Eubanks, Kokkinakis to meet in Phoenix Challenger first round

The season's first ATP Challenger Tour 175 event in Phoenix, Arizona boasts a stacked draw, including 19 players ranked inside the Top 100 of the PIF ATP Rankings, led by top seed Christopher Eubanks. Wild card Matteo Berrettini will make his return to competition in Phoenix following a six-month layoff.

The American Eubanks begins his Arizona Tennis Classic campaign with a tough test, World No. 99 Thanasi Kokkinakis. After an early exit in Indian Wells, the 27-year-old Eubanks is competing in his first ATP Challenger Tour tournament since the Lexus Surbiton Trophy last June, when he was then ranked No. 74 before his maiden tour-level title in Mallorca and a dream quarter-final run at Wimbledon.

The top half of the draw also includes defending champion Nuno Borges, third seed Roman Safiullin, Benoit Paire and last year's Next Gen ATP Finals titlist Hamad Medjedovic.

It's almost time for the first 175 event of the year 🎉

Your top seeds in action this week 👇#ATPChallenger | @aztennisclassic pic.twitter.com/4zTMznPJi8

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) March 11, 2024

World No. 38 Sebastian Ofner is the second seed at the ATP Challenger Tour 175, a category of tournaments held during select Masters 1000 events and therefore often bringing in Top 50 talent. Berrettini, Fabio Fognini, J.J. Wolf, fourth seed Yannick Hanfmann, seventh seed Aleksandar Vukic and eighth seed Arthur Cazaux are also placed in the bottom half.

The 2021 Wimbledon finalist Berrettini, who has not played since the US Open due to injury, will open against Hugo Gaston.

Fans can live stream the Arizona Tennis Classic for free on Challenger TV. Main-draw action kicks off Tuesday, 12 March.