Five Challenger Tour Players To Watch At The US Open
ATPTour.com looks at five ATP Challenger Tour players to keep your eyes on during the US Open.
Alex Michelsen
The 18-year-old American won his first Challenger title last month in Chicago and has since continued his surge. The following week, Michelsen was a finalist at the ATP 250 event in Newport despite competing in just his second tour-level tournament.
Michelsen was committed to play college tennis at the University of Georgia this upcoming year, but the World No. 133 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings announced his decision to forgo his college eligibility and turn pro in early August. The California native will bring his rock-solid backhand to his major main-draw debut in Flushing Meadows, where he opens against Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
Jakub Mensik
In May, the big-serving Mensik won the ATP Challenger Tour event in Prague, where he became the youngest Czech Challenger champion in history (since 1978). The 2022 Australian Open boys’ singles finalist was ranked outside the Top 800 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings last August and has since risen to No. 191.
The 17-year-old is the second-youngest player in the US Open main draw, behind American Learner Tien. Mensik, who will meet Frenchman Gregoire Barrere in the first round, advanced through qualifying to make his first major main draw.
Dominic Stricker
The #NextGenATP Swiss has tallied an 18-9 match at the Challenger level this year, with titles coming in Rovereto and Prague. At No. 113 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, Stricker will be hopeful for a strong run in New York to push him closer to his Top 100 debut.
Stricker, 21, made his first major main-draw appearance this year at Roland Garros before qualifying for Wimbledon. The lefty’s aggressive style of play will next be on display at the American Slam, where he advanced through qualifying, in which he saved a match point in the second round to stay alive. Stricker will open against Cincinnati quarter-finalist Alexei Popyrin.
Yosuke Watanuki
Despite playing just six Challenger events in 2023, Watanuki has reached the semi-finals at three. The Japanese star, who first cracked the Top 100 on 31 July, earned the highest-ranked win of his career earlier this month when he upset then-World No. 12 Felix Auger-Aliassime in Washington, D.C. Watanuki, who is coached by his brother Keisuke, is making his US Open main-draw debut.
His first-round match against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino will be a contrast of styles. While the Frenchman is known for his flat groundstrokes and craftiness, Watanuki will grab fan’s attention with his easy firepower and quick speed.
Sebastian Ofner
Nobody boasts more Challenger match wins in 2023 than Ofner (35-12). The Austrian has reached at least the final in six Challenger events this season, including a title run on home soil in Salzburg last month.
The 27-year-old enjoyed a surprise run at Roland Garros, where he reached the fourth round as a qualifier, leading to his Top 100 debut. Playing the US Open main draw for the first time, the World No. 58 will start against Portugal’s Nuno Borges.