ATP Tour:
Mallorca 250, Spain:
This is only the third edition of the tournament, but with Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas already on the honour board, it’s fast becoming a significant event to win.
Tsitsipas is there to defend the title, and as the only top 30 player, will be favoured to do so, starting his campaign in the 2nd round against German Yannik Hanfmann after a first round bye.
Of the Aussies taking part this week, Jordan Thompson has had a very solid first round win over former world number 7 Richard Gasquet. Max Purcell and Jason Kubler open their campaigns tonight AEST, while for Li Tu, who qualified for his first ever ATP 250, he has bowed out first round to Pavel Kotov (LL) as has Christopher O’Connell to Frenchman Corentin Moutet.
Eastbourne 250, United Kingdom:
One of the traditional lead-up event to Wimbledon, there’s been some high profile winners here over the years, including Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick, Taylor Fritz (twice), and Australia’s own, Alex De Minaur.
The sole Aussie in the draw this week, fighting through two rounds of qualifying and overnight taking the scalp of world number 51 Brandon Nakashima is Aleksandar Vukic (Q)
Taylor Fritz is back to defend his title, but won’t have it all his own way, with compatriot
Tommy Paul as the second seed. Other dangers include Nicolas Jarry and the big serving Maxime Cressy.
WTA Tour:
Eastbourne 500, United Kingdom:
A combined event, the men and women will gather in Eastbourne this week. For the women though they’ll play a 500 event, meaning most of the top players in the world will take to the courts here.
From the top ten, only Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka didn’t enter, with Maria Sakkari pulling out late. But with Elena Rybakina, Caroline Garcia, Ons Jabeur, Coco Gauff, and Petra Kvitova coming off a title in Berlin last week, we should get a very good indication of who will be threatening at the All England Club over the next few weeks.
Bad Homburg 250, Germany:
Interestingly, Iga Swiatek has chosen to play the 250 event in Germany, over the 500 event in the UK. It’s hard to see her being threatened for the title here, although stranger things have happened on a tennis court. Clearly the top seed, her nearest rivals this week, will likely come from Luidmila Samsonova, Donna Vekic, Mayar Sherif, and Bianca Andreescu.
ATP Challengers
Modena 75, Italy:
A couple of top 100 players still preferring the clay surface to the grass, will make an appearance at this new event in Italy. Federico Coria, and Thiago Monteiro are the likely finalists here, with no other players inside the top 100.
Medellin 50, Colombia:
As expected, the lowest level of Challenger event, the week before a Slam, in South America, hasn’t drawn the strongest field. Number one seed is Colombian Nicolas Mejia, at 248 in the world.
However, the beauty of an event like this, is it gives lower players a chance to get into the Challenger Tour. Aussie, Tristan Schoolkate with direct entry and fellow countryman Calum Puttergill through two qualifying rounds.
As always, The First Serve will be covering the Aussie action from around the ITF tours, and ITF junior tours. Follow us on social media to stay abreast of all the tennis news and results across the globe.