PHOENIX/STARNBERG, March 14, 2024
The ATP Challenger Tour is back in Phoenix for the fourth edition of the Arizona Tennis Classic. Phoenix, often referred to as the Valley of the Sun, is a vibrant and dynamic city nestled in the heart of the Sonoran Desert in the southwestern United States. As the capital of Arizona and the fifth-largest city in the nation, Phoenix boasts a rich tapestry of culture, history, and natural beauty that attracts visitors from around the world.
The Phoenix Country Club welcomes a world-class field of players with all eight seeds being ranked inside the Top 100. Only three of them, however, made it into the second round of the $225,500 hard-court event.
Top seeds fall in opening round
Top seed Christopher Eubanks from the United States fell to Thanasi Kokkinakis 7-5, 7-5 on Wednesday. The Australian alternate capitalized on three of his 16 break-point chances to seal victory in one hour and 55 minutes. Kokkinakis will next take on Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, who beat Rinky Hijikata 6-4, 6-2 in one hour and 13 minutes.
Cooking with @TKokkinakis 🍳
The Australian is off to the final 16 defeating top seed Chris Eubanks 7-5, 7-5!#ATPChallenger | @aztennisclassic pic.twitter.com/8OB7z1FA6t
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) March 14, 2024
In the bottom half of the draw, French qualifier Terence Atmane knocked out No. 2 seed Sebastian Ofner from Austria 7-6(5), 1-6, 6-4. The 22-year-old lefty struck six aces and won 64 per cent of his second serves to prevail after one hour and 52 minutes. Up next for Atmane will be US-American qualifier Zachary Svajda.
Borges advances, Berrettini is back
World No. 60 and fifth favourite Nuno Borges remains the highest-seeded player left in the main draw. The 27-year-old Portuguese defeated Alexandre Muller from France 6-2, 6-4 in 69 minutes and will next take on French Benoit Paire.
Borges will be joined in the stage of the final eight by seventh-seeded Australian Aleksandar Vukic and No. 8 seed Arthur Cazaux of France. Cazaux will face a special challenge in taking on Italian Matteo Berrettini, who returned from his six-month injury layoff on Tuesday when the former World No. 6 rallied past Frenchman Hugo Gaston 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.
