ATP Challenger Tour



The ATP Challenger Tour, known until the end of 2008 as the ATP Challenger Series, is a series of international men's professional tennis tournaments. The Challenger Tour events are the second-highest tier of tennis competition, behind the ATP Tour. The ITF World Tennis Tour tournaments are on the entry-level of international professional tennis competition. The ATP Challenger Tour is administered by the Association of Tennis Professionals. Players who succeed on the ATP Challenger Tour earn sufficient ranking points to become eligible for main draw or qualifying draw entry at ATP Tour tournaments. Players on the Challenger Tour are usually young players looking to advance their careers, those who fail to qualify for ATP events, or former ATP players looking to get back into the big tour.

History of challenger events
The first challenger events were held in 1978, with eighteen events taking place. Two were held on the week beginning January 8, one in Auckland and another in Hobart. The next events were held one at a time beginning June 18 and ending August 18 in the following U.S. locations, in order: Shreveport, Birmingham, Asheville, Raleigh, Hilton Head, Virginia Beach, Wall, Cape Cod, and Lancaster. Events continued after a one-month hiatus with two begun September 24 and 25, one in Tinton Falls, New Jersey and in Lincoln, Nebraska respectively. The following week saw one event played, in Salt Lake City, then two played simultaneously in Tel Aviv and San Ramon, California, then one played the following week in Pasadena. A final event was played a month later in Kyoto. In comparison, the 2008 schedule saw 178 events played in more than 40 countries.

Partnerships with ITA and ITF
In efforts to further the progression of college and junior players into the professional tour, the ATP Challenger Tour has partnered with the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to give players more opportunities on the professional tour. Those that finish in the top 10 of the end-of-year college rankings are now eligible for six wild cards into the main draw of Challenger events, and if they have finished their college education, they receive 8 of those wild cards. Those that finish in the 11 through 20 range of the collegiate rankings are eligible for six qualifying wild cards, with those who have completed their college education being eligible for eight wild cards.

Much like the partnership with the ITA, the Challenger Tour also partnered with the ITF. This partnership granted those with year-end rankings inside the top 10 in the world eligible for eight main draw Challenger Tour wildcards, and those who finished the year between 11 and 20 in the world receiving eight Challenger Tour qualifying wildcards.

Prize money and ranking points
In 2022, during the most numerous season in the tour's history, the ATP Tour announced an overhaul of the tournaments system from 2023 season. Challenger 110 and Challenger 90 events were scrapped, Challenger 80 reduced to the Challenger 75 while the prize money requirements for it and Challenger 100 were increased. It also introduced the new highest category − Challenger 175 to be inaugurally held in the second week of Indian Wells, Rome and Madrid ATP Tour Masters 1000 events.

The new points system is as follows:

Player quality
Players have usually had success at the Futures tournaments of the ITF Men's Circuit before competing in Challengers. Due to the lower level of points and money available at the Challenger level, most players in a Challenger have a world ranking of 100 to 500 for a $35K tournament and 50 to 250 for a $150K tournament. An exception happens during the second week of a Grand Slam tournament, when top-100 players who have already lost in the Slam try to take a wild card entry into a Challenger tournament beginning that second week.

Tretorn Serie+
In February 2007, Tretorn became the official ball of the Challenger Series, and the sponsor of a new series consisting of those Challenger tournaments with prize money of $100,000 or more. They renewed the sponsorship with the ATP in 2010 and extended it until the end of 2011.

Most matches won
Updated 

List of events
The Tampere Open is the longest running ATP Challenger event.

Challenger 175 ($220,000+H / €200,000+H)

 * Arizona Tennis Classic
 * BNP Paribas Primrose Bordeaux
 * Open Aix Provence Crédit Agricole
 * Piemonte Open Intesa Sanpaolo
 * Sardegna Open

Challenger 125 ($160,000+H / €145,000+H)

 * Abierto GNP Seguros
 * AON Open Challenger
 * Bahrain Ministry of Interior Tennis Challenger
 * Bogotá
 * Brawo Open
 * BW Open
 * Co'met Orléans Open
 * Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open
 * Emilia-Romagna Tennis Cup
 * Finaport Zug Open
 * Golden Gate Open
 * Head Busan Open
 * HPP Open
 * Internazionali di Tennis Città di Perugia
 * Invest in Szczecin Open
 * LAYJET-Open
 * Lexus Ilkley Trophy
 * Lexus Surbiton Trophy
 * LX Copa Sevilla
 * Málaga Open
 * Mexico City Open
 * NECKARCUP
 * Oeiras Open
 * Olbia Challenger
 * Open Quimper Bretagne
 * Peugeot Slovak Open
 * Pleisure Seoul Open
 * Porto Open
 * RD Open
 * Rothesay Open Nottingham
 * Saint-Tropez Open
 * San Marino Tennis Open (2001–2014, 2021-present)
 * Sanremo Tennis Cup
 * Sparkasse Salzburg Open
 * Teréga Open Pau Pyrénées
 * Tennis Napoli Cup

