How Genoa Challenger overcame adversity to advance Tstisipas and more | ATP Tour

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How Genoa Challenger overcame adversity to propel Tstisipas and more

The Italian competition, which won Challenger Of The Year in 2014, celebrates its 20th anniversary this week.

September 06, 2024

The Italian city of Genoa endured a horrific disaster in 2018, when the iconic Ponte Morandi partially collapsed following a severe storm. As the cars fell into the Polcevera River, 43 people lost their lives.

Although sports may seem insignificant in the face of such damage, they can be an important tool in their fight against grief. Such is the case with the ATP Challenger Tour event held in the heart of Genoa.

Three weeks after the 2018 disaster, the Genoa Challenger provided a moment of inspiration as the city continued to mourn and rebuild. It was a memorable time when we faced difficulties. Local hero Lorenzo Sonego was crowned that week in front of a packed crowd.

^{The Ponte Morandi bridge collapsed in August 2018. Credit: Andrea Leoni/AFP via Getty Images}

Sonego, who was 23 at the time, won on the red clay to make his first Top 100 in the PIF ATP Rankings. The Turin native returned to Genoa the following year and successfully defended his title.

Celebrating 20 years this week, the AON Open Challenger has featured seven champions ranked within the Top 25, including Sonego.

In 2017, the Greek wild card with wavy blonde hair won the title without dropping a set. You guessed it, 11-time tour honoree Stefanos Tsitsipas, who was 19 years old and ranked number 161 when he picked up the trophy. The following year, Tsitsipas won the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF.

“It was special and something I’ve been dreaming about for a long time,” said Tsitsipas after the win against Genoa. “It was a relief for me in the end.”

The 2019 Nitto ATP Finals champion’s victory in Genoa marks his only ATP Challenger Tour title.

Former World No. 9 Fabio Fognini captured titles in Genoa (2008, 2010). Last year, Fognini returned to the tournament for the first time in 13 years and treated the home crowd to a run to the final.

The city’s premier sporting event, which takes place during the first week of September, won Challenger Of The Year honors in 2014. It is a sight to watch year after year. Similar to the Foro Italico in Rome, this venue has parasol pine trees surrounding a large stadium and amphitheatre-style seating.

But the ATP Challenger Tour 125 event has been about more than top-level players competing for ranking points and prize money. The Genoa tournament has provided a source of comfort in times of need, whether it was just after the collapse of the Ponte Morandi bridge or in 2016, when all the money went to the victims of the 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck central Italy.