This past weekend’s exhibition match at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Poprad Tatry, Slovakia, featured a unique twist as four-legged “balldogs” took to the court to fetch balls.

Former World No. 4 and Olympic gold medalist Miloslav Mecir and former World No. 34 Marian Vajda were joined on Saturday by three dogs who collected balls during the match. Ruby, Layla and Luky are from a local animal shelter and were brought out to highlight the importance of adopting.

“[They] are the first three official tennis ball collectors in Slovakia,” said local civil activist Monika Kozelova. “They demonstrated how clever, skilled and useful the dogs from an animal shelter can be.”

Mecir was also impressed by the balldogs, declaring that “they are such beautiful dogs, really well-trained. It would be such a pity if they didn’t find their home.”

Horacio Zeballos of Argentina won this year in Poprad Tatry without dropping a set, defeating Gerald Melzer of Austria in the final. 

Mecir said he was pleased with the tournament and believes it keeps improving each year. “We had stronger players than last year. We had a Top 50 player in Martin Klizan and some other top players in the Top 100. You could see most of the Slovak Davis Cup team in the singles semi-finals and doubles final,” he said. “After 14 years, we hope a Slovak player can win the singles title here. We haven’t managed it so far, but you can always see top tennis here.” 

Not only have our ATP World Tour players been inspired by their dads, but some of them are dads themselves! We asked our stars to share some of their favourite memories.

To see what the players have to say, visit the ATP Dads capsule on MyATP. Not a member? Sign-up at MyATP.com or download the app to your iPhone or Android device.

Here’s a sneak peek:

Milos Raonic: “My father was a great inspiration to me… for them, education was very important but I got to do whatever I loved as well.” Watch

Bob Bryan: “Being a parent is the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me and I consider it my most important and rewarding challenge. Seeing their smiles, hearing their laughter, and the pitter-pattering of their feet always warms my heart.” Read More & View Photo

Kevin Anderson: “My dad made it all possible for me to get to where I am today.” Read More & View Photo

Alexander Zverev: “He’s been helping me for such a long time. He’s been a great role model.” Read More & View Photo

Bruno Soares: “Being a dad is the most special feeling in my life. I think it’s the biggest gift someone can get.” Read More & View Photo

Vasek Pospisil: “My dad is a tennis diehard. I don’t know if I know anybody that loves the sport more than he does.” Watch

John Peers: “[My dad] has not only been a great role model but a true friend.” Read More & View Photo

Joao Sousa: “Aside from being my idol, he’s the main pillar and responsible for my life’s success.” Read More & View Photo 

Steve Johnson: “He’s always been there for me in life, on and off the court.” Read More & View Photo 

Nicholas Monroe: “He’s always been such a great father, coach and my number one supporter.” View Photo

Marius Copil: “He used to be a professional rugby player and played tennis for fun and because of his hobby for Tennis, I quit playing Soccer and started Tennis!” Read More & View Photo

View the entire ATP Dads capsule on MyATP.

The ATP has announced the 2015 Challenger Tournaments of the Year, with long-standing events the Sparkassen OPEN (Braunschweig, Germany) and the Ethias Trophy (Mons, Belgium) joined by newcomer the Monterrey Open (Mexico) as the most favoured ATP Challenger Tour events. 

The Challenger Tournament of the Year awards, voted for the first time by ATP players, recognise the leading standards set across the 161 Challenger tournaments in 41 countries in 2015.

ATP Challenger Tour Committee Co-Chairs, Alison Lee, ATP International Executive Vice President and Ross Hutchins, Chief Player Officer, said “Challenger tournaments provide ATP players with important playing opportunities for much of the year, and provide local tennis fans with the chance to see world-class tennis and rising stars. There are many outstanding Challenger tournaments around the world, managed by dedicated people who love tennis. However, the three tournaments in Braunschweig, Mons and Monterrey were overwhelmingly voted for by the players for the high standards they set in their facility, player services and attendance. We are grateful that these Promoters go above and beyond in making their Challenger week such an incredible event for the players and their local tennis fans.”

