Photo Credit: Glen Howe
The United State Tennis Association’s (USTA) Tallahassee Challenger is
widely known as the best challenger in the country. Beyond the world-class tennis, featuring no fewer than 20 players ranked in the top 200 in the world, there is even more to this annual event. The event follows a path for any local player who would like to enter the pre-qualifiers tournament, with the winner moving to the qualifier draw. Three rounds are whittled down to the final four players, who are entered into the main draw of 32 to complete the first-round entries. The road to the finals consists of 11 matches!
The Tallahassee Challenger was started 20 years ago to benefit the Vogter Neuro-Intensive Care Unit at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. Karen Vogter has led the charge from the beginning in memory of her late husband in researching threatening illnesses such as brain tumors and aneurysms. As the director, Vogter has been tireless in her efforts for this cause as well as the success of the Challenger.
Excitement Builds
The qualifier matches are attended by hundreds of local tennis enthusiasts at the city’s Forestmeadows Athletic Center at the end of April. With a rich background of former winners, such as John Isner, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Donald Young, the event has been a launching pad for future superstars. More than 25 countries are represented in singles and doubles play. This event has become a second home for many of the players on the Challenger circuit due to the relationships formed between local families that host players for the week, giving them an opportunity to experience a normal family routine with cookouts and home-cooked meals! With the new live-streaming view instituted by the USTA, the event can be seen around the world.