MAIN DRAW ENTRY LIST for the 2024 Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open ATP Challenger April 7-14 at Payne Park in Downtown Sarasota. Get your tickets here link
JJ Wolf, an Ohio State University star earning All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year honors, is currently ranked #94 and has been ranked as high as #39. “Wolfie” advanced to 1st ATP Tour SF and final of career at 2022 Florence (l. to Auger-Aliassime) after reaching US Open 3R as wild card in both 2020 and 2022. Wolf upset #14 Tiafoe for biggest win of career and to reach 2nd ATP Tour SF at 2023 Dallas (l. to Isner). In July, Wolf advanced to SF in Atlanta (l. to eventual champion Fritz). Wolf is coming off playing the 2024 Australian swing of tournaments including the Australian Open and most recently Indian Wells. JJ Wolf Biofile interview link
Juan Pablo Varillas, currently ranked #95, is fresh off a win at the Santiago, Chile ATP Challenger Tour event. “Juanpi” broke into Top 100 in August 2022 and achieved career-high #60 in June 2023 after reaching Grand Slam-best 4R at Roland Garros (d. No. 14 Hurkacz, l. to Djokovic). Varillas in February 2023, swept 10 straight sets to reach 1st ATP Tour SF at Buenos Aires as a qualifier (l. to Norrie). While his preferred surface is clay, Varillas is coming off playing the Australian Open and most recently various clay court tournaments.
Aleksandar Kovacevic, a 25 year-old right-hander, is currently ranked #98. As a lucky loser at the 2023 ATP Masters 1000 Miami, “Kova” defeated Munar and lost to F. Cerundolo in 2R. Kovacevic is coming off playing the Australian Open, Delray Beach, the quarter finals Los Cabos and most recently, Indian Wells.
Thanasi Kokkinakis upset defending champion Federer in 2018 Miami 2R as 175th-ranked qualifier and became the lowest-ranked player to beat World #1 since #178 Clavet beat Hewitt in 2003 Miami 2R. “Kokk” won the 2022 Australian Open doubles title as 434th-ranked wild card with countryman Kyrgios, defeating Ebden/Purcell in 1st All-Aussie Grand Slam doubles final since the 1980 Australian Open. Kokkinakis is currently ranked #101 and is coming off playing the 2024 Australian swing of tournaments and most recently Delray Beach, Mexico and Indian Wells.
Zizou Bergs defeated Ramos-Vinolas for 1st ATP Tour win at 2020 Antwerp as 528th-ranked wild card. Bergs earned the 2022 Wimbledon wild card after defeating former World #8 Sock for the 2022 Ilkley Challenger title as a qualifier. Currently ranked #114, Bergs is coming off playing the Australian Open and various other tournaments in Europe.
Michael Mmoh, a former IMG Academy student, defeated #13 A. Zverev for first Top 15 win of career and reached the 2023 Australian Open 3R as a lucky loser. Mmoh defeated #12 Auger-Aliassime in 1R at 2023 Wimbledon for biggest win and also a win over #17 Hurkacz in 2R at 2023 Washington. Currently ranked #125, Mmoh is coming off playing the qualifiers at Indian Wells.
Patrick Kypson, currently ranked #140, was last year’s Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge winner by accumulating the most ranking points. While recently playing Delray Beach and Indian Wells, Pat is coming off a win at the Cleveland, Ohio ATP Challenger Tour event.
Dennis Kudla, a veteran player currently ranked #163, defeated future World #3 A. Zverev en route to 2015 Wimbledon 4R as a wild card and has qualified at Australian Open 3 times, Roland Garros twice and Wimbledon 3 times. Kudla most recently made it through the qualifiers in Indian Wells and the quarterfinals at the Phoenix ATP Challenger Tour event. Kudla has made the most appearances in the history of the Sarasota Open.
Marc Polmans, a 26 year-old Australian right-hander, achieved career-high #116 after earning the biggest win of career over #38 Humbert in 2020 Roland Garros 1R as a lucky loser. Polmans, currently ranked #167, is coming off playing the Australian Open and the qualifiers at Indian Wells.
