Main draw will commence on Monday at the East Hotel Canberra Challenger with two top 100 battles to feature in the opening round when Andreas Seppi (ITA) faces Maximilan Marterer (GER); whilst Marton Fucsovics (HUN) will take on Tunisia’s Malek Jaizri.
It will be the first meeting between eighth seed Seppi and world No.90 Marterer, with only four spots separating the pair in the ATP rankings. Seppi has been to the fourth round at Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon, while Marterer broke through to the top 100 in 2017, winning three ATP Challenger titles and going through qualifying to make his Grand Slam debut at the US Open. Seppi and Marterer will play on centre court, not before 4.00pm.
Sixth seed Fucsovics won two ATP Challenger titles in 2017, broke into the world’s top 100 for the first time, and made the quarterfinals of the ATP 500 event in Basel, Switzerland as a qualifier. It will be his first meeting with Jaziri who has been ranked as high as 47 in the world and is the winner of seven ATP Challenger titles.
The match between world No.104 Nicolas Jarry (CHI) and 18-year-old Corentin Moutet (FRA) will also feature on Monday’s schedule along with second seed Florian Mayer (GER) against Yosuke Watanuki (JPN). Australia Luke Saville (SA) faces a tough task in fifth seed Victor Estrella Burgos (DOM).
Defending champion Dudi Sela (ISR) will open his campaign on Tuesday against Hugo Grenier (FRA).
Tournament Director Kim Kachel said “There are some stellar opening round matches in the draw which could be finals at other ATP Challenger events, such is the strength of our field.
“Fourteen players in the draw will go on to compete at next week’s Australian Open and there will be unbelievable tennis on display in Lyneham throughout the next week,” Kachel added.
The final round of men’s qualifying will also be played on Monday with Canberra based Harry Bourchier (Tas) to take on Steven De Waard (Qld) who defeated Canberra’s James Frawley on Sunday.
Play will commence at 10am with free entry to the Canberra Tennis Centre.
About the East Hotel Canberra Challenger
The East Hotel Canberra Challenger 2018 is on at the Canberra Tennis Centre until 13 January 2018.
Entry from 6 – 12 January is free with entry on finals day by gold coin donation.
The final round of men’s qualifying will take place on Monday January 8 along with the opening round of main draw.
Draws and the Order of Play can be found here.
Live scoring and streaming for the East Hotel Canberra Challenger is available here.
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