The 2023 Savannah Challenger is returning to The Landings Club next week on April 24-30. A United States Tennis Association (USTA) Pro Circuit & ATP Challenger 75 event, the Challenger began in 2009 and this year will be the 13th version after a two-year hiatus for COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021.
As part of the USTA French Open Wild Card series of events, winners at the Savannah Challenger (played on clay surface) earn a shot at playing in a major tennis championship. Needless to say, that’s a big deal, and the French Open is also a clay surface.
That’s no coincidence. It’s the third consecutive clay-court event on the Challenger Tour, which is often likened to the AAA level of minor league baseball. Since the first Savannah Challenger in 2009, the tournament has grown in prestige and popularity, both with the fans and the players alike.
Chris Kader, Director of Court Sports at The Landings Club, says the lead-up to the 2023 Challenger is more evidence that a once overlooked sporting event on the Savannah sporting calendar is becoming one of the best.
“It’s a product of the quality in the past, and it keeps getting better too,” Kader said during an April 20 phone call with Connect Savannah. “There’s a more elevated feel to it. And it’s, you know, it’s palpable. As soon as you step foot (at the tennis center), everybody sees it, feels it.”
“The tournament sells itself kind of, you know. It’s a little bit of a ‘hidden gem.’ The big selling point is that everybody who attends it, everybody who comes to the tournament then is immediately asking me you know, ‘How can I be a sponsor? I have to be involved in this next year.’”
Main draw play begins on Monday, April 24 and a purse of $80,000 is up for grabs in the 32-man singles bracket. The winner gets 75 challenger points and $10,840 while the doubles champ gets $4,645 apiece.
All matches are set to be live-streamed on the ATP Challenger website (ATPtour.com).
Jack Sock, the 2022 winner and the seventh American to win the Savannah Challenger, was an accepted invite into the main draw this year. However, the No. 174 ranked singles player in the world had yet to commit to play in Savannah as the deadline arrived on Friday, April 21. Sock was playing in a Champion’s Tour celebrity golf tournament in Texas on that Friday.
“He played in (Challenger events in) Houston and he played in Sarasota,” said Kader of Sock’s status. “He was on the acceptance list for Tallahassee last week, but he did not go to Tallahassee. So, he may not be coming to Savannah, either.”
Even if it is to be a Sock-less Challenger in 2023, the field still includes 2022 semifinalist Christian Harrison and former champion Bjorn Frantangelo. They join Americans Mitchell Kruger, Alex Michelsen and Oliver Crawford as other likely players in the field this year.
Tickets for the tournament are available for purchase on the Savannah Challenger website and Landings Club members receive free admission while non-member general admission passes cost $10.
On Sunday, April 23, 12 qualifying matches are scheduled with 24 players competing for six berths into the main draw field. The public is welcome to attend the qualifying matches and admission is 100% free. Those matches begin at 10 a.m. Also on Sunday, a free opportunity for kids to come out and meet the professional players while playing mini-games and getting tips.
“We’ve got USDA Kids Day – and we’ve got a sponsor for that as well – which is dentistry for children. It’s open to anybody in the community,” said Kader. “It’s fit for kids like 12-and-under, but we’ll do fun and games with tennis, and (the kids) will get to have a meet-and-greet and autograph sessions with a whole bunch of players. They’ll do a face painting station, an Italian ice station and then we’ve got a magic show.”
Kids Day activities are from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Matches on Monday and Tuesday begin at 10 a.m. with evening matches beginning not before 5:30 p.m. Wednesday matches start at 11 a.m. Visit www.SavannahChallenger.com for a complete schedule of daily events, player draws and ticket information.
Follow the tournament on Instagram and Facebook @SAVChallenger and on Twitter @SAV_Challenger.
MORE TO KNOW:
LADIES DAY (WEDNESDAY)
The Savannah Area Tennis Association (SATA) is presenting Ladies Day Wednesday (April 26) at the tournament this year. The promotion will feature several shopping vendors, special food and drink offerings, and access to all playing courts throughout the day.
Women at the event on Wednesday can stop by the SATA company table for a free gift (while supplies last). Women can purchase discounted tickets online before the tournament or on site at the Challenger.
CENTER COURT CONCERT (THURSDAY)
Savannah based pop band Tell Scarlet will entertain guests (center court ticket holders, corporate and VIP guests and players) with a concert on Thursday night, April 27 at 7:30. The band will play on the stadium center court.
This article appears in Apr 1-30, 2023.