Within the 45-year historical past of the ATP Challenger Tour, Lithuania had by no means hosted a Challenger match. That each one modified this week, because the Challenger circuit turned its eyes to the nation’s capital metropolis, Vilnius.
Lithuania, situated within the Baltic states, is the 91st nation to host a Challenger match. Match director Ramūnas Grušas, who’s the Lithuanian Tennis Federation president, spoke with ATPTour.com in regards to the course of it took to construct the Vilnius Open by kevin.
“We began to consider having a Challenger in 2013,” Grušas mentioned. “We made a visit to some Challengers in Europe and talked to the organisers there and eventually, we’re doing it. We’re actually blissful and excited.”
The host venue, the SEB Area, supplies world-class services to the Challenger 80 occasion. Boasting 28 indoor tennis courts, the SEB Area is the most important indoor tennis advanced in central Europe. Squash and badminton courts may also be discovered on the state-of-the-art facility. A latest growth undertaking included the development of a stadium courtroom for the debut match.
“Through the Covid time, we constructed a brand new facility, together with a centre courtroom with 1,500 capability,” Grušas mentioned. “We constructed an additional six follow courts. All through the previous yr, we’ve made the venue actually good for the gamers and spectators.
“It’s actually vital to point out folks that we’re right here. We’ve got high-quality services, I feel it’s displaying that we’re entering into an excellent path. This week, lots of children are coming to see the tennis and are having fun with it.
“We aren’t this match for a very industrial facet. We want to have good high quality.”
The Vilnius Challenger marks the primary time that Ricardas Berankis, who turned professional in 2007, has competed on house soil.
“I feel it’s probably the greatest Challengers on this planet,” The previous World No. 50 mentioned. “Not as a result of I’m from right here however total I didn’t see or hear any sad gamers. I hope it’ll convey extra consideration from higher-ranked gamers sooner or later.”
Residence favorite Ricardas Berankis in motion on the 2022 Vilnius Challenger. Credit score: Saulius Čirba
After initially submitting a match utility in 2018 and patiently ready by means of the Covid break, Grušas mentioned that working carefully with the ATP turned the dream of staging a match into actuality.
“We’ve got good relations with the ATP workplace,” Grušas mentioned. “They helped us loads with all of our questions as a result of it was the primary time for us.
“They [The ATP Challenger Tour] put the gamers first. You’ll be able to really feel it from step one if you end up speaking with the ATP workplace and referees. It’s worthwhile to do all one of the best for the gamers.”
Frenchman Antoine Escoffier, seeded eighth, has robust impressions of the Vilnius Challenger.
“The occasion is very well organised,” Escoffier mentioned. “The lodge and meals are on web site. The physio and follow courts are additionally on web site. I feel it’s probably the greatest circumstances to have a match. It’s actually spectacular right here.”
With a inhabitants approaching 600,000, Vilnius is the most important metropolis in Lithuania. The town is thought for its structure in ‘Previous City’, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Website in 1994. Vilnius was named the EU’s European Capital of Tradition in 2009 and is without doubt one of the quickest rising and creating cities in Europe.
Not solely is Vilnius establishing deep roots as a cultural centre in Europe, it’s proving to be an excellent location for the ATP Challenger Tour.
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from Tennis – ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/egnoSvC
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