The Sparkassen OPEN in Braunschweig has received many accolades in its 22-year history, attracting more than 30,000 spectators in 2015. The Challenger incorporates live music and entertainment throughout the week to complement the tennis.

MORE: ‘Tennistainment’ Key To Braunschweig Challenger Success

Sparkassen OPEN Tournament Director Volker Jaecke and Tournament Promoter and CEO of Brunswiek Marketing Harald Tenzer, said, “A very special thanks to the ATP and all the players who have voted for our ATP Challenger Sparkassen OPEN in Braunschweig. It is such an honour for the whole team to receive this Award again. After winning the Award in 2014, we have been even more motivated to organise a great tournament for players, spectators, sponsors and partners in 2015. However, we did not expect the effort to be paid off so quickly. This year, we were able to improve several areas to make players feel even more comfortable.”

“It is important to mention that this tournament could not exist without all the sponsors and partners, who support us each year. We are therefore pleased to announce that our title sponsor, Braunschweigische Landessparkasse, has renewed for five more years. We are looking forward to another year of successful cooperation and organisation with the ATP.”

The Ethias Trophy in Mons, staged since 2005, is also a local crowd favourite with almost 20,000 people coming to watch the week of tennis. Tournament Director Dominique Monami, said, “In the name of Ethias and the organisation committee, we are proud to receive this award. Year after year, we are trying to make this event the most attractive to the players. As a former player on the WTA, I understand better than anyone what the players are expecting during a tournament. With my team, we do our best to make sure that the players can perform in the best conditions and make their stay the most comfortable. This is the best recognition we can get!”

MORE: Rave Reviews For Inaugural Monterrey Challenger

The Monterrey Open, played at the Sierra Madre Tennis Club, made a huge impact on players winning the prestigious Best Challenger Award in its inaugural year in 2015. Tournament Director Hernan Garza said, “It is an honour for us have been named one of the winners of the ATP Challenger of the Year awards for 2015, which we look forward to receiving in November at the Barclays ATP Tour World Finals in London. This confirms the good direction we have taken with the Monterrey Open Challenger, and commits us to continue our efforts to provide the players and the public a high quality event.”

Britain’s Daniel Evans enjoyed a successful start to the Aegon Open Nottingham on Sunday, prevailing against countryman Liam Broady 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(6). Sunday was the first day of play at the ATP World Tour 250 event, which returns to Nottingham for a second consecutive year.

Evans next will play 16^th seed Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania, who won their prior FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting in 2010.

Russian Evgeny Donskoy swept American Denis Kudla 6-4, 6-4. Donskoy next will face ninth seed Marcos Baghdatis, who reached the quarter-finals last week in Halle (l. to Zverev). Donskoy leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry 1-0, thanks to a 2013 win on indoor hard courts in Moscow.

Frenchman Adrian Mannarino also took care of American Taylor Fritz, a member of the Next Generation, 6-3, 6-2. Mannarino will face 12^th seed Paolo Lorenzi of Italy for the first time.

James Ward and Marcos Baghdatis face off as Batman vs. Superman. A mini court was set up in front of Wollaton Hall, the building used as Wayne Manor in The Dark Knight Rises.

Nottingham Returns: The Aegon Open Nottingham is the final tournament before Wimbledon, which begins June 27. This is the second straight year Nottingham is hosting an ATP World Tour event (returned last year for the first time since 2008). The tournament was formerly held in Eastbourne from 2009-14. The 48-player draw features 12 of the Top 50 players in the Emirates ATP Rankings, led by World No. 20 Kevin Anderson, who is the top seed. Denis Istomin is the reigning champion. Andreas Seppi is the other former winner in the field (2011).

