what is tennis challenger tour

The ATP Challenger Tour: Path to the Big Time

• Last updated on May 2, 2023

Established in 1978, the Challenger circuit has grown into an important stepping stone for young tennis players looking to make it to the highest levels of the sport. 

History of the Challenger Tour

The Challenger circuit was established as a way to provide a professional level of competition for tennis players who weren’t yet ready to compete on the main tour. The circuit initially consisted of just five tournaments in the United States, but quickly grew in popularity and spread around the world.

By the mid-1980s, the Challengers had become an important part of the tennis landscape, with dozens of tournaments held each year. In 1986, the ATP officially recognized the circuit and began awarding ranking points to players based on their performances.

Since then, the circuit has continued to grow in popularity and importance, with the number of tournaments held annually growing steadily year by year. In 2008 there were 178 events played across 40 different countries. 

And although numbers have occasionally diminished, for example in the first quarter of 2013 and an inevitable dip due to Covid-19, they’ve since bounced back with 184 events taking place in 2022 and a record 190 plus planned for 2023.

Format of the Challenger Circuit

Challenger tournaments are generally smaller than those on the ATP World Tour, with most events featuring a draw of 32 or 64 players.

The format of the tournaments is similar to that of other professional tennis events, with players competing in singles and doubles matches. The matches are generally played over three sets, although some tournaments may have different rules depending on the surface and location of the event.

The winner of a Challenger event typically earns around 80 ranking points and a prize purse of between $50,000 and $125,000. By contrast, the winner of an ATP Tour event can earn upwards of 1,000 ranking points and a prize purse of more than $1 million.

However in 2023 the ATP launched a new tier of Challengers known as Challenger 175s in which, as the name suggests, the winner can earn 175 points along with prize money of $220,000. 

Importance of the ATP Challenger Circuit

For young, ambitious players, the Challenger circuit is vital. It provides an opportunity to gain valuable experience playing against other pros, while also earning vital ranking points and prize money.

Many of the world’s top players have competed in Challenger events at some point in their careers. Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray all spent time on the Challenger circuit before making it to the main tour. In fact, Nadal won his first professional title at a Challenger event in 2002, Djokovic in 2004.

The circuit is also an important way for players to gain exposure and build their profiles in the tennis world. While it may not have the same level of media coverage as the ATP Tour, it provides a platform for players to showcase their talents and gain recognition from fans and sponsors.

In addition to helping young players make their way up the rankings, the Challenger circuit also plays an important role in the overall development of the sport. By providing a professional level of competition for players who are not yet ready for the ATP Tour, the circuit helps to ensure a strong pipeline of talent coming up through the ranks.

Challenger Challenges

Despite its importance, the circuit faces numerous challenges in the modern era. One of the biggest is the high cost of hosting events, which can run up to $200,000 when accounting for prize money, player accommodations, and other expenses. With smaller prize pools and less visibility than ATP Tour events, hosting organizations may struggle to justify the expense of hosting a Challenger tournament.

Another issue is the emergence of alternative tours and circuits, such as the ITF World Tennis Tour and the PTPA Challenger-style circuit. These tours provide players with additional options for competing at the professional level, which may lead some players to prioritize these events over Challenger tournaments.

The Challenger Circuit has been criticized for being financially unsustainable for players who are not in the top 100. The prize money on offer at Challenger tournaments is significantly less than that on the ATP Tour, and the costs associated with travelling to tournaments and paying for accommodation can make it difficult for players to make a living on the Challenger Circuit.

Rising to the Challenge

If you get the opportunity, the Challenger circuit is a great way to get to see up and coming stars before they hit the big time – and the occasional wizened pro. Keep an eye out right here for info on individual tournaments and if you’re looking to start your own path to the Challengers check out our round up of the best tennis rackets for beginners .

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The Difference Between Futures and Challengers in Tennis

The road to reaching the top of the world in tennis is a very difficult journey. An early and important highlight for any professional player is when he or she qualifies for his or her first ATP or WTA tournament.

In this article, we are going to focus on the important tournaments in any young professional player’s journey known as the Futures and Challengers tournaments. These tournaments do not bring glory, significant prize money or points, yet they are critical in the advancement of all young players.

Let’s dive into the Futures and Challengers tournaments, as well as the differences between the Futures and Challengers tournaments.

What is the Future of Tennis?

Futures, officially known as the ITF Men’s World Tennis Tour or the ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour, is the lowest level tournament where a player pursuing a professional tennis career can compete. The ITF (International Tennis Federation) describes the tour as follows:

The ITF Men’s World Tennis Tour provides entry-level professional tennis tournaments and provides a pathway between the ITF Junior World Tennis Tour and the elite levels of men’s professional tennis. The results of ITF tournaments are incorporated into the ATP Ranking, which enables professionals to progress to the ATP Challenger Tour and ATP Tour, and ultimately the Grand Slams.

The Tour offers approximately 550 tournaments across 70 countries and incorporates two prize money levels of tournaments: $15,000 and $25,000.

Any player who has a recorded ranking, that is, a player who is registered with the ITF , can participate in the Futures tournaments. Futures tournaments are organized by the ITF and these tournaments are divided into several categories. The strongest category is represented by tournaments from the ITF World Tennis Tour 1000, followed by tournaments from the 500 and 250 series.

Both the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) , which is the governing body for men’s professional tennis, and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) , which is the governing body for women’s professional tennis, incorporate results from Futures tournaments into their rankings. 

This allows players to earn points and advance their world rankings. Players whose rank is between 150 and 900 in the world typically play in these tournaments. There are over 1000 tournaments each year around the world for men and women, including over 500 for each of them.

The ITF also organizes competitions for juniors, where players from 12 to 18 years old compete.

Most players spend their entire careers at this level, with only the very best advancing to the highest levels of professional tennis.  Accordingly, the prize money is low and the players do not win too many points in these tournaments. Generally, the winner of one of the Futures wins 15 to 25 points, and the total prize money in these tournaments is between $15,000-$25,000.

Novak Djokovic has been extremely vocal in championing the rights of players at this level and highlighting that most of these players are unable to make a living on this professional circuit.  This is because being a professional tennis is quite expensive and includes expenses such as travel to tournaments, coaches and trainers.  

ATP Challenger Tour – Level between Futures and ATP tournaments

Challenger tournaments, officially known as the ATP Challenger Tour for men and the WTA 125 for women, are tournaments that are on a stronger level than the Futures tour.  The Challenger tour is the second highest level of tennis behind the ATP tour.

However, there is a vast difference between the prestige of the ATP and WTA tour and the Challenger tour. While we sometimes see famous names the Challengers, such as a battle earlier this year between Andy Murray and Stanislas Wawrinka , these tournaments are typically the place for promising young tennis talents to gain the necessary experience as they attempt to advance to the ATP or WTA tours.