Alexander Ritschard, a 29 year-old Swiss player, helped the University of Virginia win 3 NCAA team titles. “Ritschi” is currently ranked #194 and made tour-level debut as 28-year-old at 2022 Wimbledon (l. to Tsitsipas in 1R), then earned 1st tour-level win at 2022 Gstaad as wild card (d. Sousa in 1R), and qualified at 2022 US Open. Ritschard most recently made the quarter finals at the Hamburg, Germany ATP Challenger Tour event.
Clement Tabur, a 24 year-old right-hander from France, is coming off playing various clay court tournaments. Tabur is currently ranked #202 and playing the finals at the Kigali ATP Challenger Tour event.
Oliver Crawford, a 24 year-old right-hander from Great Britain, is currently ranked #203 and is coming off playing the qualifiers at the Australian Open.
Martin Damm, a Bradenton born 20 year-old 6’8” tall left-hander, is currently ranked #204. Damm is coming off playing the quarter finals at the Spain ATP Challenger Tour events.
Calvin Hemery, a 29 year-old right-hander from France, is currently ranked #210. Hemery is coming off playing the quarter finals at the Rwanda ATP Challenger Tour events.
Geoffrey Blancaneaux, a 25 year-old right-hander from France, is currently ranked #220. Blancaneaux most recently won the New Delhi ATP Challenger Tour event.
Tristan Boyer, a 22 year-old right-hander, is currently ranked #230. Boyer is coming off playing the semi-finals at the New Delhi ATP Challenger Tour event.
Enzo Couacaud, a 29 year-old Frenchman, is currently ranked #231. Couacaud is coming off playing the qualifiers at the Australian Open and made the quarter finals at the Pune, India ATP Challenger Tour event.
Alessandro Giannessi, a 31 year-old left-hander from Italy, is currently ranked #241. “Gianna” is coming off playing the qualifiers at the Australian Open and various tournaments in South America and Europe.
Dmitry Popko, a 27 year-old right-hander from Kazakhstan, is currently ranked #250. “Pop” has had recent success in various ITF events by winning the M25 Feira de Santana, Brazil.
Ethan Quinn, a Georgia Bulldog star who won the 2023 NCAA singles championship national title, turning pro and to play in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles at the 2023 US Open. Quinn is currently ranked #253 and made it through the qualifiers at Indian Wells.
Joel Josef Schwaerzler, an 18 year-old left-hander from Austria, is coming up from the junior ranks. In October 2023, Joel Josef won the ITF Junior Masters event in Chengdu. This tournament is part of the USTA’s Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge.
QUALIFYING PLAYER ENTRY LIST
Liam Draxl, CAN #257
Thai-Son Kwiatkowski, USA #263
Mitchell Krueger, USA #282
Giovanni Fonio, ITA #283
Pedro Sakamoto, BRA #309
Toby Kodat, USA #340
Federico Agustin Gomez, ARG #346
Gerard Campana Lee, KOR #356
Bogdan Bobrov, #391
Kyle Edmund, GBR #398
Viktor Durasovic, NOR #412
Corentin Denolly, FRA #414
Learner Tien, USA #431
Arthur Gea, FRA #441
Bruno Kuzuhara, USA #477
Matija Pecotic, CRO #479
Garrett Johns, USA #480
Bor Artnak, SLO #486
Rei Sakamoto, JPN JR 19
Alexander Frusina, USA JR 21
ATP Challenger · Denis Kudla · Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open · Kyle Edmund · Michael Mmoh · Thasasi Kokkinakis
Cory · April 4, 2024 at 7:49 pm
I love Pedro Sakamoto’s game. He hasn’t had big results but I think he’s a little better than his ranking. He’s a great underdog. Looking forward to seeing him in the states! This is a great entry list for those who love Challenger/250 type events. Very much looking forward. You’re right Popko has been playing well. He’s been lurking for years in the 100-300 range but capable of a surprise at any moment. Will be good to see Edmunds… I wonder if he can make it back.
Did you see Joaeo Sousa retired. Talented player never had steady results tho.
Scoop Malinowski · April 4, 2024 at 8:12 pm
I will be sure to check in on Sakamoto and maybe even do a biofile. Popko once won four in a row vs young Sebi Korda about four years ago. All close matches too. Edmund was the surprise name in the list, just like Pouille last year. Some expected names are absent – Sandgren, Kozlov, Krueger, Sock, Jerry Shang, Christian Harrison – but names don’t matter, all these guys are fighting for ATP survival, will be a great tourney as always.