Aegon Open Nottingham (Nottingham): The top eight seeds are: Anderson, Pablo Cuevas, Joao Sousa, Alexandr Dolgopolov, last year’s runner-up Sam Querrey, Steve Johnson, Seppi and Gilles Muller. Other seeds in the Top 50 are: Marcos Baghdatis, Pablo Carreno Busta, Vasek Pospisil and Paolo Lorenzi.

Anderson Top Seed: Anderson is the top seed for the second time this season in an ATP World Tour tournament. In February in Delray Beach he was the top seed. He retired in the first round vs. Austin Krajicek due to an elbow injury. The 30-year-old South African comes in with a 3-8 match record on the season with his best results being the quarter-finals in Auckland and Nice (after 1R bye). He has not won back-to-back matches this season. Anderson has been bothered by a left knee and right elbow injury this season. He also retired in the first round at the Australian Open. Last week he qualified at The Queen’s Club and lost in the first round to Tomic.

The Reigning Champ: Istomin comes in as the defending champion after beating Querrey in two tie-breaks in the final. Istomin became the first player from Uzbekistan to capture an ATP World Tour singles title. This season Istomin has struggled with a 4-15 match record and he’s not won back-to-back matches in an ATP World Tour tournament.

Fritz Ranking Jump Leader: One year ago, Taylor Fritz made his main draw ATP World Tour debut here as a wild card. He came in ranked No. 761 and defeated Pablo Carreno Busta in the first round before losing to No. 16 Feliciano Lopez in the second round. Since then, the 18 year old has made the biggest jump in the Top 100 Emirates ATP Rankings. He has climbed to a career-high No. 63, making him the youngest in the Top 100. Fritz comes into Nottingham with a 9-10 match record on the season, highlighted by his maiden ATP World Tour final in Memphis (l. to Nishikori).

Local Title Hopes: The four wild cards are British players Liam Broady, Brydan Klein, Alex Ward and James Ward. There are two other British players in the draw: Kyle Edmund and Daniel Evans. Edmund is coming off his second career ATP World Tour quarter-final at The Queen’s Club where he posted his first Top 20 win over No. 18 Gilles Simon before losing to World No. 2 Murray in three sets.

Gilles Going Strong: No. 11 seed Gilles Muller has put together strong performances in the first two weeks of the grass-court circuit, reaching the final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (l. to Mahut) and the quarter-finals at The Queen’s Club (l. to Tomic) where he saved 10 match points in his second-round win over John Isner. Muller is making his tournament debut.

Doubles Draw: The top seeds in the doubles draw are Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo, who are No. 10 in the Emirates ATP Doubles Team Rankings. Other seeds are: No. 2 Dominic Inglot and Daniel Nestor, No. 3 Treaty Huey & Max Mirnyi and No. 4 Juan Sebastian Cabal & Robert Farah. Huey & Mirnyi are No. 5 in the doubles team rankings and Cabal & Farah are No. 7 in the rankings.

In Case You Missed It

Andy Murray captured a record fifth title at the Aegon Championships. Read

Florian Mayer capped off a dream week by winning the Gerry Weber Open title over Alexander Zverev. Read

Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut successfully defended their Aegon Championships title. Read

Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram also retained their Gerry Weber Open crown. Read

Roger Federer takes positives from an “intense and busy” stretch on grass. Read

Lleyton Hewitt will return to the doubles court at Wimbledon. Read

Birthdays

21 June: Ricardas Berankis (26)

23 June: Vasek Pospisil (26)

25 June: Mikhail Youzhny (34)

Milestones

Nottingham Singles

Fernando Verdasco: 446 wins

Julien Benneteau: 245 wins

Kevin Anderson: 225 wins

Nottingham Doubles

Julian Knowle: 396 wins

Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi: 246 wins

Treat Huey: 149 wins

Andreas Seppi: 99 wins

Rankings Movers

+112 Florian Mayer (80)

+17 Kyle Edmund (68)

+10 Alexander Zverev (28)

+4 Malek Jaziri (60)

+1 Nick Kyrgios (18)