OEIRAS/STARNBERG, December 31, 2023

The 2024 ATP Challenger Tour season kicks off in 2023, and the indoor courts of the Jamor Tennis Complex in Oeiras, Portugal host one of the first Challenger tournaments of the new year. Organized by the Portuguese Tennis Federation, the Indoor Oeiras Open 1 takes place from December 31 to January 7, followed by the Indoor Oeiras Open 2 until January 14.

The field is led by World No. 246 Henrique Rocha of Portugal and his 249th-ranked compatriot João Sousa. They’re joined by home favourites Gastão Elias, Jaime Faria, Tiago Pereira and João Domingues.

However, this Sunday, another group of Portuguese players will be in action. Destined for the first round of qualifying, the lineup includes Pedro Araújo, Francisco Rocha, Rodrigo Fernandes, Martim Simões, and Diogo Marques.

Simões and Marques will make their ATP Challenger Tour debuts, coincidentally at the venue where they clinched the doubles title together less than two months ago at the Portuguese National Tennis Championship.

Simões, 20, will face Briton Jay Clarke in the first round of the qualifying, while 24-year-old Marques will play against Ukrainian Vadym Uru.

Araújo, the most experienced among the Portuguese players in the qualifying draw, aims to replicate his victory earlier this month in Maia against Frenchman Kenny de Schepper, a former top 70 player currently ranked World No. 479.

Rocha, who achieved an unforgettable debut in singles’ main draws in his last Challenger tournament along with his first win at that level, will challenge US-American Garrett Johns.

Fernandes, the current national under-18 champion who secured his first victory on the Challenger Circuit during the Maia Open, will face World No. 348 Samuel Vincent Ruggeri, the highest-ranked player in the qualifying.

For more information, please visit the tournament’s official website.