Challenger 100 ($130,000+H / €118,000+H)

 * Aberto da República
 * Alicante Ferrero Challenger
 * Banja Luka Open
 * Bengaluru Open
 * Bratislava Open
 * Campeonato Internacional de Tênis
 * Challenger de Buenos Aires
 * Challenger Dove Men+Care Antofagasta
 * Challenger Dove Men+Care Concepcion
 * Chennai Open
 * Citta di Trieste Challenger
 * Concord Iasi Open
 * Copa Faulcombridge
 * Danube Upper Austria Open powered by SKE
 * Enea Poznan Open
 * FlowBank Challenger Biel/Bienne
 * Internazionali di Tennis Verona
 * Koblenz Open powered by Outlet Montabaur
 * Les Championnats Banque Nationale de Granby
 * Girona Challenger
 * Lotto Kozerki Open
 * Maia Open
 * NÖ OPEN powered by EVN
 * Open Blot Rennes
 * Open Brest-Credit Agricole
 * Open Castilla y León
 * Open de Vendée
 * Open SIFA Nouvelle-Calédonie
 * Open Sopra Steria de Lyon
 * P2 Advisory Canberra International
 * Platzmann Open
 * Play In Challenger
 * Puerto Magico Open Puerto Vallarta
 * Pune Metropolitan Region Challenger
 * Road to the Rolex Shanghai Masters
 * San Benedetto Tennis Cup
 * Shenzhen Longhua Open
 * Tenerife Challenger
 * UniCredit Czech Open
 * Uruguay Open
 * Vitas Gerulaitis Cup
 * Yokkaichi Challenger

Defunct tournaments

 * ATP Challenger 2001 Team Padova
 * ATP Challenger Corrientes
 * Abierto de Puebla (2016)
 * Aberto de São Paulo (2001–2014)
 * CDMX Open (2018)
 * China International Challenger Qingdao (2016–2017)
 * Città di Caltanissetta (-2018)
 * Ethias Trophy (2005–2016)
 * Geneva Open (1992–2014)
 * Hoff Open (2015–2016)
 * Honggutan China International Challenger Nanchang (2014–2016)
 * Hua Hin Open Challenger (2015–2017)
 * International Challenger Chengdu (2016-2019)
 * Internazionali di Forlì (2020-2021)
 * Internazionali di Monza e Brianza (2005–2012)
 * Intersport Heilbronn Open (−2015)
 * Irving Tennis Classic (2012-2018)
 * IsarOpen (2018)
 * Israel Open (2008–2016)
 * Karshi Challenger
 * Kazan Kremlin Cup
 * Kazan Summer Cup
 * Kaohsiung OEC Open (2012-2019)
 * Kunming Challenger (2013)
 * Lisheng Sports Cup Jinan International Open (2017-2019)
 * Maccabi Men's Challenger (2009)
 * Melbourne Open (2013)
 * Nur-Sultan Challenger (2019-2021)
 * Open de Guadeloupe (2011-2018)
 * Oracle Challenger Series – Chicago (2018)
 * Oracle Challenger Series – Houston (2018-2019)
 * Oracle Challenger Series – Indian Wells (2018-2020)
 * Oracle Challenger Series – Newport Beach (2018-2020)
 * RBC Tennis Championships of Dallas (1998-2020)
 * Sacramento Challenger (2005–2015)
 * Santaizi Challenger (2014-2019)
 * Shriram Capital P.L. Reddy Memorial Challenger
 * Shymkent Challenger
 * Siberia Cup
 * Sicilia Classic
 * Soweto Open (2009–2013)
 * UTC Open by Selena (2007)
 * Wrocław Open (2015–2017)
 * Yinzhou International Men's Tennis Challenger (2011-2012, 2015-2019)
 * Zagorka Cup (2009)

