Defending champion and world No.76 Taylor Fritz (USA) is set to headline the City of Onkaparinga Tennis Challenger 2017 which will also feature the strongest field in the event’s history with 24 players from inside the world’s top 200.
Former junior world No.1, Fritz enjoyed outstanding results in his first year travelling full time on the ATP World Tour, becoming the youngest player in the 2016 year-end top 100. In February, the 19-year-old reached his first ATP final in Memphis in just his third tour-level event. Fritz is a player on the rise and will be the one to watch when main draw play gets under way at Happy Valley Tennis Club on 2 January.
Joining Fritz will be world No.88 Donald Young (USA), world No.91 Santiago Giraldo (COL) and world No.113 Lukas Rosol (CZE).
Young has previously been ranked as high as No.38, won eight career Challenger titles and twice reached the fourth round of the US Open. Young has also made two appearances for the American Davis Cup team in 2014 and 2015.
Former world No.28, Giraldo holds eight career Challenger titles and is a stalwart in the Colombian Davis Cup team, having played in 23 ties over his career.
Rosol rose to fame at Wimbledon in 2012 with a five-set win over then world No.2, Rafael Nadal (ESP). A former world No.26, Rosol holds two ATP and eight Challenger titles to his name.
The 24 direct acceptances will be joined by four wildcards and four qualifiers. Qualifying begins Saturday 31 December.
For most players, the City of Onkaparinga Tennis Challenger will form the final step in their preparation for Australian Open 2017 held in Melbourne from Monday 16 January.
“We are obviously thrilled to have such a strong field of players planning on competing in the City of Onkaparinga Tennis Challenger 2017,” Tennis SA CEO Steven Baldas said.
“This is the strongest field of players we have been able to announce in the event’s history and is set to offer the local community the opportunity to watch world class tennis right in their backyard.
“The countdown to the event is on, with Happy Valley Tennis Club and tournament staff in final preparations for the tournament starting on 31 December,” Baldas added.
City of Onkaparinga Tennis Challenger 2017
Player acceptance list as at 13 December 2016
| ATP rank | First name | Last name | Nation |
| 76 | Taylor | Fritz | USA |
| 88 | Donald | Young | USA |
| 91 | Santiago | Giraldo | COL |
| 113 | Lukas | Rosol | CZE |
| 123 | Joao | Souza | BRA |
| 131 | Denis | Kudla | USA |
| 135 | Peter | Polansky | CAN |
| 142 | Norbert | Gombos | SVK |
| 152 | Darian | King | BAR |
| 155 | Grega | Zemlja | SLO |
| 158 | Marton | Fucsovics | HUN |
| 161 | Jan | Satral | CZE |
| 167 | Ruben | Bemelmans | BEL |
| 168 | Daniel | Brands | GER |
| 171 | Tatsuma | Ito | JPN |
| 176 | Matthias | Bachinger | GER |
| 178 | Kimmer | Coppejans | BEL |
| 179 | Ilya | Ivashka | BLR |
| 183 | Joris | De Loore | BEL |
| 186 | Laslo | Djere | SRB |
| 187 | Marcelo | Arevalo | ESA |
| 190 | Peter | Gojowczyk | GER |
| 191 | Marko | Tepavac | SRB |
| 192 | Uladzimir | Ignatik | BLR |
Please note: list is subject to change
Background
The City of Onkaparinga Tennis Challenger 2017 will take place at Happy Valley Tennis Club, Aberfoyle Park, South Australia from 31 December 2016 to 8 January 2017.
Entry to the event from 31 December to 6 January is free of charge. Tickets for Saturday 7 January and Sunday 8 January will start from $3.00 and can be purchased at the gate.
For more information on the Australian Pro Tour visit tennis.com.au. For more information on the Challenger Tour visit atpchallengertour.com.
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