The players who play in these tournaments are ranked better than those who play in the Futures, but they are typically far from the world’s top in most cases. Players who are ranked outside the top 200 or 300 players in the world will often have to play qualification rounds to qualify for these tournaments.

Not surprisingly, Challenger tournament winners are awarded more cash prize money and ranking points than Futures tournaments but less than ATP or WTA tournaments.

For instance, ATP Challenger tournaments typically award between 50-125 points to the victor, with the five most prestigious Challenger tournaments offering 175 points to the winner.

In comparison, the lowest level ATP tournaments award 250 points to the winner. When considering that the current 100ranked men’s player in the world has 613 ATP points, it is clear that a player who has significant success on the Challenger tour can earn a spot in the ATP or WTA tours.

However, most players on the Challengers tour will never reach the highest level of tennis and never have the opportunities to play in the ATP or WTA tours.

Credit: 2023 ATP Tour – Murray triumphs in Challenger Aix En Provence

Credit: 2023 ATP Tour – Sumit Nagal – The first Indian player to win two challengers on European clay in the same year

Thanks for reading along, have a nice day.

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Sienna Shapiro

Sienna Shapiro is the Founder of Tennis Rage. She is a 17-year-old tennis player from Los Angeles, California who is completely obsessed with everything about tennis. She started Tennis Rage to share her love for tennis and to build a community with others who are equally obsessed with tennis.

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What is the ATP Challenger Tour?

It’s the launchpad of men’s professional tennis and it’s serving up more events than ever, not to mention a record amount of prize money. Let’s take a deeper look at what’s going on with the ATP Challenger Tour.

More events. More prize money. More opportunity. Welcome to the new ATP Challenger Tour.

Considered the foremost minor leagues of men’s professional tennis , the Challenger Tour is teeming with potential, and this year, it’s primed for some truly game-changing enhancements. But before we dip into all of the exciting upgrades to the 2023 season of the ATP Challenger Tour , let’s first have a look at the story behind this pipeline for the rising stars of the men’s pro game.

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

The ATP Challenger Tour Explained

The Challenger Tour is a professional circuit that essentially serves as a feeder system for the proper ATP Tour. Launched in 1978 with 18 events in a limited number of locations, today’s tour has grown to more than 180 events in 40 different countries. Events are categorized, in descending order of prestige, as Challenger 125, Challenger 110, Challenger 75, and Challenger 50. This year will also include three elite “Challenger 175” events.

It’s a true stepping stone — a place where some of tennis’ top earners like Novak Djokovic , Rafael Nadal , and the now-retired Roger Federer have spent time honing their craft before making the leap to the big leagues.

And just like it was then, today’s tour is loaded with top-notch tennis from players with something to prove. Take 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz as an example. The 2022 US Open Champion made his Challenger Tour debut at 15 years old, winning his first title on the circuit at 17. The young Spaniard went on to win four Challenger titles before making the leap to the ATP Tour.

Notable names currently on the tour to keep an eye out for include Constant Lestienne of France (40-17, 3 titles), Pedro Cachin of Argentina (38-10, 4 titles), and Quentin Halys of France (34-9, 2 titles).

Always a legend ❤️ #RForever | @rogerfederer pic.twitter.com/UCpqapXfoK — ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) September 23, 2022

What’s in Store for the ATP Challenger Tour

The upcoming 2023 installment of the ATP Challenger Tour is set to deliver a record number of events, multi-million dollar increases in prize money, and an optimized calendar.

The reforms come as a result of an in-depth review and strategy development, conducted by ATP’s new senior Challenger Tour team over the past eight months. ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi called the upgrades “a critical step forward for the entire ecosystem.”

“The new plan increases earnings potential for players and improves the balance of tournament categories, surfaces, and regions,” he said. “It also puts a renewed focus on raising tournament standards. This is also just the beginning. Our team is committed to delivering further enhancements in the coming months and years.”

Let’s have a look at a few of the key changes coming up in the year ahead.

Getting Semi-pro Tennis Players Paid

The ATP Challenger Tour is out to prove that fledgling tennis pros truly can pay the bills.

Among the many reforms coming in 2023 are:

• Raising the total prize pool by 60% — a grand total of $21.1 million , which is a $7.9 million increase over 2022.
• Notable increases in the winner’s prize money share at Challenger 125 (upwards of $168,000 ), Challenger 100 ( $106,240 to $130,000 ), and Challenger 75 ( $53,120 to $80,000 ) tournaments.
• The three Challenger 175 events will offer $220,000 to the winner.

In addition, round-by-round prize money distributions will improve earnings in the earlier rounds of events. Organizers believe the enhancements will help “create a more sustainable player pathway for more players competing on the Challenger Tour.”

“The health of the ATP Challenger Tour is critical for the future of our sport, and our in-depth review revealed significant opportunities to strengthen this pathway,” said Richard Glover, the ATP Challenger Tour’s Vice President. “ Whilst we are taking a long-term approach to growing the Challenger Tour, these changes will provide an immediate boost from 2023 onwards. We look forward to executing these reforms next season and building on this progress in the near future. There is more to come, so watch this space.”

And naturally, more money means more competition.

A Better, More Balanced Tennis Calendar

The 2023 Challenger Tour is set to deliver an all-time record of 195 events, up from 183 in 2022 — creating many more opportunities for players.

Improvements to the calendar will also see it more closely align with the ATP Tour, and deliver a better balance of tournaments in terms of both surface types and regions.

In addition, increases in the number of Challenger 100 and 125 events are expected to enhance player flow and mobility, giving players more opportunities to ascend the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

Also up for some changes is the number of categories in events. In the upcoming year, the ATP phases out the previous Challenger 90 and 110 categories, leaving only four core event classes, plus the extra-special Challenger 175.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by ATP Challenger Tour (@atpchallengertour)

So, what do all of these upgrades mean for the future of men’s tennis?

In the big picture, it means more promising paydays and a much better chance for players who struggle to make a living from the sport to compete and evolve their games.

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TOURNAMENT RESULTS

{{tournament.sponsortitle}}, player results, atp challenger tour: five moments to remember from 2022.

The ATP Challenger Tour held no shortage of historic moments this season. From crowning champions who went on to showcase their talent at the season’s most prestigious events, to Argentina’s record-setting 23 titles, or Li Tu ’s emotional victory in Seoul.

As the 2023 season approaches, ATPTour.com reviews five memorable moments from the ATP Challenger Tour this year.

ATP Tour and Challenger Tour Champions Six players, including Borna Coric and Holger Rune , claimed titles on the Challenger Tour and at a Tour-level tournament.

Coric, who won the Parma Challenger in June, upset three Top-10 players en route to winning the title in Cincinnati to become the first player since 1993 to win a Challenger and an ATP Masters 1000 title in the same season. And then it was the Danish teen’s turn in Bercy.

