The state of California has long been a popular destination for tournaments on both the ATP World Tour and ATP Challenger Tour. Take a look around and you'll understand why. From the coastline to the mountains, there is no shortage of stunning scenery and pristine sun-drenched weather is a staple of the region.
Challenger events in Aptos and Tiburon are established fixtures on the calendar, joined recently by tournaments in Fairfield and Stockton. For many years, however, the iconic BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells has been the lone tournament in Southern California. But that has changed in 2018, with the addition of two $150,000 events as part of the Oracle Challenger Series.
On Sunday, the inaugural tournament in Newport Beach crowned its first champion - California's own Taylor Fritz. Located less than an hour's drive south of downtown Los Angeles, it has marked the return of the circuit to the greater L.A. area - the first since nearby Carson departed the ATP Challenger Tour in 2010.
"It’s nice playing at home because I live close to here," Fritz, who lives 50 minutes from the Newport Beach Tennis Club, told ATPWorldTour.com. "It's a close drive to home and I’m just used to it I guess. I’m used to the weather and it feels like I’m playing with the home-court advantage.
"My family hasn't traveled with me much lately, just because it’s tough traveling with our baby, but it’s really nice having a tournament close to home because then everyone can come support me. It also helps me on the court having them there. They’re driving back and forth each day. I hope this tournament is going to get better and better every year."
Your Men’s Singles Champion, @Taylor_Fritz97. He defeated Bradley Klahn 36 75 60 to win the first ever Oracle Challenger Series singles title. pic.twitter.com/ARdgOYRmzH
— Oracle Challenger Series (@OracleChallngrs) January 28, 2018
Fritz has taken the lead in the Oracle Challenger Series standings, with the top combined performer at the ATP Challenger Tour events in Newport Beach and Indian Wells earning a main draw wild card into the BNP Paribas Open, an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event.
The 20-year-old was joined by a strong crop of young Americans in the draw, alongside Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, Stefan Kozlov, Reilly Opelka, Michael Mmoh and fellow Southern California native Ernesto Escobedo. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Escobedo relished the opportunity to play in front of the home crowd.
"I feel like there should be more tournaments here because it’s so nice here," said the 21-year-old. "It never gets super, super hot or super cold. It’s perfect conditions. This tournament is very nice. It’s awesome that it’s very close to my house, so I have my family and friends come watch me. It’s always good to have them see me play.
"One of my favourite places to go is Newport Beach. At the beach I just chill there with my friends and my family. It’s only 35 minutes from my house. It’s a great area. Very quiet, close to the beach, so many places to eat around here, so it makes your tennis week very comfortable."
"SoCal is great," added Opelka. "If someone’s complaining about SoCal, you’ve got some issues. The weather is perfect. There’s so much to do and so much to see. It’s a complete different culture out here as well. My best friends live in (nearby) San Clemente. They don’t play tennis – they pretty much just surf and skate – so that’s the difference between a Cali boy and someone growing up in Florida. I played tennis and they surfed and skated.
"It’s the first time they had a Challenger here and it’s as good as it gets. The hotel is great, city is nice, good fan turnout and it has a lot of energy."
🙌 @TommyHaas13!
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) January 23, 2018
Tommy is taking in the #ATPChallenger action in Newport Beach with tournament director Christian Coleman. pic.twitter.com/uBWLbWKFqj
With the appearance of former World No. 4 Kei Nishikori joining the American stars in the field, fans flooded the Newport Beach Tennis Club throughout the week. Hoards of Japanese media mingled with the California press to provide the Challenger with plenty of exposure on both sides of the world. Nishikori's lone match of the week - a first-round defeat to Dennis Novikov - was televised in Japan on WOWOW.
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Just steps from the Pacific Ocean, Fritz surfed to his fourth Challenger title, dropping one set all week. Off to a 9-1 start to the season, also finishing runner-up in Noumea, the #NextGenATP American is back in the Top 80 and climbing the ATP Rankings once again.
"My main goal now is to be in the Top 50. I've been trying to do that for a while now and I think everything is starting to come together."
from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://ift.tt/2Fot5hT
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