire Barrere a two time champion.
Neither are in the field this year, but there are three Aussies with direct entry. Max Purcell takes the top seed slot, and he is joined by Omar Jasika, and Li Tu. Max will be hoping to continue his stunning season, while Omar and Li will be hoping to get some wins on the board in what has been a fairly slow start. Girona 75, Spain:
A new event on the Spanish clay, sees a decent field, with a couple of top 100 players, in Pedro Cachin, and Jaume Munar. Thirty-seven year old Spanish veteran, Pablo Andujar has received a Wildcard into the event, and will be hoping to get his first main draw win since November last year.
ITF Womens:
Sadly, again, there’s slim pickings for the women this week, with a sole W60 event as the biggest women’s tournament in the world, outside of Miami.
W60 Croissy-Beaubourg, France:
Played on the indoor hardcourts, this event has drawn a fairly solid field, as you would expect. Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti, and Belgian, Ysaline Bonaventure are the two top 100 players in the field, at time of cut-off. However, France’s Oceane Dodin has stormed into a double figure ranking, on the back of some fantastic results on the ITF tour this season. Five finals, and 3 titles in the opening three months of the year, should set her up for a big European summer.
Other notables in the field, are Britain’s Katie Boulter, and Jodie Anna Burrage, as well as former world number 12, Belgian, Yanina Wickwayer, who, at 33, is obviously still enjoying playing tennis, regardless of the level.