Cordenons Challenger Celebrates 20th Anniversary

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Earlier than gamers get pleasure from glory on the ATP Tour, they need to first move the ATP Challenger Tour. One of many longest-running Italian Challenger tournaments, the Serena Wines 1881 – Acqua Maniva Tennis Cup, which is celebrating its twentieth anniversary this week, has witnessed this primary hand. The Challenger 75 occasion has hosted world-class gamers earlier than they grew to become family names.

World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz was a finalist in Cordenons simply three years in the past as a 17 12 months previous. In 2013, Pablo Carreno Busta was topped champion two weeks after he cracked the High 100 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the primary time.

Although followers have seen a plethora of expertise come via Cordenons, match director Serena Raffin has additionally endured via hardship to proceed the match. In 2013, her father and match founder Eddi Raffin suffered a coronary heart assault, passing away aged 61. Whereas the occasion celebrates the 20-year milestone this week, the reminiscence of Eddi lives on.

“It’s particular as a result of I really feel he’s with me. It’s an odd feeling. I really feel he’s pleased with me,” Serena mentioned. “I assumed it was not possible, however nothing is not possible. You possibly can at all times attempt to discover a totally different resolution. We discovered it and I feel my father is completely happy.”

^{Eddi and Serena Raffin. Credit score: Raffin Household}

Eddi casted a imaginative and prescient to host tournaments in Italy and little did he know the way a lot the Cordenons Challenger would affect the Friuli Venezia Giulia area. It’s now seen as the large occasion in that area and followers can catch a glimpse of professional tennis for simply six euros.

When Eddi handed ten years in the past, Serena determined to hold on the custom. She put collectively a workforce and took on a big duty to turn into the match director. In 2013, simply months after Eddi’s passing, the Cordenons Challenger nonetheless passed off.

“I don’t know the way we managed to organise the match that 12 months,” Raffin mentioned. “After that, it grew to become greater than per week of tennis. It grew to become one thing that we can not cease doing as a result of it will be dangerous for his reminiscence. It’s good to assume it’s been 20 years and a bit unhappy to consider 10 years with out my father. But in addition it’s a satisfaction to hold on this custom.”

Out of 24 lively Challenger tournaments in Italy, Cordenons is the third longest-running occasion (Barletta, Rome). Three gamers competed in Cordenons earlier than ascending to the High 10 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings: Alcaraz, Carreno Busta and Mariano Puerta.

^{Carlos Alcaraz competes on the Cordenons Challenger in 2020. Credit score: Antonio Ros}

The previous two champions, Zhang Zhizhen (2022) and Francisco Cerundolo (2021), have since graduated to the ATP Tour. In 2020, Bernabe Zapata Miralles gained the title, defeating Alcaraz within the championship match, which was the 20-year-old’s lone closing loss on the Challenger degree (4-1).

Two house heroes have gained in Cordenons: Filippo Volandri (2008) and Paolo Lorenzi, who triumphed in 2012 and in 2018.

“I at all times had good reminiscences. I at all times had a particular bond there,” Lorenzi mentioned. “The primary 12 months I gained there, Eddi was the match director. It was wonderful to win once more when Serena was the match director. What I keep in mind essentially the most was the gang. As a result of each time I used to be enjoying in Cordenons, from the primary spherical it was full of individuals supporting me quite a bit.”

Italian Riccardo Bonadio, who was born and raised 15 miles from Cordenons, emphasised the significance of the occasion. Seeded third this week in Cordenons, Bonadio is enjoying the occasion for the sixth consecutive 12 months.

“I used to be born right here so I do know in regards to the situation of tennis on this area and that is the principle match of this area,” Bonadio mentioned. “It’s an enormous alternative for individuals to observe tennis as a result of we don’t have loads of occasions like this one. It’s 20 years that they’ve been doing this match and I hope they’ll do it for extra time.”

Former World No. 33 Lorenzi, who’s now the Cagliari Challenger match director, additionally mentioned: “Serena, congratulations for these 20 years of the Cordenons Challenger. You and your workforce made a tremendous job for me, I at all times liked enjoying there. I miss not enjoying there. I want to you and your workforce one other 20, 30 years of this match.”

^{Paolo Lorenzi gained two Challenger titles in Cordenons throughout his profession. Credit score: Antonio Ros}