The 2016 ATP Challenger Tour calendar contained 166 tournaments, with prize money ranging from $40,000 up to $125,000. It was the 40th edition of Challenger tournaments cycle, and eighth under the name of “ATP Challenger Tour”. Tennis TourTalk is having a review of the season in eleven parts to close the year.

The month of October started with four tournaments in the first week. Jan-Lennard Struff claimed the Ethias Trophy, winning the €106,500 ATP Challenger event in Mons. The sixth seed from Germany cruised past Frenchman Vincent Millot 6-2, 6-0 in the final, which lasted only 48 minutes.

US-American teenager Frances Tiafoe took home his second $100,000 title as he adds the inaugural Stockton ATP Challenger title to a title on August 7th of this year at the Challenger Banque Nationale De Granby in Granby. With a final 6-4, 6-2 victory  over Noah Rubin, Tiafoe broke into the top 100 world rankings.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling. It’s something you always dream for and work towards to achieve,” said Tiafoe. “There are a couple more tournaments I want to plat in the year to sustain it and I am happy to finally be inside (the top 100).”

Gerald Melzer was successful on the €42,500 Morocco Tennis Tour, winning the tournament in Mohammedia. The Austrian fought past Stefanos Tsitsipas from Greece 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

In South America, Facundo Bagnis benefited from the retirement of fellow Argentine Carlos Berlocq to claim the $50,000 Campeonato Internacional de Tênis de Campinas.

Six more tournaments took place in the week of October 10. Konstantin Kravchuk took the title of the $125,000 Tashkent Challenger, winning the final against local hero and defending champion Denis Istomin 7-5, 6-4.

Ernesto Escobedo emerged victorious from the all-US-American final with Denis Kudla 6-4, 6-4 to clinch the title of the $100,000 Monterrey Challenger in Mexico.

Santiago Giraldo became the champion of the second edition of the $100,000 Francis Ford Coppola Winery ATP Challenger, held at the Solano Community College in Fairfield. He defeated Quentin Halys in a Monday final 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. Giraldo celebrated his 10th triumph on the ATP Challenger Tour.

Renzo Olivo captured the title of the $50,000 Copa Fila in Buenos Aires. The Argentine rallied back from a set down to overcome his fellow countryman Leonardo Mayer 2-6, 7-6, 7-6.

On the clay in Africa, Maxime Janvier lifted the trophy at the last stop on the Morocco Tennis Tour, winning the €42,500 event in Casablanca. The Frenchman beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-0.

Jordan Thompson was successful in Asia, claiming the title of the $50,000 Vietnam Open held in Ho Chi Minh City. The Australian battled past Go Soeda from Japan 5-7, 7-5, 6-1.

Four tournaments were held in the week of October 17. Norbert Gombos took the title of the €106,500 Brest Challenger, winning indoors against Yannik Reuter from Belgium 7-5, 6-2.

In Asia, Yen-Hsun Lu defeated Hiroki Moriya from Japan 6-3, 6-1 to claim the $125,000 Ningbo Challenger.

Sam Groth battled past Santiago Giraldo to finish the $50,000 Las Vegas Challenger as champion. The Australian won the final 6-7, 6-4, 7-5.

In South America, Máximo Gonzalez hoisted the trophy of the $50,000 Santiago Challenger. The Argentine beat Rogerio Dutra Silva from Brazil 6-2, 7-6.

In the week of October 24, Yen-Hsun Lu of Tapei captured his last of his four titles in 2016 at the $75,000 China International Suzhou. He cruised past US-American teen Stefan Kozlov 6-0, 6-1.

Marius Copil was the winner of the inaugural €64,000 WHB Hungarian Open held in Budapest. The Romanian defeated Steve Darcis from Belgium 6-4, 6-2 in the final.

In South America, Christian Garin took the title of the $50,000 Lima Challenger. The youngster from Chile oustlasted Guido Andreozzi from Argentina, rallying 3-6, 7-5, 7-6.

Sadio Doumbia of France fought back from a set down to overcome Prajnesh Gunneswaran of India to claim the $50,000 KPIT MSLTA Challenger in Pune. He won 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Jordan Thompson triumphed on home soil, lifting the trophy of the $50,000 Latrobe City Traralgon ATP Challenger. The Australian beat Grega Zemlja of Slovenia 6-1, 6-2.

In the final week of the month, James Duckworth was also successful down under. He took the $50,000 Canberra Tennis International, winning the final 7-5, 6-3 over fellow Australian Marc Polmans.

Reilly Opelka captured his first ATP Challenger title at the $50,000 Charlottesville Men’s Pro Challenger. The US-American fired 28 aces in the final to beat Belgian Ruben Bemelmans 6-4, 2-6, 7-6.

“I hit a lot of aces, but part of it is that I played a lot more points on my serve. Even if I did hit my spot, he was taking cuts at the ball and was dangerous. He was a nightmare for me today,” Opelka told afterwards.

Nicolas Kicker was victorious on the clay in Ecuador, taking the $50,000 Challenger Ciudad de Guayaquil. The Argentine defeated Arthur de Greef from Belgium 6-3, 6-2.

Steve Darcis became the champion of the 20th edition of the €35,00 Bauer Watertechnology Cup, held at the House of Sports in Eckental. The fifth seed from Belgium edged past Australian qualifier Alex De Minaur, who appeared in his very first ATP Challenger title match, winning 6-4, 6-2.