Other tournaments

 * Aberto de Brasília
 * Aberto de Florianópolis
 * Aberto de Tênis do Rio Grande do Sul
 * Aberto do Paraná de Tênis
 * Aberto Rio Preto
 * Aberto Santa Catarina de Tenis
 * Acqua Dolomia Tennis Cup
 * Adriatic Challenger
 * Advantage Cars Prague Open
 * Aegon GB Pro-Series Bath
 * Aegon GB Pro-Series Glasgow
 * Aegon Manchester Trophy
 * Aegon Nottingham Challenge
 * Aegon Pro-Series Loughborough
 * Aegon Trophy
 * Agri Cup
 * Alessandria Challenger
 * All Japan Indoor Tennis Championships
 * Almaty Challenger
 * Almaty Cup
 * American Express Istanbul Challenger
 * Antalya Challenger
 * Andria e Castel del Monte Challenger
 * Aspria Tennis Cup
 * Astana Challenger Capital Cup
 * Astana Cup
 * Atlantic Tire Championships
 * ATP Challenger Pingguo
 * ATP Challenger Tour Finals
 * ATP Challenger Trophy
 * ATP Roller Open
 * ATP Salzburg Indoors
 * Bangkok Open I
 * Bangkok Open II
 * Bangkok Open III
 * Bangkok Open IV
 * Båstad Challenger
 * Batman Cup
 * Bauer Watertechnology Cup
 * Beijing International Challenger
 * BFD Challenger
 * BH Telecom Indoors
 * BH Tennis Open International Cup
 * Black Forest Open
 * BMW Tennis Championship
 * BRD Arad Challenger
 * BRD Brașov Challenger
 * BRD Timișoara Challenger
 * Bucher Reisen Tennis Grand Prix
 * Burnie International
 * Cachantún Cup (ATP)
 * Cairo Open
 * Calgary National Bank Challenger
 * Caloundra International
 * Camparini Gioielli Cup
 * Campeonato Internacional de Tenis de Santos
 * Campeonato Internacional de Tênis do Estado do Pará
 * Challenger ATP de Salinas Diario Expreso
 * Challenger Banque Nationale de Drummondville
 * Challenger Banque Nationale de Gatineau
 * Challenger Britania Zavaleta
 * Challenger Ciudad de Guayaquil
 * Challenger en Los Andes – Quito
 * Challenger La Manche
 * Challenger of Santa Clarita
 * Charles Sturt Adelaide International
 * Charlottesville Men's Pro Challenger
 * China International Suzhou
 * Citta' di Vercelli – Trofeo Multimed
 * City of Onkaparinga Tennis Challenger
 * City of Playford Tennis International
 * Claro Open Barranquilla
 * Claro Open Cali
 * Claro Open Floridablanca
 * Claro Open Medellín
 * Columbus Challenger
 * Concurso Internacional de Tenis – San Sebastián
 * Concurso Internacional de Tenis – Vigo
 * Copa Agco Córdoba
 * Copa Ciudad de Tigre
 * Copa Gobierno de Córdoba
 * Copa Internacional de Tenis Total Digest
 * Copa Petrobras Santiago
 * Copa San Cristóbal
 * Copa San Juan Gobierno
 * Delhi Open
 * Dunlop World Challenge
 * East Hotel Canberra Challenger
 * Emami Kolkata Open
 * Eskişehir Cup
 * Fergana Challenger
 * Forest Hills Clay Court Classic
 * Franken Challenge
 * GDD CUP International Challenger Guangzhou
 * Gimcheon Challenger
 * Guimarães Open
 * Guzzini Challenger
 * Gwangju Challenger
 * Hong Kong ATP Challenger
 * Hungarian Challenger Open
 * Hyōgo Noah Challenger
 * Indore Open ATP Challenger
 * International Challenger Quanzhou
 * International Challenger Zhangjiagang
 * Internationaux de Nouvelle-Calédonie
 * Internationaux de Tennis de Blois
 * Internazionali Città di Brescia
 * Internazionali di Manerbio – Trofeo Dimmidisì
 * Internazionali di Tennis Città di Vicenza
 * Internazionali di Tennis d'Abruzzo
 * Internazionali di Tennis dell'Umbria
 * Internazionali di Tennis di Cortina
 * Internazionali di Tennis - Trofeo Faip–Perrel
 * IPP Open
