This blog aims to both chronicle and celebrate the unsung heroes of the pro tennis world: the Challenger and Futures players who grind it out each day, oftentimes well outside the spotlight and with little or no fanfare. For those not in the know, the ATP Tour – in addition to the different 1000, 500, and 250-level tournament tiers – consists of hundreds of professional events at levels just beneath that of the ATP. Challenger tournaments are contested every week from January to December all over the world, with total purses usually ranging between 30-125,ooo dollars. The fields for these events mostly consist of players ranked between #100-#250 in the ATP World rankings. Futures tournaments are the entry level of men’s professional tennis, with total purses of $10,000 or $15,000 and players usually ranked #250 and below.
Some refer to these circuits as “the minor leagues” of tennis, and in some respects that’s an accurate label. At the same time, these tournaments are the very hardscrabble proving grounds for players who will be making impacts at the very top levels of the tour in the next one to three years. The ranking points system is such that almost every player, no matter how talented, has to traverse this terrain on the way to the top. Roger Federer has a challenger title in addition to some of his more resume-enhancing accomplishments. Andy Murray has two titles, Djokovic three. Rare is the talent who can bypass these levels and start immediately competing at the highest echelons of the sport.
So at any given time, a challenger or a future event will be hosting a few players who are bound for greatness. They may even have the talent to compete at ATP level in the moment, but need to earn the requisite ranking points in order to be entered into those events without qualifying or wildcard assistance. Sadly, these terrific talents often toil so far outside the spotlight it’s amazing they can still see the ball. For my money, Challenger and Future tournaments are the best bargains in pro sports. Some Challenger events are free to the public, but for the most part the price of admission runs from 5-20 bucks. Most Futures events are free. And the closeness to the players and the action is unparalleled.
There is more depth in the men’s game now than ever. And the difference between #20 and #200 in the world rankings is harder to discern than ever. Oftentimes, the #25 player and the #250 player will have the same ability, but the former will have better physical conditioning, mental strength, court sense or playing smarts. The Challenger Tour is where players with top talent can hone their skills in the latter three of those aptitudes.
For all the similarities in talent, though, there are many glaring differences in lifestyle and conditions to be found: the #25 player in the world earns just under $1,000,000.00 per year, while #250 takes in less than $50,000. But the disparity is even more disproportional than that, as top-tier players have clothing and racquet sponsorships and many things are gifted to them, while those ranked in the hundreds are often scrambling for gear and paying out of pocket. And let’s not forget: all these players have to pay for travel and coaching as well. So while it may be hard to imagine that someone making $50K/year is just scraping by, in many instances that is exactly the case with these athletes.
And it doesn’t just stop there. The Top 100 or so enjoy ATP venues and spectators and hotels and transport, while those on the Challenger and Futures tours sometimes play in front of no one, in cities that are hard to reach, fending for themselves. This dichotomy plays out in the media as well. The Top 20 get all the coverage and the adulation, while those outside the Top 200 get… nothing really. So while the talent difference can be minimal, there’s a glaring disparity in conditions enjoyed/survived by the different tiers of tour players. And usually, if you’re the 200th best anything in the world, you’re entitled to a lot more than what many of these players experience as people living near the top of their field.
As one who’s long been passionate about these so-called “lower-tier” tourneys and players, I figured it was about time to at least try to help fill the coverage void. On this site I hope to be able to tell some of the stories of these great players as well as those who do the good work that goes into putting together the events that host them. It is my intention to bring the excitement of these tournaments to you with honesty, insight, humor and hopefully some degree of intelligence. I hope you come along for the ride.
Oh, and who am I? My name is John, though most people call me JJ. I am a former junior ranked player who was far too much of an on-court headcase to ever make a serious dent in the pro tennis world. I once had an offer to coach a lower-level pro and travel these very roads that I so espouse, but life circumstances dictated otherwise at the time. I am a certified (and some would say certifiable) tennis FANATIC who will get up at any hour to watch virtually any streamed match anywhere in the world. I currently live in Florida and will be covering as many local Futures and Challengers as I can. You can contact me at challenger10is@gmail.com.
