ATP Tour

Murray, Eubanks among possible starters at Phoenix Challenger

Andy Murray and Christopher Eubanks are among 10 players from the Top 50 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings entered in the season's first ATP Challenger Tour 175 event, the Arizona Tennis Classic, which runs from 12-17 March.

The Challenger 175 category, which debuted last year in Phoenix, is held during the second week of select ATP Masters 1000 events.

Players who will compete in Phoenix unless they are still alive in the Indian Wells draw include Murray, Eubanks, Tomas Martin Etcheverry, Marcos Giron, Emil Ruusuvuori, Max Purcell and Jack Draper.

Let the countdown begin 🤩🍿#ATPChallenger | @aztennisclassic pic.twitter.com/fITgaofUbs

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) February 20, 2024

Jan-Lennard Struff, World No. 25, is the highest-ranked player to enter this year's edition of the hard-court tournament, where he was a semi-finalist last year.

The three-time major champion Murray could look to repeat his ATP Challenger Tour success from last year, when he won 15 of 16 matches at that level to claim three titles, including the 175 event in Aix-en-Provence.

Nuno Borges could have an opportunity to defend his Arizona crown, which marked the biggest title of his career. The Portuguese star has since spring boarded to make a stamp on the ATP Tour, having reached the fourth round of last month's Australian Open.