Rune, 19, claimed the Sanremo Challenger in April before rising to three Tour-level titles, including the ATP Masters 1000 event in Paris.

Four other men were also crowned champions at both levels: Yoshihito Nishioka , Marc-Andrea Huesler , Francisco Cerundolo , and Lorenzo Musetti .

Argentina’s Record-Setting 23 Titles Heading into this season, the previous record for most Challengers by a single country in a season, 20, had been reached four times (France in 2005, Argentina in 2007, 2016, 2021). After tying the record for a third time in 2021, Argentine players set their sights on attempting to stand alone at the top of the Challenger Tour record books. After breaking the record in late October, Argentine players added two more trophies and finished with 23 Challenger titles in 2022.

Pedro Cachin , 27, held a season-leading four Challenger titles (tied w/ Jack Draper ) and was the only Argentine who captured more than two titles this season. Cachin, World No. 57, won titles in Madrid, Prague, Todi, and Santo Domingo.

“Most Challenger titles in a year is incredible.” Cachin said. “It's amazing to have such an opportunity for all the players to be a part of something special like that. It is not easy for our players to travel the world, going very far from home, but to have this achievement makes it all worth it.

“Especially for the younger guys, to see that Argentina has the ability and potential to win many titles. Hopefully this will increase the enthusiasm of players from Argentina to play this great sport. For us, it is a privilege to be a part of this great moment. The guys have worked hard and their talent is now showing.”

Li Tu Dedicates Challenger Title To His Late Mother The Australian’s journey to the ATP Challenger Tour has been a unique trek. In 2014, Tu was finding success at the junior level, but the-then 18-year-old decided to put his racquets away to pursue a college degree and a coaching business, resulting in a six-year hiatus from professional tennis.

If it wasn’t for Tu’s close friend having a heart-to-heart conversation with him two years ago, he may have never returned to professional tennis and enjoyed the success he’s found this year.

After suffering the loss of his mother in September, Tu travelled to South Korea the day after her funeral. Little did he know what the Korean Challenger swing had in store for him.

At the Seoul Challenger, which was Tu’s seventh Challenger appearance, the 26-year-old advanced through qualifying en route to his maiden title. Tu dedicated the victory to his mother, who would’ve celebrated her birthday the day after his title.

Shang Juncheng Rescues Ballkid The Chinese teen and American Stefan Dostanic were locked in a three-set battle in scorching temperatures in the American state of Kentucky when Shang noticed a ballkid, Atharva Dang, in distress.

After asking Atharva if he was okay, Shang exclaimed, “He’s going to faint!” Immediately, Shang set his racquet down and assisted the overheated boy, lifting him into his arms and rushing him behind the umpire’s chair and out of the direct sunlight. After setting him down in the shade, Shang gave a bottle of water to Atharva and placed an ice-pack behind his head.

The day after that moment of sportsmanship, Shang and the ballkid reunited for a picture. While Dang competed in a local tournament that weekend, the Beijing native was crowned champion at the Lexington Challenger. Shang became the youngest player to win a Challenger title since Carlos Alcaraz at Alicante in 2020 and the youngest Chinese champion in Challenger Tour history.

Shelbayh Secures History At the Rafa Nadal Open by Sotheby’s, 18-year-old Abdullah Shelbayh became the first player from Jordan to win a match in ATP Challenger Tour history.

“It’s surreal,” Shelbayh said following his victory over top-seeded Dominic Stricker . “To do something for your country is a big achievement. I come from a small country where tennis is not a big sport and to do that, it means a lot to me to be in the history of my country. I actually never thought about that entering the match, but it feels amazing. I hope many players from Jordan show their talent in the near future and I can inspire them as much as possible.”

Although his first Challenger win came far from his Jordan home, it was only fitting it came at the Rafa Nadal Academy, where Shelbayh has trained since he was 14-years-old.

The Academy graduate was a semi-finalist at the Mallorca Challenger, where he lost to Zizou Bergs .

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The 8 Different Types of Tennis Tournaments

Tennis tournaments are considered as the basis for the world rankings in the professional sector. Tennis players usually aim to win as many matches and tournaments as possible in order to move up the world rankings.

You’ve probably watched a big Grand Slam tournament on TV before. They have millions of viewers and fans from all over the world cheering for the players. On the other hand, there are also tournaments you have never heard of. How does that happen?

In general, tennis tournaments are divided into different categories. Depending on their size and popularity, participants have the chance to earn a certain number of world ranking points. For a better understanding, we’ll take a look at the tournament classes and how they differ from each other.

Men’s Tennis Tournaments

In principle, men’s tournaments at international level are organised by two associations. One is the “International Tennis Federation” (ITF) and the other the “Association of Tennis Professionals” (ATP). They ensure that all rules are observed on site.

The ATP is responsible for the majority of tennis tournaments worldwide. There are a total of eight different tournament categories in the men’s singles, which we have ranked according to their value.

ITF Future Tour

The beginning is the same for every professional tennis player. To be able to participate in major tennis tournaments at all, they must have a certain number of world ranking points in their account. However, it is impossible to have points if you have not yet played in tournaments. So how do you solve this problem?

In this case the Future Tour, organised by the ITF, comes into play. Futures are smaller tournaments that are designed to help players get their first world ranking points.

A tournament victory is rewarded with up to 20 points and a prize money of $15,000 – $20,000. Tennis players who have been successful in several Future tournaments and therefore have enough points can move up to the next class.

Exception: There are some tennis tournaments where the organizer awards wildcards. These are invitations to players who would not actually be eligible to participate. This is another way to get directly into the main draw of a larger tennis tournament.

ATP Challenger Tour

In contrast to the Futures, Challenger tournaments are managed by the ATP. Thus they serve as a transition from the ITF Tour to the ATP Tour. The big advantage of these tournaments is that a hotel room with meals is provided free of charge for each player.

In addition, up to 125 ranking points can be earned here. In the best case, the winner can look forward to an additional prize money of $200,000.

ATP Tour 250

If a player has also collected a sufficient number of points on the Challenger Tour, he is able to start in an ATP Tour 250 tournament. As the name suggests, the winner will receive 250 world ranking points credited to his account. The prize money is also worth at least $400,000.

If you are defeated in a previous round, you will still not go away empty-handed. For example, the semi-finalist receives 90 points and the quarter-finalist 45 points.

In general, the competition in these tournaments is much higher, so some players have to qualify first. There the best players are then determined after one or two matches. Depending on the tournament, the organizer determins either 28, 32 or 48 entries in the main draw.

ATP Tour 500

The winner of an ATP Tour 500 tournament receives twice as many points as in a 250 event. The world ranking points of the other rounds are adjusted in the same way.

Furthermore, players will receive 10 world ranking points for each match won in the qualification round. The main draw consists of 32 or 48 players. Financially speaking, there is a prize money of about $500,000.

