The ATP Challenger event in Monterrey, Mexico is not only a fan favourite, but consistently ranks towards the top of players’ lists as well.
Club Sonoma, where the Challenger 125 event is hosted, sits under breathtaking views of the Nuevo León mountains. The tournament has a plethora of off-court activities for fans to enjoy alongside world-class tennis. Next week, there will also be a WTA 250 event at the venue. Autograph sessions and interactive kids clinics are organised throughout the week. A hospitality area is filled with food trucks, vendors and games for fans to enjoy.
Among players’ favourite aspects of the tournament are the views, first-class organisation, and everything that Monterrey has to offer as one of Mexico’s largest cities.
“The Challenger 125s tend to be higher quality and I think this one is special even among those. We have everything here,” World No. 103 Nuno Borges told ATPTour.com. “I really like the views. The hotel and the club have nice views, that was my first impression. The courts are pretty quick too because it’s at altitude.
“I’d like to go for a hike in Monterrey, but it’s not very energy efficient! Hopefully when I’m done with the tournament, I can explore a little bit.”
Past champions at the Abierto GNP Seguros include David Ferrer (2018), Alexander Bublik (2019) and Fernando Verdasco (2022). Now in its eighth edition, the Monterrey Challenger always finds ways to improve.
“It’s one of the best Challengers I’ve played, it might be number one, honestly,” World No. 124 Aleksandar Kovacevic said. “The fans here are unbelievable. I don’t know where they come from. I guess they do a good job of marketing the tournament. It’s amazing, I love it here. The other night against Adrian Mannarino was one of the coolest experiences in tennis and I’ve played in some decent stadiums, so I would say that’s saying something.
Aleksandar Kovacevic greets fans at the 2023 Monterrey Challenger. Credit: Abierto GNP Seguros
“I wouldn’t consider myself in any sense a big shot. Having that many people ask for my autograph is flattering but also a bit confusing. I hope in the future to have more of those moments.”
Mexican doubles players Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela and Hans Hach Verdugo, who saved three match points Thursday to advance to the semi-finals, are aiming to collect the trophy on home soil this weekend. The duo shared that the minute details of the tournament go a long way to leave a strong impression on players.
“It’s special for us to be at home, we look forward to it,” Reyes-Varela said. “I think tournaments in Mexico are very well organised, that’s a common thing you hear from players. Puerto Vallarta and Monterrey have both won Challenger Of The Year before. They try to take care of players.”
“I don’t think many Challengers have the stadium we have here,” Hach Verdugo said. “The amount of courts we have for practice is a lot, like seven practice courts. There’s always people taking care of the players’ lounge and transportation. It’s a great atmosphere. Mexico likes to host and have foreigners. That’s why they’ve won many awards on the Challenger Tour.
“They’ve had a bunch of activities, I heard the players’ party was out of this world but I wasn’t able to attend, I was still in Delray Beach. They want to do things right. Every year is better.”
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