Far & Wide: ATP Challenger Tour Hits Record 196 Tournaments In 2023

Six continents, 46 different countries and a record 196 tournaments.

The ATP Challenger Tour touched all corners of the globe far and wide to bring world-class tennis to fans in 2023. Among the tournaments to be celebrating a milestone year was the Challenger Cherbourg La Manche, which became the first indoor tournament to reach 30 years on the circuit.

Cherbourg was joined by Prostejov, Czech Republic (30), Cordenons, Italy (20) and Ostrava, Czech Republic (20) in significant anniversaries this year.

Cherbourg, the longest-running French Challenger, has been a staple of professional tennis for three decades. Held in February this season, the event has featured past champions such as former World No. 4 Sebastien Grosjean and 2017 Nitto ATP Finals winner Grigor Dimitrov. In 2003, Rafael Nadal was a finalist just two years prior to winning his first major title three hours east in Paris.

Stronger pathway, stronger sport. Elevating the Challenger Tour is core to the #OneVision mission! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/AMtaP5Ya2k

— ATP Tour (@atptour) December 11, 2023

The Cordenons Challenger tournament director Serena Raffin has endured through hardship to continue the tournament which celebrated 20 years in August. In 2013, her father and tournament founder Eddi Raffin suffered a heart attack, passing away aged 61. While the event celebrated the milestone year, memories of Eddi were present.

“It is special because I feel he is with me. It’s a strange feeling. I feel he is proud of me,” Serena said. “I thought it was impossible, but nothing is impossible. You can always try to find a different solution. We found it and I think my father is happy.”

Out of 24 active Challenger tournaments in Italy, Cordenons is the third longest-running event (Barletta, Rome).

Return To China, Sweden
The ATP Challenger Tour made its long-awaited return to China in August after a near four-year absence on the calendar. China held six Challenger events across eight weeks.

The Danderyd Challenger was the first event in Sweden at that level since 2018 (Bastad). The tournament was held at Good to Great Tennis Academy’s state-of-the-art facility north of Stockholm.

“Whatever we do, we try and make it good for the players and coaches. So far, we are really happy with the week,” tournament director Magnus Norman said. “What the players and coaches need is to be able to work and we take pride in doing a good tournament.”

175 Events
The ATP Challenger Tour also introduced the all-new 175 category in March, held during the second week of select ATP Masters 1000 events. Nuno Borges won the premiere event at the Arizona Tennis Classic in Phoenix. Andy Murray earned his first title at any level since 2019 when he won the Aix-en-Provence Challenger. Ugo Humbert won in Cagliari and Bordeaux while German Dominik Koepfer was crowned champion in Turin.

Did You Know?
On 1 January, the 2024 Challenger season kicks off with an opening week featuring tournaments in Australia, New Caledonia, Thailand and Portugal.