Currently, the ATP Tour 500 consists of 13 tournaments on several continents. This number may vary depending on the year, as the ATP may add new tournaments or remove existing tournaments from the series.

ATP World Tour Masters 1000

Even more exclusive are the tournaments of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000, with only nine Masters tournaments being played per season. Four of them are held in North America, four in Europe and one in Asia.

In these tournaments up to 96 players compete against each other at the beginning. In a period of 7-10 days the winner is determined. At the end, the winner will receive 1000 ranking points along with more than $1,000,000 in prize money.

The ATP Finals, formerly the Tennis Masters Cup, are held at the end of each men’s season. In general, they are the most important event on the ATP Tour. This tournament is always held in November in London.

At this last tournament the eight best tennis players of the season meet. In the first step the players are divided into two groups. After that, the two best players from each group will be chosen from among the four players. These then advance to the semi-finals, where they meet the two winners of the other group.

Finally, the winner can look forward to 1500 ranking points plus a bonus of $1,500,000.

The most famous tennis tournaments are probably the Grand Slams. At these tournaments, the ITF is again responsible for their organisation. Basically, we distinguish between four Grand Slam tournaments in tennis:

• Australian Open
• French Open (Roland Garros)

These Grand Slams surpass the other tournaments in almost every aspect. They are by far the most prestigious and largest tournaments in the world of tennis. The main draw alone contains 128 players. Players who do not make it directly to the main draw have to go through three qualification rounds.

Grand Slams last a total of two weeks, which also sets a record for the longest tennis tournament. In this case, the prize money for the winner is $3,500,000. He also moves up the world rankings by 2000 points.

The Davis Cup is considered the most important team competition in tennis. The International Tennis Federation is also involved here. Basically, 16 national teams compete against each other in this competition to win the cup in the end.

The nations play five rubbers per match. More precisely, that means four singles and two doubles. The team that first wins three rubbers will then advance one round.

The Davis Cup has the special feature that it is played over a very long period of time, namely several months. Finally, the final takes place at the end of November. Another exception is that no world ranking points are distributed at this tournament.

Women’s Tennis Tournaments

In general, the way to the top of the world in women’s tennis is similar to that in men’s tennis. There are also eight categories in which all tennis tournaments can be divided.

The big difference to the men’s tournaments is that in this case it is not the ATP but the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) that is responsible for the organisation and control of the tournaments. Besides the WTA, the ITF also plays a major role in some tournament formats.

ITF Women’s World Tour

If a female tennis player decides to pursue a professional career, the most common way is to play the first tournaments on the Women’s World Tour. This series of tournaments is organised by the ITF. In principle, the series is the counterpart to the Future Tour in the men’s singles.

The Women’s World Tour thus gives the player the chance to build up the points account for the world ranking step by step. In general, up to 150 points are possible in high-class tournaments. On top of this, there is also prize money, which can amount to $100,000. However, the level of play is already quite high.

WTA Challenger Series

One step above the ITF Women’s World Tour is the WTA Challenger Series. It is also called “WTA 125K” because the prize money of the tournaments is $125,000.

Depending on the tournament, the main draw is made up of 32 or 48 players. In addition, a two round qualification is played before the tournament starts. WTA Challenger tournaments usually last for 7 days. The tennis player who is victorious in the final moves up the ranking by 160 points.

WTA Premier

More points than in the Challenger Series are awarded at the WTA Premier Tournaments. In the best case there are 470 world ranking points accessible. In total the WTA holds twelve Premier Tournaments per year. On average, the winner receives prize money of $250,000.

WTA Premier 5

At the Premier 5 tournaments, the WTA’s point system makes a big leap. More precisely, the winner receives 900 points. On top of that comes a bonus of at least $500,000. However, only five tournaments of this kind are currently being held. Hence the name “Premier 5”.

WTA Premier Mandatory

The WTA rates its Premier Mandatory tournaments even higher. At this event a whole 1000 ranking points are possible. In addition, the winner receives a prize money of $1,500,000. The WTA Premier Mandatory Tournaments are limited to only four per season.

By far the most important tournament in women’s tennis is the WTA Finals, also known as the WTA Tour Championships. At the end of each tennis season, the WTA invites the eight best players of the year to Shenzhen, where the tournament is held.

Unlike the other WTA tournaments, the players initially compete in a round-robin system. This means that two groups of four players each are formed. Each player then plays three matches against the other competitors.

Finally, the two best players in the group will reach the semi-finals. The finalists and then the winner will be determined. In addition to the prize money of more than $4,000,000, she can collect up to 1500 points.

At the Grand Slam tournaments there are again many parallels to men’s tennis. On the one hand, both the ladies and the men start the tournament at the same time. This applies to all four Grand Slam tournaments: Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.

The second common feature is that the ITF fills the main draw with 128 players. Accordingly, there are three rounds of qualifying for lower ranked players.

Another special feature is that both women and men receive the same number of points and the same prize money for victory. Specifically, this means 2000 points and $3,500,000.

The biggest tennis competition for national teams in women’s tennis is the Fed Cup. The current name is an abbreviation of the former “Federation Cup”. As with the Grand Slams, the ITF organises this complete tournament.

In general, the Fed Cup can be seen as a counterpart to the Davis Cup for men. In total, teams from 16 different nations compete against each other.

At the beginning in the Fed Cup there is a qualification where the number of teams is reduced to eight. In the preliminary round, these teams then fight for a place in the semi-finals and then for the final. The time span from qualification to the final is about three months.

Just as in the men’s singles, the ITF does not award any world ranking points for Fed Cup participations and wins.

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David Marrero explains the difference between the ITF, Challenger, ATP tours

“We cannot compare the Futures and Challengers tour with the ATP, they have nothing to do with it,” the Spaniard told TWUSA.

David Marrero, 2013 ATP Finals doubles champion and fourteen-time ATP doubles titleholder , is well placed to know about the difference between the various levels of the professional tour. “We cannot compare the Futures and Challengers tour with the ATP, they have nothing to do with it,” he told TWUSA.

“It is true that there are some Challengers that are very good, they are very similar to the ATP, but the help we get during ATP tournaments, the treatment above all, and the conditions are wonderful. We are talking about possibly the best tournaments in the world—the hotels are paid, somebody will always get you from the airport, they give you enough facilitations to do everything you need”.

With more than a hundred ITF, Challenger, and ATP finals under his belt —in both singles and doubles —and over twenty years of experience on the circuit, Marrero can draw a reliable picture of the contrasts between the tours.

“All the good players started playing in this category. I remember when I was 19, 20 years old and I started playing like that, going to far places to try to get my first points to raise my ranking. The difference in game level is basically large because if the ATP level were similar to the ITF level, in the end, there would not be many ITFs, everyone would be playing in the ATP”.

What about the other pillars of an athlete’s career, such as nutrition, physical and mental training? “You don't see much of it at these levels for two reasons. First, the lack of information, like knowing exactly what you need to avoid losing energy.

