BORDEAUX, May 10, 2026
On the eve of its 17th edition, the BNP Paribas Primrose ATP Challenger 175 event officially launched tournament week this Sunday at Villa Primrose with the traditional main draw ceremony, bringing together partners, players and tennis fans in a vibrant atmosphere that reflected the growing prestige of the Bordeaux event.
The ceremony followed the successful debut of “The School Clash,” held on Saturday which welcomed more than 2,500 high school students for a tournament experience staged under professional conditions. The initiative set the tone for a festive opening weekend at Villa Primrose ahead of what promises to be an exceptionally competitive week on the Bordeaux clay courts.
This year’s draw once again confirms the tournament’s rising status on the ATP Challenger Tour, featuring a remarkable number of Top 100 players using Bordeaux as a key stop in their preparations for Roland-Garros under conditions similar to those in Paris.
Leading the field is Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, currently ranked World No. 24, who received a wild card and enters the tournament as the top seed. Returning to Bordeaux after several strong ATP Tour performances this season, Rinderknech will be among the leading favorites for the title.
The tournament will also welcome one of the biggest names in international tennis, former World No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov. Ranked No. 170, the Bulgarian arrives in Bordeaux bringing his experience, elegant style and one of the most celebrated one-handed backhands in the sport.
The final wild card awarded by the French Tennis Federation went to highly regarded French prospect Moïse Kouame. At just 17 years old and ranked No. 313 in the world, Kouame continues his steady development on the professional circuit while confirming the immense expectations surrounding his future.
Second seed Tallon Griekspoor, ranked World No. 31, also arrives as one of the main title contenders after producing strong ATP Tour results in recent months, including a runner-up finish at the ATP 500 event in Dubai, highlighted by victories over Andrey Rublev and Jakub Menšík.
French fans will also have plenty of homegrown talent to support throughout the week. Defending champion Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard returns to Bordeaux after establishing himself as one of the biggest servers on the ATP Tour. He is joined by Alexandre Muller, fresh off the first ATP title of his career, as well as Quentin Halys and Luca Van Assche, another promising figure in French tennis.
Among the most in-form French players, third seed Terence Atmane continues his impressive rise inside the ATP Top 50. The 23-year-old has confirmed his breakthrough with strong performances throughout the early-season American swing and now looks to carry that momentum onto clay.
The international depth of the field further highlights the tournament’s growing importance, with players such as Botic van de Zandschulp, Roman Andres Burruchaga, Jenson Brooksby, Raphael Collignon and Juan Manuel Cerundolo all set to compete in Bordeaux.
Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an
Qualifying action begins tomorrow and promises several exciting matchups as many French players attempt to earn a place in the main draw.
Among the qualifying wild cards is Daniel Jade, ranked No. 1857, who arrives after a remarkable run of three consecutive titles in Cap-d’Ail, Istres and Beaulieu. He will be joined by Pierre Delage, who returns to compete on his home courts for the second straight year.
Japanese teenager Rei Sakamoto, currently ranked No. 157 at just 19 years old, will make his first appearance on Bordeaux clay, alongside former World No. 31 Lloyd Harris of South Africa, who has already captured two Challenger titles this season.
