Tallahassee Challenger Looks To Launch Another Top 10 Star

The year’s #NextGen final at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Tallahassee, Florida, which saw Quentin Halys prevail over Frances Tiafoe, could eventually lead to him continuing the trend of future Top 10 players who made their breakthrough at this tournament.

Over its 17-year history, the tournament has helped launch or re-launch the careers of some of the most recognizable names in tennis. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, John Isner and Mardy Fish all eventually moved into the Top 10 of the Emirates ATP Rankings after lifting the winner’s trophy in Tallahassee.

“We have a pretty illustrious list of champions,” said Tournament Director Karen Vogter. “Fish reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final (2007 Australian Open) after he came here and won our tournament in 2006. When Tsonga got to the Australian Open final (in 2008) after winning our tournament in 2007, I think that’s when people here understood that this was the place to see the future champions of the game. We’d love to see the next young champion come out of here.”

The consistently strong field isn’t the only reason why some players competing this week have returned to Tallahassee for several years. The packed crowds that can be seen for each night session and the helpfulness of the local community, which includes more than 300 volunteers for the tournament each year, have also proven to be an appealing draw.

“We try to take care of everyone that comes here,” said Vogter. “I think that Southern hospitality is something the players appreciate. Moving to Forest Meadows (in 2005) also had a huge impact on our tournament because it’s the heart of tennis in Tallahassee. We’ve seen a marked increase in our crowds and support since then.”

The Challenger has also provided a meaningful impact on Tallahassee beyond the tennis court. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Vogter Neuro-Intensive Care Unit at Tallahassee Memoiral HealthCare, named in honor of her late husband. More than $625,000 has been raised over the last 16 years as a result. In 2010, all ticket sale money began to be donated to the Maria Yealdhall Challenger Tennis Fund, which is used to help build and improve tennis projects and programs throughout the city.

“The money for the endowment is used for educational purposes and to make sure they have the most highly trained staff possible. It’s a high-stress environment, so we hope to improve healthcare by providing additional education that the staff can then share with others,” explained Vogter. “For the tennis fund, we’ve improved different areas of the facilities at Forest Meadows by doing things like resurfacing courts and putting up shade structures on several of them.”

Although 2016 marks yet another successful year in the books for the tournament, Vogter already has plans in place to make things bigger and better. Prize money will increase next year from $50,000 to $75,000 and money has already been allocated to build more Har-Tru courts for the tournament.

“There are definitely improvements that we want to make,” said Vogter.  “We’re all committed to having this tournament return year after year and making it the best event we possibly can.”