Second, the economic level. Traveling with a coach, with a nutritionist, with a physical trainer… If a tennis player can spend 30, 40, 50 thousand dollars over a year only on flight tickets, depending on where he travels, if he travels with two more people, the total multiplies.

It can become 150 thousand only for flights. Plus the hotels, because hospitality is not included at this level, plus the diets. The difficulty is very, very, very elevated”. At the time of our conversation (early December 2019), Marrero was playing ITF tournaments in the Dominican Republic .

On a tour trip with a young man he coaches, he had seen the opportunity to enter the draw of the qualification and decided to get along with it. The simple fact of repeating an experience he had first started two decades ago made him remember how complicated the life of an ITF-level player can be.

“Here, many players travel without coaches, and everything is more complicated . They have to build their life and try not to spend a lot of money because you practically earn no money. The competition, the training, and the players… What they face is very complicated.

Obviously, at 18 years old, they do not have the same mentality as when they are 25, 26. Little by little, as they mature and the years go by, they realize that tennis is not just being on a tennis court and hitting four forehands and four backhands.

You have to try to prepare yourself on a physical level to endure the maximum possible time on the court so that the practice sessions are of quality. All this takes preparation, it takes a few years”.

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Prize Money In Tennis: ATP, WTA & Challenger Insights 2024

So, you want to know about prize money in tennis? You are wondering how much elite players earn, and are curious about life as a professional. Is it a life of privilege for all, earning millions while playing the game we love? Well, wonder no more, the Bros have you covered with our detailed breakdown.

Our analysis will almost certainly make you envious, but it may surprise you for very different reasons too. Prize money in tennis varies wildly. From grand slam winning, multi-millionaires, to journeymen and fledgling pros, life on tour can mean very different things depending on your level.

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Tennis Prize Money at the Different Levels of the Game

The big names and the biggest stages on which they play are familiar to us all. And thanks to social media we have a window into their world beyond the court. Private jets, lucrative brand deals, and A-list friends are commonplace, but this is not real life for tennis players at every level. 

For the majority of players, life on tour is tough. Prize money seldom covers a player’s expenses and it may come as a surprise just how little some professionals earn. Here we explore each level of the professional game and assess what prize money is on offer.   

Prize Money on the ITF Tours 

Life in the paid ranks starts with the ITF Futures Tour for men and for female players, the ITF Women’s Tour. This level is the foundation from which many of today’s superstars have graduated.

It is home for many new professionals and elite juniors allowing them to earn official ranking ATP points as they begin their quest to join the higher echelons.

Prize money at this level is very modest with both men and ladies competing for tournament funds totaling between $15,000 and $25,000.

Winners take home anything between $2000 and $4000 while first-round losers earn a meager cheque relative to the expense associated with travel, accommodation, and all sundry costs. Expenses that can often include equipment with many players having no brand deals at this level. Consequently, early-round losses for ITF Futures players can often result in a net loss for that week.

And if you want a real-life example of how tough things are for players at this level, we dive into this – later in this article.

The ITF World Tennis Tour, formerly known as the ITF Futures Tour, doesn’t have multiple prize money tiers like the ATP Challenger Tour. ITF World Tennis Tour events are split into different tournament categories based on a set amount of prize money offered. In 2024, these categories are:

• Men’s: M15 ($15,000) and M25 ($25,000)
• Women’s: W15 ($15,000), W25 ($25,000), W50 ($50,000), W75 ($75,000) and W100 ($100,000)

It’s important to remember that this is the total prize money for the entire tournament, which is then divided among the players based on their performance in the singles and doubles competitions.

Winners will receive the biggest chunk of the prize money, while losers will receive much less. The ITF doesn’t disclose specific breakdowns for how prize money is distributed amongst winners and losers.

Prize Money on the Challenger Tours 

The next level for professional players is the ATP Challenger Tour and WTA Challenger Series for men and ladies respectively. Here the prize money increases significantly. But again, players are battling for prize pots that are a fraction of what is made available to the game’s elite. 

In 2021, ATP Challenger Tour players competed for prize money ranging from $36,680 to $156,240 per tournament, whereas their WTA counterparts contested similar purses. For tournament winners, on average, this equated to a payday of around $21,000 to go with the winner’s trophy.

Things will change dramatically in 2023 however. A huge cash injection being made by the ATP Tour is set to elevate prize money by 60% for Challenger Tour players. 

The ATP recently announced an increase in total prize money for the 2023 season which sees their total commitment reach $21.1m over 195 tournaments. Furthermore, they have simplified the tournament ranking system.

You may hear of tournaments being classified as ATP 125 or ATP 150 and have wondered if that has something to do with prize money. Well, it refers to ranking points. The winner of an ATP 125 event garners 125 ATP ranking points. Naturally, prize money tends to increase in correlation with the ranking points on offer. 

The availability of more ranking points attracts better players, better players mean bigger audiences. Therefore the caliber of sponsors improves and so the tournament coffers grow. Thus, we generally see a direct correlation between ranking points and the prize money on offer. 

And along with increasing prize money, the ATP Tour will also revamp its ranking point classifications for Challenger Tour level tennis. In 2023 players will compete in ATP 50, ATP 75, and ATP 100 tournaments with some of the more obscure classifications (ATP 90, ATP 110) now defunct.

Finally, 2023 also sees the introduction of three ‘premium’ ATP Challenger Tour events. Players will not only play for 175 ranking points but will also duel over a $220,000 prize fund per tournament – unprecedented at this level.

Clearly (and by their own admission), the ATP Tour comprehends the importance of tennis at this level and its responsibility to help incubate future superstars. With increased financial commitment the tour is attempting to attract burgeoning talent, making it a more desirable and watchable pursuit.

The prize money on the ATP Challenger Tour in 2024 varies depending on the tournament. The ATP sets a minimum prize pool of $41,000 (or €36,900) for Challenger Tour events, but some tournaments offer significantly more. The highest tier of Challenger events, Challenger 175, offers a total prize pool of $220,000 (or €200,000) or more.

Here’s a breakdown of the prize money tiers for Challenger Tour events in 2024:

Challenger 175: $220,000+ (or €200,000+) Challenger 125: $160,000+ (or €145,000+) Challenger 100: $130,000+ (or €118,000+)

It’s important to remember that this is the total prize money for the entire tournament, which is then divided among the players based on their performance. Winners will receive the biggest chunk of the prize money, while losers will receive much less.

Prize Money on the Main Tours

As we have seen, tennis can be complicated when it comes to the many levels and associated prize money. And once we graduate to the main tours, the theme of tiers continues with tournaments ranging from ATP 250 to Grand Slam events.

In terms of how the various tournament levels translate into prize money, the below table gives a flavor of what players at most levels play for.

