Challenger
Finest Of: From Challengers to Slam breakthroughs in 2024
Navone grew to become the primary participant in Open Period to be seeded in maiden main look
December 11, 2024
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard reached the Wimbledon fourth spherical as a fortunate loser.
By ATP Workers
The ATP Challenger Tour prides itself in being a launching pad for younger gamers aiming to compete on the highest ranges of the game. This season, a handful of gamers went from the ATP Challenger Tour to creating memorable breakthroughs at Grand Slam occasions. ATPTour.com highlights 5 gamers who exemplified that journey in 2024.
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
The Frenchman gained three Challenger titles within the first 4 months of the yr and shortly grew to become one of many ATP Tour’s breakout gamers this season. At Wimbledon, the 6’8” Mpetshi Perricard crushed 51 aces within the first spherical, upsetting twentieth seed Sebastian Korda in 5 units. The dramatic victory doubled as Mpetshi Perricard’s first main main-draw win.
As a fortunate loser on the grass-court main, Mpetshi Perricard reached the fourth spherical. The 21-year-old additionally gained two tour-level titles this season, lifting the trophy in his residence metropolis Lyon and on the ATP 500 occasion in Basel. Mpetshi Perricard is the primary participant since 2014 to win a number of ATP Tour and ATP Challenger Tour titles in a season.
“When he was successful these Challengers in Mexico, he was like [World No.] 140 and I used to be considering, ‘This man goes to be the perfect French participant,’” stated outstanding coach and analyst Brad Gilbert.
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard triumphs on the Acapulco Challenger.” fashion=”width:100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/pictures/information/2024/04/22/03/26/mpetshi-perricard-acapulcoch-2024.jpg”>
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard triumphs on the Acapulco Challenger in April. Credit score: Jorge Reyes
Nuno Borges
The 27-year-old’s Slam season was bookended by fourth-round runs, on the Australian Open and the US Open. Now at World No. 36 within the PIF ATP Rankings, Borges added his title to the Portuguese report books, turning into simply the second participant — man or lady — from his nation to achieve the fourth spherical at a Grand Slam match (Joao Sousa, two instances). Borges earned the highest-ranked win of his profession in Melbourne when he defeated then-World No. 13 Grigor Dimitrov to achieve the final 16.
“It is a dream come true simply being in these tournaments and belonging, feeling like I belong in these tournaments and competing with the perfect,” Borges stated in Melbourne.
Borges efficiently defended his title on the ATP Challenger 175 occasion in Phoenix, the place he downed Matteo Berrettini within the closing. Borges gained his maiden tour-level title in July in Bastad.
This appears to be like acquainted 😉 #ATPChallenger | @aztennisclassic pic.twitter.com/ZvhVMN5P4T
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) March 18, 2024
Arthur Cazaux
Cazaux began the yr on a red-hot run. In week one, the 22-year-old was topped champion on the Noumea Challenger and he didn’t decelerate. The Frenchman prolonged his match-winning streak to eight (throughout all ranges) by reaching the fourth spherical of the Australian Open.
A wild card in Melbourne, Cazaux shocked eighth seed Holger Rune within the second spherical. Cazaux powered 51 winners, showcasing clear baseline hitting and electrical athleticism all through the conflict Down Below.
“It’s a present. Tennis is a present. I gave all I’ve in me, and I hope you loved the present,” Cazaux stated to the gang after the milestone victory. Cazaux completed the season at a career-high No. 63 within the PIF ATP Rankings.
Mariano Navone
Navone made Slam historical past this season. The 23-year-old grew to become the primary participant within the Open Period to be seeded in his first main essential draw, Roland Garros.
Within the first half of the season, few gamers have been in higher type than Navone. The Argentine gained his largest profession title on the ATP Challenger 175 occasion in Cagliari, the place he cruised previous residence hope Lorenzo Musetti within the closing. Navone additionally made his first tour-level closing on the ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro and repeated that lead to Bucharest.
Navone’s success was sufficient to earn him the thirty first seed on the Paris main, marking a historic first Slam displaying. Navone, who in 2023 collected a season-leading 5 Challenger titles, rose to a career-high No. 29 following Roland Garros.
Francisco Comesana
Whereas Navone earned probably the most Challenger titles final season, his countryman Comesana tallied a season-leading 45 match wins at that stage in 2023. The 24-year-old additionally constructed off that success to mark a career-best season this yr.
Comesana flourished on all three surfaces. He gained the clay-court Oeiras Challenger in April to make his High 100 debut within the PIF ATP Rankings. At Wimbledon, Comesana upset sixth seed Andrey Rublev within the first spherical. Comesana finally reached the Spherical of 32 and matched that feat on the US Open. Comesana fell to eventual finalist Taylor Fritz at Flushing Meadows.
In Comesana’s first look following the US Open, he triumphed on residence soil on the Buenos Aires Challenger. Comesana lifted his third Challenger title of the yr in November, when he gained in Sao Paulo. That triumph propelled Comesana to a career-high No. 84.