STARNBERG, December 11, 2018
In a couple of tweets the ATP Challenger Tour put together 10 winning moments in 2018. Former World No. 4 Kei Nishikori was sidelined from the courts for five months due to injury but returned to winning form at the RBC Tennis Championships in Dallas in January. The 28-year-old Japanese beat US- American Mackenzie McDonald in the final.
2018 #ATPChallenger in Review – 🔟 winning moments in 🔟 days
(1) It all started in Dallas. @keinishikori kicked off his resurgent campaign with a 🏆 at the @TennisChampsDal, en route to a Top 10 return. pic.twitter.com/RfH4r3G3Or
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) 29. November 2018
Alex de Minaur captured his first ATP Challenger title at Nature Valley Open in Nottingham in June. The Australian youngster beat home-favourite Daniel Evans in the final. Later in the season, de Minaur was honoured ATP Newcomer of the Year.
Best of 2018 #ATPChallenger – 🔟 winning moments in 🔟 days
(2) The Demon’s maiden moment. @alexdeminaur claims his first 🏆 on the lawns of Nottingham, en route to Newcomer of the Year honours. pic.twitter.com/UnMp5whHMt
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) 30. November 2018
By winning the inaugural Calgary National Bank Challenger in October, big-serving Croat Ivo Karlovic has become the oldest champion in ATP Challenger Tour history at 39 years and 7 months.
Best of 2018 #ATPChallenger – 🔟 winning moments in 🔟 days
(3) Ivo makes history. At 39 years, 7 months, @ivokarlovic becomes the oldest champion ever with his 🏆 at the @YYCNBChallenger in Calgary. pic.twitter.com/t9DMTYIag7
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) 1. Dezember 2018
Reilly Opelka from the United States defeated fellow countryman Ryan Shane to win the 2018 JSM Challenger of Champaign-Urbana singles title in November, his second ATP Challenger in a row.
Best of 2018 #ATPChallenger – 🔟 winning moments in 🔟 days
(4) When you break into the Top 100 in style 😎@MichaelMmoh & @ReillyOpelka both scored back-to-back 🏆🏆 to make their Top 100 debuts. pic.twitter.com/ZRgYp70rZo
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) 2. Dezember 2018
Three Spanish veterans lifted trophies on the ATP Challenger Tour. David Ferrer took his first Challenger trophy since 2002 at the Abierto GNP Seguros in Monterrey in October.
Best of 2018 #ATPChallenger – 🔟 winning moments in 🔟 days
(5) A trio of 🇪🇸 veterans – @DavidFerrer87, @TRobredo & @AndujarPablo – turned back the clock.
✅ Ferrer wins oldest final ever
✅ Robredo wins first title since 2013
✅ Andujar returns to Top 100 behind three titles pic.twitter.com/KseZRV1igK— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) 3. Dezember 2018
Hubert Hurkacz of Poland claimed his second title of the season, winning the Open Brest Crédit Agricole in October. The 21-year-old Wroclaw native qualified for the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan.
Best of 2018 #ATPChallenger – 🔟 winning moments in 🔟 days
(6) Better late than never. The champion in Brest, Hubert Hurkacz punches his ticket to the @nextgenfinals in the final week of the ATP Race To Milan. pic.twitter.com/DA9hMjy6q0
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) 4. Dezember 2018
Hugo Dellien from Bolivia has become the first player from his country to lift an ATP Challenger trophy since Mario Martínez in 1983. The 24-year-old clinched his maiden title at the Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open in April.
Best of 2018 #ATPChallenger – 🔟 winning moments in 🔟 days
(7) It was a historic moment for Bolivia 🇧🇴 as @hugo_dellien claimed his country’s first 🏆 in 35 years, reeling off two titles in three weeks @SarasotaOpen and @Sav_Challenger. pic.twitter.com/x4wVqRikO4
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) 5. Dezember 2018
At 17 years and six months, Rudolf Molleker became the youngest champion in 2018. The German lifted his first Challenger trophy on home soil at the Neckar Cup in Heilbronn. Molleker battled past second seed and World No. 81 Jiri Vesely in the final.
Best of 2018 #ATPChallenger – 🔟 winning moments in 🔟 days
(8) At 17 years, 6 months, Rudolf Molleker became the youngest champion in 2018. The 🇩🇪 triumphed on home soil at the Heilbronn @neckarcup. pic.twitter.com/KpNkXDFDai
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) 6. Dezember 2018
Frenchman Gael Monfils claimed his first ATP Challenger title in five years, winning the OEC Open in Kaohsiung in September.
Best of 2018 #ATPChallenger – 🔟 winning moments in 🔟 days
(9) Sealed with a selfie 🤳. @Gael_Monfils shares his championship moment with runner-up Soon-woo Kwon in Kaohsiung. pic.twitter.com/ho4l0CyxTD
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) 7. Dezember 2018
Canadian teenager Félix Auger-Aliassime retained his trophy at the Open Sopra Steria de Lyon in June.
Best of 2018 #ATPChallenger – 🔟 winning moments in 🔟 days
(10) Felix Auger-Aliassime becomes the youngest player to successfully defend a title. @felixtennis goes back-to-back at the @opensoprasteria in Lyon. pic.twitter.com/B4qkG4gcQM
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) 8. Dezember 2018