To illustrate the divide between levels, we can see that a winner of a Challenger 125 tournament roughly earns the same prize money as a first-round loser in an ATP 1000 tournament. Of course, you have to be pretty exceptional to be eligible for an ATP 1000 event, having ascended the ranks through ability, and in that respect, tennis can be considered a merit-based hierarchy.

Grand Slam Prize Money

The ultimate ambition for a tennis professional is to win one of the four Grand Slam tournaments. And while most players will say that tennis at this level is about history not prize money, the financial rewards are eye-watering as the below table shows.

Simply by reaching each of the four slams a player can earn over $250,000 and for many players that alone is a primary objective – to get through qualifying and potentially progress enough to help bankroll future months of travel, hotels, and coaching.

Sponsorship and more: Riches that transcend prize money

For those gifted enough to take home one of the most coveted trophies in tennis, the prize money is mere frosting on what is a very rich cake.

Emma Raducanu is the most recent example of how snagging a slam can transform a player’s profile and indeed bank balance. The young Brit pocketed a cool $2.5m for her 2021 US Open win, but that figure has been eclipsed many times thanks to a queue of blue-chip sponsors eager to capitalize on her success. A list that includes Tiffany, British Airways, Nike, Evian and Porsche. 

Additionally, Emma’s sponsors also include Wilson Tennis. She uses their Blade frame and if you are curious about her racket of choice we have a comprehensive resource dedicated to the Blade line.

Raducanu reportedly earns north of $9m each year from her portfolio of sponsors, a figure that dwarfs her 2022 on-court earnings of $697,000. A theme that is best illustrated if we study Roger Federer’s lifetime earnings.

During his career Roger Federer used his Wilson RF97 to earn over $130m earned from prize money alone. However, it is believed that Roger’s ‘total’ lifetime earnings comfortably surpasses $1bn, garnered from endorsement deals, lucrative appearance fees and merchandise sales. Proof indeed, that grand slam success is only the start – a gateway to a world that Futures players can only dream about.

And if this was not enough, the eight most successful players at the season-end (also the year’s highest earners) qualify for the season-ending ATP and WTA Finals tournaments. These limited field events see players from each respective tour battle for prize money totalling $14.7m for the men and $5m for the ladies.

If you still have an appetite for yet more wealth, there are always exhibition matches and bespoke tournaments such as the Laver Cup. It is not uncommon for elite players to command north of $500,000 for personal appearances and for those selected for the Laver Cup, they can pocket between $150,000 and $250,000 depending on the result.

For the majority of players, the struggle is real 

Media outlets tend to focus primarily on major tournaments, narrowing the public’s focus exclusively upon the higher echelons of tennis. The reality however, is stark and for every Emma or Roger, there are countless players who routinely lose money in their quest to play professional tennis.

Serving for the Wimbledon title is pressure but playing to merely pay this week’s bills and to travel next week is something else entirely. Expenses (per season) for a traveling professional can range from $40,000 for those on the strictest of budgets, to $200,000 for players electing to take their coach and/or physical trainer on tour. Figures that few lower-tier players can cover without winning consistently.

Recently, BBC Sport interviewed Algerian WTA player Ines Ibbou, who highlighted the struggle faced by players outside of the top 200. A world where prize money fails to cover all expenses and luxuries like free rackets and strings are non-existent. A sobering read that highlights the huge gulf between aspiring pros and the established elite.

Prize Money In Tennis and the Gender Debate 

No discussion of prize money in tennis would be complete without considering the topic of gender inequality in tennis – a perennial hot topic.

Both women and men enjoy the same pay scale when it comes to the Grand Slams, albeit that was a protracted process with Wimbledon becoming the last slam to invoke parity in 2007, decades after the US Open adopted this policy in 1973. But beyond the major tournaments, there still exists a significant disparity in prize money between both sexes.

Even though tennis has the lowest gender pay gap of all professional sports, men still earn 34% more prize money on average than their female counterparts. Of course, many argue WTA players consistently play less tennis (a maximum of 3-sets) compared to men who can play a maximum of 5-sets (in Grand Slams only), but nonetheless, it will remain a contentious issue until the gap narrows even further.

Prize money in tennis: The Big Questions 

Tennis is fundamentally a business competing for the interest of sports fans in general. Naturally, elite players who generate attention and attract the biggest audiences monopolize the prize money ranks. But nonetheless, it still feels as though the gulf between elite-level players and new professionals is disproportionate – notwithstanding the disparity in prize money between genders. 

It would be criminal for a player with genuine talent to leave tennis due to affordability issues, and this is not just the Bros opinion. 

Novak Djokovic and fellow pro, Vasek Pospisil, launched a players-only council in 2020 with the remit of giving a voice to and being supportive of, players at all levels. The premise was not a redistribution of wealth, more so the creation of a body that is more aware and supportive of lower-tier tennis – notably to help create sponsorship opportunities for more players. 

The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) as it is called was not widely accepted, however. Considered by many to be a breakaway and divisive faction it has yet to receive widespread support, even though its intentions appear credible. 

And so the existing dynamic and the same questions remain about an imbalance in the sport and how best to address it. But one thing is true, the rewards for those who make it are life-changing and available to all, providing you have the required tools to reach the summit. 

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Challenger Tour Weekly Recap: Tirante Reigns Again in the Altitude Swing

T hiago Agustin Tirante once again proved his expertise in altitude conditions by claiming the title at Mexico City. Meanwhile, the third time was the charm for Enzo Couacaud when it came to the Challenger finals in 2024. Nick Hardt got the Dominican Republic its first title at this level since 2017 and Damir Dzumhur dropped just four games in a clash of the top two seeds in Barletta. Read back on last week’s action:

Challenger Tour Weekly Recap

Mexico city.

Thiago Agustin Tirante was defending plenty of points during the altitude swing and needed big runs in that part of the season, as usual. After losing in the quarterfinals at San Luis Potosi to eventual champion Nicolas Mejia, he didn’t drop a set on the way to the final in Mexico City, only needing one tie-break against Bernard Tomic. In 2023, Tirante was the runner-up at this event, losing to Dominik Koepfer in three after going up a set and a break.

Alexis Galarneau was injured recently and only played two matches before this year’s altitude swing. On the Mexican clay, though, he came back to form right away with a quarterfinal appearance in San Luis Potosi and then the final run in Mexico City. He went 3-0 in tie-breaks across the first four matches, dispatching last week’s champion Mejia and big-hitters such as Maxime Janvier or Beibit Zhukayev to make his 4th Challenger final.

Galarneau was spraying errors left and right in the opening set, and in conditions like this, you usually can’t afford to get broken three times in one set. He started making it work later on, though, and was actually competitive until the end, even getting an early lead in the second. But once again, the double faults caught with him and Tirante at altitude just don’t give you much margin for error. The Argentinian claimed his 4th Challenger title (all at least 1400m above sea level) 6-1 6-3 and will next try to defend his title in Morelos. Galarneau is also part of that draw.

