While most eyes will be on Melbourne, there are still tournaments on the Challenger and ITF tour taking place, giving the players who missed out on competing at the first major, the chance to earn some points elsewhere.
ATP Challenger Tour:
Tenerife, Spain 100
The biggest Challenger tournament for the week goes to the beautiful region of Tenerife. This is the second time a Challenger event has been played here, the first being in late 2021, where Tallon Griekspoor defeated Feliciano Lopez.
The first of three tournaments here over the next month, plays host to a number of players who weren’t able to get through Australian Open qualifying.
Top seed is Moldovian, Radu Albot (above) ranked 100, and appearing in the qualifying is former French Open semi finalist Ernest Gulbis, now ranked at 311.
Piracicaba, Brazil 75
The first Challenger of the year in Brazil, as the tour moves away from Argentina. Located a couple of hours outside Sao Paulo, one of the biggest cities in the world, this is the first incarnation of the tournament. A city of over 400,000 in its own right, hopefully the locals come out in support of Brazilian tennis.
Alejandro Tabilo, who was the number 1 seed at the AO qualifying, is also the top seed this week. He will hoping to improve on his efforts from Melbourne, when going down in the second round of qualies.
Nonthanburi 3, Thailand 50
The third straight week in Thailand, and a downgrade from a 75, to a 50, but still a great opportunity for players in Asia, or those on the way back to Europe from Australian Open qualifying, to play more matches, and earn some valuable points.
The top seed this week is none other than Aussie, James Duckworth, who will be hoping to put the disappointment of missing an AO wildcard aside. It’s a great chance for James to get back inside 150, and start climbing back towards the top 100.
ITF Women’s:
Plenty of action on the ITF tour as always, but with the Australian Open on, there aren’t a lot of larger events.
W60 – Vero Beach, USA:
The acceptance list has 6 players inside the top 200, and 16 inside the top 300, so a fairly healthy standard of tennis can be expected here. Hungarian, Reka Luca Jani is the highest ranked player, at 113.
Three other W40 events are taking place:
Bhopal, India
Tallinn, Estonia
Monastir, Turkey
All have players inside the top 200 competing, so if Grand Slam tennis isn’t enough for you, there is still plenty on offer to keep you awake at night!
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