STARNBERG, April 7, 2020

The suspension of the international tennis circuit until July 13, 2020, also affects several tournaments on the ATP Challenger Tour. Scheduled to take place from March 23 to 29 and postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the third edition of the Play In Challenger in Lille could still take place later this year.

“It is out advantage to host the tournament at the venue of our club. We do not have to rent an arena,” Antoine Sueur, president of the Tennis Club Lillois Lille Metropole (TCLLM), told French newspaper La Voix du Norde earlier this week.

“The ATP asked, if we were able to organize both editions, 2020 and 2021, in less than six months. As we still have certain automatisms now, it would not pose a problem to us. Besides, we can even agree to play in December if necessary,” Sueur added.

Obviously all of this remains dependent on further developments of the international tennis tours.

“We can say that tennis will be among the sports that will resume last. Let’s hope it’s not too late,” Sueur said.

Founded in 1920, the TCLLM is the oldest and most significant tennis club in Lille, France. Beginning in 2018, the historic facility hosts an indoor hard-court event on the ATP Challenger Tour. The Play In Challenger in Lille offers a total prize money of €69,280. The champions singles and doubles receive 90 ATP-Ranking points.

Gregoire Barrere delighted the home crowd with a run to the title in its inaugural edition. The current World No. 95 successfully defended his crown last year when he beat Yannick Maden of Germany in the final in three sets.