Bernabe Zapata Miralles was down to No. 143 in the ATP Rankings as the week began and sitting at a 3-10 win/loss record for the season. The Spaniard really needed a big run, and despite carrying a 0-4 record at this event going into this year’s edition, he managed to find just that with no sets dropped on the way to the final. Only Billy Harris and Lorenzo Giustino took him to a tie-break each, with Zapata Miralles winning two matches via retirement.

Nick Hardt played his only Challenger final in 2022 ( Alicante, lost to Lukas Klein ), and with his ranking drifting around 300 of late, it didn’t seem like another one was coming. The best Dominican Republic player kicked off this week with a fantastic upset over Quentin Halys, though, sort of taking his spot in the draw. Three wins later, including dangerous players like Valentin Royer or Javier Barranco Casano, the 23-year-old earned himself another shot at a Challenger title.

It was a breakfest in the opening set and while the Zapata Miralles hooked forehand would often look like the biggest shot on the court, he actually got a bit tense on that side under pressure. His opponent played some of his bravest tennis of the match to save break points at 5-4, and while the Spaniard fought back, it turned out the underdog had that extra gear he needed to find in the decider. Hardt claimed his first Challenger title 6-4 3-6 6-2 and has a real chance at making Roland Garros qualifying now. Both finalists will be in Madrid this week, the champion taking a special exempt.

Harold Mayot started his season with a couple of Challenger semifinals, later trying himself out in plenty of ATP Tour events. After qualifying for Miami, he came to Barletta and found himself pretty dominant as the top seed, not dropping a set on the way to the final and only needing one tie-break (against Jacopo Berrettini in the semifinals). Mayot made a Challenger final for the third straight year, losing to Zsombor Piros at 2022 Tampere and Hamad Medjedovic at 2023 Mallorca .

Damir Dzumhur made it a final between the top two seeds in Barletta, dominating his opposition to a similar extent in the first three rounds. The Bosnian veteran also grabbed a couple of Challenger semifinals at the start of the season but was actually on a five-match losing streak by the time he entered this event. The only tough situation on the way to the clash with Mayot was when Dzumhur briefly fell a set and a break down to Timofey Skatov, coming back to win in three.

Mayot was trying his best to attack Dzumhur, often approaching the net on serve and not allowing the Bosnian to have much time to employ his variety. That wasn’t enough, though, and besides the 3-0 start in the second set, it was actually a pretty lopsided affair. Dzumhur extracted so many errors with his speed and variety, claiming his 9th Challenger title 6-1 6-3 to put himself not far away from the Top 100 of the ATP Race. He’ll play Split next, while the runner-up chose Madrid.

Florianopolis

Joao Lucas Reis da Silva made a Challenger Tour final for the third straight year after losing to Facundo Bagnis in Ambato and Matheus Pucinelli de Almeida in Coquimbo. The Brazilian won three matches to start the year (Buenos Aires semifinal), then lost nine in a row, and reached a winning streak of four again by Sunday. Only Daniel Dutra da Silva was able to put him in trouble, but Reis da Silva recovered from losing the opening set 1-6 and beat Camilo Ugo Carabelli in the semifinals.

After losing to Adolfo Daniel Vallejo in the Sao Leopoldo final the week before, Enzo Couacaud wasted no time in going on yet another big run. The Frenchman wasn’t even taken to a tie-break by any of his opponents on the way to the championship match and was only broken twice in four matches, getting over 80% first serve points won every single time. Couacaud made his third final of the season already after Noumea ( lost to Arthur Cazaux ) and the aforementioned Sao Leopoldo.

Reis da Silva was fired up by the support of the home crowd, coming out with some red-hot hitting, just like in the past few matches. It wasn’t easy for Couacaud to contain that, but he began serving better in the second set and eventually found a few key backhand counters to take the second set. The Brazilian wasn’t going away, though, and it wasn’t until the deciding set tie-break that his error count finally went up as Couacaud claimed his 3rd Challenger title 3-6 6-4 7-6 to return to the Top 200. He chose to withdraw from Sarasota and will likely return in Ostrava in two weeks’ time, while Reis da Silva is taking one week off before Acapulco.

Events held this week:

• Head Busan Open (Challenger 125, hard)
• II Open Comunidad de Madrid (Challenger 100, clay)
• Split Open (Challenger 75, clay)
• Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open (Challenger 75, green clay)
• Morelos Open presentado por Metaxchange (Challenger 75, hard)

Top 100 players in action:

• Taro Daniel (Madrid)
• J.J. Wolf (Sarasota)
• Thiago Agustin Tirante, Rinky Hijikata (Morelos)

First-round matches to watch:

• (WC) Soon-woo Kwon vs (4) Mattia Bellucci
• (8) Coleman Wong vs Alexander Blockx
• (1) Taro Daniel vs Giulio Zeppieri
• (5) Vit Kopriva vs (WC) Martin Landaluce
• (1) Zsombor Piros vs Nerman Fatic
• (WC) Matej Dodig vs (7) Alex Molcan
• (1) J.J. Wolf vs Dmitry Popko
• Yibing Wu vs (3) Thanasi Kokkinakis
• (1) Rinky Hijikata vs Alexis Galarneau
• (5) Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard vs (WC) Ernesto Escobedo

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Find Out How to Qualify for the Challenger Tour – You Won’t Believe What It Takes!

The Challenger Tour is a professional tennis tour that is part of the ATP Tour and is one of the highest levels of competitive tennis outside of the Grand Slam tournaments The Challenger Tour is an excellent opportunity for aspiring professional tennis players to develop their skills and earn valuable points towards their ATP rankings However, qualifying for the Challenger Tour is no easy task and requires dedication, hard work, and talent.

The first step in qualifying for the Challenger Tour is to have an ATP ranking of at least 250 This ranking is based on a player’s results from the past 12 months, with more points awarded for higher-level tournaments A player’s ATP ranking is determined by the total number of points they have accumulated in the past year, so it is important to consistently compete in tournaments to stay competitive.

In addition to having an ATP ranking of at least 250, players must also meet the age requirements The Challenger Tour is open to players aged 14-23, which allows young players to gain valuable experience and develop their skills before competing in higher-level tournaments.

The next step is to gain acceptance into the Challenger Tour Tournament organizers select players based on their ATP rankings, as well as their potential to succeed in the tournament This means that players must demonstrate their ability to compete at a high level in order to be selected.

Once accepted into the Challenger Tour, players must compete in a number of qualifying tournaments in order to earn a spot in the main draw These qualifying tournaments are usually held a few weeks before the main tournament and are open to players who have an ATP ranking of at least 250 The number of qualifying spots available for each tournament varies, so it is important to check with the tournament organizers for more information.

Finally, players must be prepared for the tournament itself The Challenger Tour is a high level of competition and requires players to be in top physical and mental shape Players should practice hard and focus on their game in order to be successful.