 * IS Open São Paulo
 * Isla de Gran Canaria – Ciudad de Telde
 * İzmir Cup
 * Jalisco Open
 * JSM Challenger of Champaign–Urbana
 * Kentucky Bank Tennis Championships
 * Keio Challenger
 * Knoxville Challenger
 * Košice Open
 * KPIT MSLTA Challenger
 * Kunal Patel SF Open
 * Kunming Open
 * Las Vegas Tennis Open
 * Latrobe City Traralgon Challenger
 * Launceston Tennis International
 * Lermontov Cup
 * Levene Gouldin & Thompson Tennis Challenger
 * Lima Challenger
 * Lisboa Belém Open
 * Manulife Singapore ATP Challenger
 * Marbella Open
 * Marburg Open
 * Macedonian Open
 * MasterCard Tennis Cup
 * Mersin Cup
 * Milo Open Cali
 * Mordovia Cup
 * Morelos Open
 * Morocco Tennis Tour – Casablanca
 * Morocco Tennis Tour – Casablanca II
 * Morocco Tennis Tour – Kenitra
 * Morocco Tennis Tour – Marrakech
 * Morocco Tennis Tour – Meknes
 * Morocco Tennis Tour – Mohammedia
 * Morocco Tennis Tour – Rabat
 * Morocco Tennis Tour – Tanger
 * Movistar Open
 * Napa Valley Challenger
 * Naples ITG Challenger
 * Nature's Way Sydney Tennis International
 * Nielsen Pro Tennis Championships
 * Nordic Naturals Challenger
 * NorthBay Healthcare Men's Pro Championships
 * Oberstaufen Cup
 * Odlum Brown Vancouver Open
 * Open BNP Paribas Banque de Bretagne
 * Open Citta' della Disfida
 * Open de la Réunion
 * Open Diputación Ciudad de Pozoblanco
 * Open Harmonie mutuelle
 * Open Tarragona Costa Daurada
 * Penza Cup
 * Peugeot Tennis Cup
 * Philippine Open ATP Manila Challenger
 * Pingshan Open
 * Poprad-Tatry Challenger
 * Potchefstroom Open
 * President's Cup
 * Prosperita Open
 * PTT İstanbul Cup
 * Punta Open
 * Racket Club Open
 * Rai Open
 * RC Hotel Open
 * Rijeka Open
 * Rio Quente Resorts Tennis Classic
 * Rio Tennis Classic
 * Riviera di Rimini Challenger
 * Rome Garden Open
 * s Tennis Masters Challenger
 * Samarkand Challenger
 * Samsung Securities Cup
 * San Luis Open Challenger Tour
 * São Léo Open
 * São Paulo Challenger de Tênis
 * Savannah Challenger
 * SDA Tennis Open
 * Seguros Bolívar Open Pereira
 * Schwaben Open
 * Shenzhen Luohu Challenger
 * Sibiu Open
 * Slovenia Open
 * Sparkasse Challenger Val Gardena Südtirol
 * Sparta Prague Open
 * Sporting Challenger
 * Status Athens Open
 * Stockton Challenger
 * STRABAG Challenger Open
 * Svijany Open
 * TAC Cup China International Nanjing Challenger
 * Tallahassee Tennis Challenger
 * Tampere Open
 * The Tarka Challenger
 * Taroii Open de Tênis
 * Tashkent Challenger
 * TEAN International
 * Tempe Challenger
 * Tennis Championships of Maui
 * Tennislife Cup
 * Tetra Pak Tennis Cup
 * The Hague Open
 * Thindown Challenger Biella
 * Tianjin Health Industry Park
 * Tiburon Challenger
 * Togliatti Cup
 * Torino Challenger
 * Torneo Città di Como
 * Torneo Internacional Challenger León
 * Torneo de Mendoza
 * Torneo Omnia Tenis Ciudad Madrid
 * Trani Cup
 * Tretorn SERIE+ tournaments
 * Trofeo Paolo Corazzi
 * Trofeo Ricardo Delgado Aray
 * Trofeo Stefano Bellaveglia
 * Trophée des Alpilles
 * Tunis Open
 * USTA LA Tennis Open
 * Venice Challenge Save Cup
 * Verrazzano Open
 * Vietnam Open
 * Vilnius Open
 * Visit Panamá Cup de Chitré
 * Visit Panamá Tennis Cup
 * Vivo Tennis Cup
 * Voit Mexico City Open
 * Volkswagen Challenger
 * Winnipeg National Bank Challenger
 * Wolffkran Open
 * Wuhai Challenger
 * Yeongwol Challenger Tennis
 * Yugra Cup
 * Zagreb Open
 * Zhuhai Open