From Challengers To Grand Slam Breakthroughs In 2022

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The margins are razor skinny between the ATP Challenger Tour and Tour-level gamers.

Whereas each tennis participant desires of competing beneath the intense lights and on large phases, they have to first pave their pathway on the Challenger Tour. Tennis legends like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic all began on the Challenger circuit earlier than embarking on illustrious careers.

This season, gamers similar to Holger Rune, Wu Yibing, and Jack Draper loved nice success at not solely Challenger Tour occasions, but additionally on the season’s 4 Grand Slams.

ATPTour.com evaluations 5 gamers who went from Challengers to having fun with a breakthrough second at a significant in 2022.

Holger Rune
Coming into the season, the Danish teen was outdoors the Prime 100 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings and was nonetheless in search of his first Grand Slam major draw victory. It didn’t take Rune lengthy to rise to a career-high 10 in November following a standout 12 months.

Rune was one among simply 9 youngsters to gather a Challenger title this 12 months. In April, the-then 18-year-old triumphed on the Sanremo Challenger, the place he dropped only one set en path to the title and defeated Italian teen Francesco Passaro within the last.

Passaro (left) and Rune on the 2022 Sanremo Challenger trophy presentation. Credit score: Sanremo Challenger

Just one man has earned extra Challenger titles than Rune earlier than his nineteenth birthday: Richard Gasquet (7). Rune, who’s a five-time Challenger champion, was one among six males to say a Challenger and Tour-level title in 2022.

A month after successful the Challenger 80 occasion in Italy, Rune collected his first Tour-level crown (Munich) and was a quarter-finalist at Roland Garros, the place he upset fourth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Wu Yibing
After being sidelined for 3 years because of accidents and the pandemic, the 23-year-old loved a career-best season that earned him a nomination for the ATP Comeback Participant Of The Yr.

Wu went on a 15 match-winning streak on the Challenger-level and picked up three consecutive titles: Orlando, Rome, Indianapolis. The Chinese language star carried his momentum into his Grand Slam debut at Flushing Meadows, the place he and countryman Zhang Zhizhen battled via qualifying to turn out to be the primary Chinese language males to compete within the US Open major draw within the Open Period.

Wu Yibing is topped champion on the 2022 Orlando Challenger. Credit score: Orlando Open

The Hangzhou native reached the third spherical, the place he confronted defending champion Daniil Medvedev beneath the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Medvedev went on to win in straight units however Wu’s run on the US Open will likely be remembered as a significant milestone in Chinese language tennis.

“It’s been a troublesome few years for me,” Wu instructed ATPTour.com in August. “I actually suffered from accidents and Covid in China. It looks as if I can nonetheless play a bit of little bit of tennis. I’m glad about what I did [at the US Open]. I really like the folks right here, the group. Many Chinese language folks got here to assist, I find it irresistible.”

Jack Draper
No person completed the 12 months with a greater successful share on the Challenger Tour than Draper. The 20-year-old boasted a 24-4 Challenger match-winning document and picked up a season-leading 4 Challenger titles (tied w/ Pedro Cachin): Forli-2, Forli-4, Forli-5, and Saint-Brieuc. The lefty cracked the Prime 100 for the primary time this summer time amidst a fast rise on the ATP Tour.

Jack Draper triumphs on the Saint-Brieuc Challenger. Credit score: Philippe Kermoal

Shortly after incomes his maiden Grand Slam main-draw victory at his residence event, Wimbledon, Draper discovered success on the North American arduous courts, together with on the US Open, the place he shocked sixth-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime within the second spherical.

Tim Van Rijthoven
In February, the Dutchman superior via qualifying en path to a runner-up end on the Forli-4 Challenger (l. Draper). A number of months later, Van Rijthoven received the ATP 250 occasion in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the place he upset the Prime-3 seeded gamers: Taylor Fritz, Auger-Aliassime, and Medvedev. Van Rijthoven grew to become one among six males since 2007 to win an ATP Tour title earlier than being topped champion on the Challenger degree.

The 25-year-old’s grass court docket success continued on the All England Membership. Van Rijthoven reached the fourth spherical at Wimbledon and pushed eventual champion Novak Djokovic to 4 units.

Tim van Rijthoven in motion at Wimbledon. Credit score: Adrian Dennis/Getty Photos

On the season’s last Slam, Van Rijthoven received a dramatic opening spherical five-setter. The Dutchman rallied from two units to like down and saved seven match factors to defeat Zhang. Van Rijthoven misplaced within the subsequent spherical to eventual finalist Casper Ruud.

Carlos Alcaraz
Though the Spaniard didn’t compete on the Challenger degree in 2022, his speedy rise from the Challenger Tour to Grand Slam champion received’t quickly be forgotten.

Alcaraz, who’s the youngest year-end No. 1 within the historical past of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, discovered early success on the Challenger Tour. A four-time Challenger titlist, Alcaraz cracked the Prime 100 for the primary time following his title on the Oeiras Challenger in Could 2021. The 19-year-old additionally collected the title on the 2020 Alicante, Barcelona, and Trieste Challengers.

“There are loads of factors at stake on the Challenger degree,” Alcaraz instructed ATPTour.com after successful the Trieste Challenger. “To play at such a excessive degree towards actually good gamers… It’s good preparation for after I compete on the largest tournaments.”

Even the highest-ranked participant within the sport started his skilled journey on the ATP Challenger Tour.

Carlos Alcaraz lifts his maiden Grand Slam trophy in New York Metropolis. Credit score: Julian Finney/Getty Photos