A world-class field will descend on the Canberra Tennis Centre for the East Hotel Canberra Challenger from 6-12 January 2019. Led by world No.73 Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP), and Jiri Vesely (CZE), the ATP Challenger 80 event will offer valuable world ranking points, prizemoney and crucial matches ahead of Australian Open 2019.
Carballes Baena comes into the tournament after a career best year which saw him claim his first ATP title defeating world No.21 Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) in the Ecuador Open final. The win propelled him to a career high ranking of No.72 and ensured a main draw position in the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.
World No.89 Vesely who has been ranked as high as No.35, made the fourth round at Wimbledon for the second time in 2018, defeating [No.11] Diego Schwartzman (ARG) and [No.16] Fabio Fognini (ITA) before falling to top seed Rafael Nadal (ESP). Vesely has proven he has the fire power to beat the world’s best, stunning then world No.1 Novak Djokovic (SRB) in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters in 2016.
Twenty-one-year-old rising star Hubert Hurkacz (POL) is coming off a stellar 2018 which saw him reach a career high of 79 in October and qualify for the Next Gen Finals in Milan. The world No.86 claimed his first two career ATP Challenger titles in France and Poland and jumped over 150 spots in the ATP rankings, along with qualifying and winning his opening rounds at both Wimbledon and the US Open.
Likewise, Ilya Ivashka (BLR) also had a breakthrough year, climbing from 230 at the start of 2018 to finish the year ranked No.91. Ivashka qualified and made the 3rd round of the Rogers Cup, Toronto and claimed his second career ATP Challenger title in Shenzhen, China.
The field also features Australian Open 2019 Wildcard recipients Marc Polmans (Vic) and Zhe Li (CHN). Polmans is the highest ranked Australian with the Victorian reaching a career high ranking last year of No.137. Polmans had an outstanding year in 2018 which included a 24 match winning streak which saw him win the Launceston Challenger along with three ITF Futures titles.
It will be the second year in a row, Li has visited the capital, making it to the second round of the East Hotel Canberra Challenger last year. The 32-year old will make his Grand Slam debut at Australian Open 2019 after winning the Asia-Pacific Wildcard playoff in Zhuhai.
A host of Australian’s will also participate including Jacob Grills (Vic), Andrew Harris (Vic), Dayne Kelly (Vic), Harry Bourchier (Tas) and local wildcard James Frawley (ACT).
The world’s top junior and future star will also compete with Chun Hsin Tseng (TPE) already making his mark on the professional tour. The 17-year-old was a dominant force on the junior tour claiming the French Open and Wimbledon Boy’s singles titles, making the final of the Australian Open Boy’s singles, along with a semifinal showing at the US Open Boy’s singles. After claiming three ITF Futures titles, he made his ATP debut at the Chengdu Open in October.
East Hotel Canberra Challenger Tournament Director Kim Kachel is pleased to welcome such a quality field to the capital.
“We are excited to see so many top players choosing to complete their Australian Open preparations here in Canberra.
“The next generation of players will also be competing with Hurkacz and Tseng exciting future prospects of the game.
“It is sure to be a quality week of tennis and we’d encourage people in Canberra and the surrounding region to get down to the Canberra Tennis Centre to watch some world-class tennis. We have further initiatives this year with the return of the Twilight session and reserved seating and VIP packages available,” Kachel added.
About the East Hotel Canberra Challenger
Part of The Australian Pro Tour, the East Hotel Canberra Challenger, an ATP Challenger 80 event will be held in Canberra from 6 – 12 January 2019.
A free twilight session will be held on Friday 11 January from 4pm-9pm with food trucks, beverage outlets, and entertainment during the men’s doubles semifinals. Further details available here
Entry to the Canberra Tennis Centre is free from 6-11 January. Entry is by gold coin donation on finals day. A limited amount of paid reserved seating and corporate hospitality can be purchased here.
Article update 4 January 2019 after the withdrawal of Steve Darcis and James Duckworth.
Latest
ACT