Monterrey Challenger Links Past And Future Champions

The $100,000 ATP Challenger Tour event in Monterrey fittingly plays alongside an ATP Champions Tour event at the same venue this week, giving a glimpse into the future stars of the game that could one day join the ranks among the legends of the sport.

The Monterrey Open made its debut on the calendar last year and made an immediate impact on the players for its attention to detail, scenic surroundings and caring tournament staff. It was named this June as one of the 2015 Challenger Tournaments of the Year, standing alongside well-established and prestigious events including the Sparkassen OPEN in Braunschweig and the Ethias Trophy in Mons.

“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,” said Tournament Director Hernan Garza. “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.”

This year’s Monterrey Open features an intriguing mix of established veterans and rising stars of the game. Many of them competed in Monterrey last year and made it a point to return in 2016.

“I think it’s the best tournament out there,” said fifth seed and #NextGen star Ernesto Escobedo of the U.S., who advanced to the semi-finals on Thursday. “I love being in Mexico and come to play here any chance I can get.”

The tournament has also been well-received by the Champions Tour players competing this week, a high compliment coming from players who spent years traveling to the biggest events on the ATP World Tour.

“The venue is beautiful. It’s a great Challenger that I would recommend to anyone coming out to Monterrey,” said former World No. 8 Mark Philippoussis. “The players are well taken care of and the people here are incredibly hospitable. They make you feel like you’re at home.”

Former World No. 4 James Blake took in some of the Challenger matches in Monterrey and said he was impressed by the level of play. The American was confident that a player competing here this week could make plenty of noise on the ATP World Tour in 2017.

“A lot of the guys I played in Challengers were just a couple of opportunities or a few points away from being top players and you see that here as well,” said Blake. “Someone can be playing in a Challenger this week and then make the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in a couple of months. It’s very possible with the talent these guys have.”