Although I follow top-tier tennis as closely as anyone, on both the men’s and women’s tours, I’ll only be focusing on men’s Challenger and Futures tour tennis here. As I mentioned earlier, there are a billion places you can read about the top-level action (give or take), so I won’t be adding to the glut of coverage there. And I’m choosing to focus on men’s tennis primarily because it’s what I play and know better, but also because I need to limit the scope of this project from a time-and-work perspective. It’ll be enough work to keep up with the three to seven Challenger events every week, not to mention the many more Futures tourneys which happen concurrently. So, apologies to those who are looking for women’s ITF coverage here.
I’ll keep the comments section open on this page if anyone wants to offer suggestions and requests about what they’d like me to cover, as well as ideas to improve this site. Thanks for reading!
Dear Sir,
I just stumbled upon this website. I think it´s a great idea to focus on the Challengers and Futures! If your content is just half as good as the sleek look of the site I (as a future reader of your blog) will be in for a treat i think.
Best wishes for this enterpise of yours!
Cheers,
Frank.
Not only is it a good idea but it could become the catylist to bring about a revolutionary concept to the sport of tennis; namely, Variety. There needs to be more than just a “few-elite”CEO’s who practically control everything about the tournamnents and players. There needs to be tournaments where players receive wages for various aspects of the games; ie.serving, speed, entertainment,intellect, etc. IN other words, the game of tennis needs to become almost like a NINja Warrior Sport at times; at other times a specialist game; and then of course what exists now. The profits need to be shared by more players, and a non-interested outfilt be in charge of accountablility of all aspects of the game. Right now, it feels as though the entire Sport is rigged; and only the “chosen-few” for whatever reasons(deals) reach the top.
Sounds like a good idea for a blockchain ICO (-:O
Frank! Thanks so much for your kind words! I will try to keep the site substance at least half as good as the site style. I look forward to retaining your readership. Let me know if you have any suggestions for coverage or site improvement or whatnot (especially whatnot). Thanks again!
Once again congrats. This is more than a welcome addition to tennis coverage.
Thank you, kind sir! I hope and trust that you will liven this haughty place with some of your naughty witticisms. ;)
So glad to see this up and running! Good luck not ending up hospitalised trying to cover it all …
Heh heh – thanks much! I already feel somewhat hospitalisable, and we’re still in the so-called “off season”. Then again, I’ve always been kind of a sickly sort. Either way, pray for me when January comes! Or, if you’re a secular sort, leave lots of comments – good or bad. I feel that comments will be my fuel. ;)
In a way I think that with this site Challenger tournaments will be getting better coverage than ATP 250s which don’t have one of the big four playing …
Yeah, I wish I could expand my scope a bit (I also feel bad about not including the ladeez), but as you said: it’s a near-hospitalizing quest/adventure as it already stands!
I will be covering the Delray 250 all week, so at least there’s that.
I should’ve left my love here, shouldn’t I?
*leaves more anyway*
There can never be enough love-leaving! (er, perhaps that could be better phrased? Nah…)
Good luck with this, the Challenger Tour definitely needs more love! Look forward to getting some useful insights on those mysterious creatures outside the top 100.
Thanks – I hope to inundate you with insight in the very near future!
I have just stumbled upon your blog, and I think you were made for me. I have a lot of love for the minnows, and spent more of last year watching grainy, fixed-camera Challenger streams than I did the bigger boys. Some of my favourites are making that step up to the ATP circuits (Alexandr Dolgopolov and Marcel Granollers), but some are still to make their mark (Christian Lindell, Javier Marti, Borut Puc and Gerard Granollers)–any additional coverage I can find of their endeavours will be hoovered up hungrily.