Qualifying for the Challenger Tour is no easy task and requires dedication, hard work, and talent However, those who are successful in qualifying will be rewarded with the opportunity to compete at one of the highest levels of competitive tennis outside of the Grand Slam tournaments.

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‘Challengers’ Review: Zendaya and Company Smash the Sports-Movie Mold in Luca Guadagnino’s Tennis Scorcher

Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist compete for a fellow player’s heart in a steamy and stylish love triangle from the director of 'Call Me by Your Name.'

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Anyone who’s ever played tennis knows the game starts with love and escalates fast. In Luca Guadagnino ’s hip, sexy and ridiculously overheated “ Challengers ,” the rivals are former doubles partners Art Donaldson ( Mike Faist ) and Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor), best friends since the age of 12, who went their separate ways after both players fell for the same woman. Patrick got there first, but Art wound up marrying her — and their sense of competition has only intensified since.

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“I’m no homewrecker,” Tashi teases Art and Patrick the night they meet her, 13 years earlier. Constructed like a tennis competition, Justin Kuritzkes’ screenplay ricochets back and forth through time, asking us to pivot our brains the way audiences do at the movie’s opening challenger match. (In pro tennis, challenger events are like the minor leagues, where second-tier talents prove themselves.) This one frames the film, as Tashi seems torn between her husband and his old partner.

Watching from the stands, their legs splayed indecently wide, the pair ogle Tashi as the wind whips her short skirt up in the air. None of this is accidental: not the way Jonathan Anderson (as in J.W. Anderson, switching from catwalks to costume design in his first feature credit) showcases Zendaya’s gazelle-like legs, not the way DP Sayombhu Mukdeeprom frames the boys’ crotches, and certainly not the moment Patrick squeezes his pal’s leg as Tashi shows them how, at its most beautiful, the game can be an ecstatic experience.

Later that night, at an Adidas-sponsored party for Tashi, the guys take turns trying to get her number. They’re motivated by hormones. She’s more strategic (the sheer control involved in Zendaya’s performance is astonishing, transforming this would-be trophy into the one who sets the rules). “You don’t know what tennis is,” Tashi challenges Patrick, going on to explain, “It’s a relationship.” Lines like this, which spell everything out in blinking neon lights, run throughout Kuritzkes’ script. But Guadagnino’s execution is all about subtext, calibrating things such that body language speaks volumes.

The same goes for what promises to be the year’s hottest scene, back in the boys’ hotel room, as Tashi sits on the bed between the two and coaxes — or coaches — them to make out. “Challengers” is not a gay film per se, but it leaves things ambiguous enough that one could read it like Lukas Dhont’s recent “Close,” about a friendship so tight, the boys’ peers tease them for it.

Over the course of 131 minutes, “Challengers” volleys between what amounts to a romantic rematch and intimate earlier vignettes. At all times, even off-screen, Tashi remains the fulcrum. In the present, Art — whose torso shows signs of multiple surgeries — has been on a cold streak, which betrays a loss of passion for the game. Passion’s no problem for Patrick, who’s more confident in both his swing and his sexuality.

The film calls for intensely physical performances from the two male actors, who both appear wobbly and exhausted by the end. Faist (a Broadway star whom “West Side Story” introduced to moviegoers) has a relatively traditional character arc, patiently waiting his turn and evolving as the timeline progresses. O’Connor (whose smoldering turn in gay indie “God’s Own Country” got him cast on “The Crown”) comes across as animalistic and immature by comparison, as his bad-boy character refuses to grow up or give up.

Another filmmaker might have subtracted himself in order to foreground the story, whereas Guadagnino goes big, leading with style (and a trendy score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross). In keeping with the athletic theme, he does all kinds of wild things with the camera, including a composition framed from the umpire’s perspective mid-court that zooms along the net to find Tashi in the crowd. Occasionally, she and other characters smack the fluorescent yellow balls directly at the screen, making us flinch in our seats. By the end, “Challengers” has assumed the ball’s POV — or maybe it’s the racket’s — as Guadagnino immerses audiences in the film’s climactic match.

Far from your typical sports movie, “Challengers” is less concerned with the final score than with the ever-shifting dynamic between the players. The pressure mounts and the perspiration pours, as the pair once known as “Fire and Ice” face off again. Whether audiences identify as Team Patrick or Team Art, Guadagnino pulls a risky yet effective trick, essentially scoring the winning shot himself.

Reviewed at AMC Century City 15, Los Angeles, April 9, 2024. MPA Rating: R. Running time: 131 MIN.

• Production: Amazon MGM presentation of a Why Are You Acting?, Frenesy Films, Pascal Pictures production. Producers: Amy Pascal, Luca Guadagnino, Zendaya, Rachel O’Connor. Executive producers: Bernard Bellew, Lorenzo Mieli, Kevin Ulrich.
• Crew: Director: Luca Guadagnino. Camera: Sayonbhu Mukdeeprom. Editor: Marco Costa. Music: Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross. Music supervisor: Robin Urdang.
• With: Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, Mike Faist.

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Zendaya’s Challengers Press Tour: See Every Look So Far

By Elizabeth Logan

The year's undisputed red-carpet queen, Zendaya , continues to serve look after look on the press tour for her new tennis drama, Challengers , and each outfit has perfectly combined preppy athleticism with classic femininity. It's called commitment to the theme!

The Vogue cover girl 's outfits have been beyond literal during this press tour, with tennis balls on her shoes and other fun details (think: a feathery tail) making the most of every promotional opportunity.

Here's everything she's worn so far:

How! Freaking! Cute! This vintage Vivienne Westwood look is exactly what I want to be wearing all summer long.

What's that? The feathery tail isn't “practical”? Who cares! I'd never sit down while wearing a look like this; I'd simply be too busy posing on a roof somewhere in London like our girl Z.

The star wore her currently honey-blonde hair in a high ponytail that was then braided, bringing to mind the equally fierce and formidable Katniss Everdeen. But while a middle school horse girl would have tied a ribbon at the tip of the braid, Zendaya's white ribbon bow is artfully tied around the base, framing the star's face and giving her a low-key kind of white tiara.

Crossed racquets cover this white sequined gown with a preppy collar and athletic mesh detailing.

We thought tennis shoes were sneakers, but no, these are tennis shoes.

The serve that skipped the shirt.

Did someone say “tennis whites”?

Green like the ball with a chessboard, hinting at the mind games to come.

By Stephanie McNeal

By Emily Tannenbaum

By Elle Turner

Law Roach reportedly pulled this archival look from a vintage shop in Paris.

An actual tennis-wear brand! See it here.

See it here !

Did you know this movie is about tennis?

The jacket and skirt are actually from separate collections, and the slight differences keep it from looking like a costume. (She's pictured here with the women's world number one, Iga Swiatek.)

This post will be updated.

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