I look forward to reading your reports and opinions over the coming year.
Merry Christmas.
ONE OF US! ONE OF US!
Ruby, I do think you’ll fit in very nicely ’round these parts. And you are singing my song, re: the grainy fixed-camera streams (don’t forget the cameras that make the baselines look convex and curved, too). This is my life, too!
Yeah, Dolgo is doing great. My friends and I used to call him O-Dog, but then he up and changed his Oleksandr to an Alexander. Whatev. A-Dog it is, I guess.
Santiago Giraldo is my equivalent of your Granollerses, I think. As in, Spanish-speaking player steps up to the ATP kind of thing. Or something.
Anyway, welcome! As you may have noticed, I’ll be doing two profiles a day of players to watch out for in 2011, and I do believe you might be pleased with some of the choices. ;-)
Also, I’ll be covering the 1st four Futures events in the U.S. this year, and Marti and Puc are on the entry list for the USA F1 in Plantation; I’ll definitely be covering them there. So stick around and make yourself comfortable – good things are coming! :-)
Great blog! Good luck and keep the spirit going :)
Thanks! Will try my best :)
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I was just compiling an article about up-and-coming male tennis players, when I discovered this excellent site. Very impressive effort, and certainly far more comprehensive than I could hope to be on the matter.
With your permission, I will be linking to Challenger Tennis from my site (www.thenextpoint.com).
Please keep up the great work.
Hi there! Thanks for the kind words. I still have a few more profiles to do, but I’ll be finished with the 2011 list soon (I hope).
I’m Just getting a chance to look at your site now – the writing is superb! Really excellent, well-crafted, thoughtful stuff. So I hope you keep up the great work, too. I’ll definitely be reading, and will now go add you to our “Friends” list posthaste.
Me gusta su apuesta por “Las ligas menores” algo está un poco/mucho olvidado por los medios. Mi felicitación y como no podía ser de otra manera, dado del pais de donde soy ¡Vamos Challanger!
¿Que le parece la idea de celebrar un Masters de Challangers?
Saludos cordiales.
Disculpe, escribir en inglés no se me da muy bien. Hehehe
Your website is freaking fantastic. Thank you for focusing on these guys – the unheralded and uncelebrated, who need all the applause they can get!
Ich liebe Challenger Tennis.
Hi, I’m really impressed with your site. I was wondering if you would contact me about an interview I’d like to conduct with a challenger player for a website I’m developing. I would most certainly talk up and link to your site. thanks
The only advice I would offer is that the Challenger player not use his/her real name!!!!!
Nice blog, great idea. I like to keep tabs on the new wave and journeymen.
By the way do you have any stats on which players have won the most Challenger tourneys in their career etc? Players like Mahut an Muller come to mind, but I’m not sure?
Hi there,
Trying to get in touch but can’t find an email address – please shoot me an email!
Thanks,
Sophie
Just found your site…very nice. I can’t find your email / contact info so…can you contact me…I have some ideas on how to mess your blog with what we do at front row tennis. Thanks!
What happened here ?? Burnout? Great site
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Keep up good work:)
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Hey John,
I like your article. It’s interesting the disparity between ATP and challenger level tennis. I’ve been watching tennis now for a few years and found its come along way. I’m from Canada, and we have had a decent year with Vasek and Milos climbing the ladder in ranking points.While the sport has been doing well, I only have one issue. I’m finding there’s been a lot of fixed matches. Would you agree? Does it happen more than we think? I just find it hard getting into some challenger matches when I see guys purposely throwing games. I understand to an extent, you know challengers have it much harder than ATP level contenders. I’ve noticed it seems to be happening a lot more between Nov-Dec. For example.) bogota Columbia tournament. Also
Yeongwolf Korea. I’ve notice atleast 4 guys purposely toss matches. I figured you might have a little more insight on how much this actually happens.
Thanks For your Time,
Matt
Hi Matt,
That’s a good and very fair question you ask. I’m probably not the best person to answer it, because I don’t (can’t) bet on tennis, and it’s the bettors who truly know about match fixing, since they have an eye on odds fluctuations as a match unfolds. If the odds take a suspicious, sudden turn one way or another (i.e. if the odds look odd, haha), they’re the ones who know about it.
I will say that match fixing is a definite, substantial problem on the lower tiers of tennis. It’s one of the reasons i’m an advocate for increasing prize money at the lower levels – these players make so little money for their efforts, that (somewhat understandably) the $$$ temptation is too much for them to resist sometimes.
Though I don’t often go to this site (it’s too acerbic for my taste), if you’re interested in which matches are suspicious, the best place to go is probably here: http://www.menstennisforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=396
If something looks fishy, they’re gonna post about it. Occasionally threads like this one appear, where they consolidate all the suspicious activity:
http://www.menstennisforums.com/showthread.php?t=191675
Sorry I personally can’t be of more help to ya. It’s a big issue that I should probably be more plugged in to. Hope this helps!
p.s. Peliwo & Polansky have also been doing good things for Canadian tennis — keep an eye out or them!
There is absolutely no way that I am going to buy Ferrer just petering out vs. Nadal.
When it comes to $$$$$$$$$$$$, I’m beginning to think the world of tennis will do ANYTHING; because it’s in the hands of only a few people!!!!!!!!
Hey john,i’ve been following you on twitter for a while and your website is really good. Im currently trying to relaunch my own tennis blog, is there any way i can contact you in order to get my website listed on your site please? the website is http://tennisbanter.blogspot.co.uk/
kind regards, adam
Thank you for focusing on this part of tennis. A part that a lot of people don’t seem to notice. They should. It’s a really strange kind of challenge when you regard it from the outside world. Therefore one has to be really experiencing this type of tournament to know what he is talking about. I didn’t know that even the great names had to go through this before being noticed. It seems absurd on the one hand but on the other hand it also has this taste of a somehow strange cult that everyone accepts…
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Tennis absolutely has been going downhill for the past 30 years. It feels entirely rigged from the points, rankings,draws,support etc. etc. etc. If it were not for a few players I still believe in as far as honesty goes, I would have given up on the sport. Keep blogging your thoughts. HOpe some of the fans will stop being so gullible and sart thinking for themselves. This just might stop all the hpe and propaganda that goes with cetain players.
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I’m an enthusiastic amateur, an I’d like to start out playing on the ITF pro circuit tournaments. Are there any special pre-requisites to signing up for the ITF Futures events, or can pretty much any lay person join? The itf website is sparse on details, all it says is that I need an IPIN number to register for a tournament (which I have already obtained). This sounds too good to be true. Is it? Do you have any pointers on how I should start out? Such as how to choose which tournaments to join? Thanks for the blog. There isn’t much information on the web about these smaller tournaments and you blog happened to at least shed some light on it.
Dear Frank
I have 2 questions:
1- I need to know he reason for find a very talent junior player who can reach in top 10 in Junior and then you cannot find him ranked high in ATP.
2- why you can find player make many future titles in one year and then when he play in challenger he cannot even pass the qualification and then his rank go down so he return play future again so his rank will not go over 250 ?
Great job,I bet and love tennis bt my entire life I couldnt understand the word “challenger” in tennis tournaments.I will keep around,thank you
where can one watch streams of qualifications and challengers/futures?
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Really well put! Very nice !
Thanks for the explanation of challenger
And futures tier Tennis
Thanks for the info! It’s been an insightful read on the lives of pros playing outside the spotlight. Much respect to them 👍
thank you very much
I want to challenge any player in the world.
You will need to live a long life to do so.
Ghyhhh
This drew my interest mainly because I knew of a tennis player from the area in which I live and he was a fabulous player in high school and at the college level which he played at Indiana University. I remember reading about him tourning pro but that was the last I ever heard about him.