Preview: Harrison, Mmoh, Opelka, Among Americans at 2018 Tallahassee Challenger

Americans Christian Harrison, Evan King, Mitchell Krueger, Denis Kudla, Michael Mmoh, Reilly Opelka, and Tommy Paul are main draw acceptances for the 2018 Tallahassee Tennis Challenger, a $75,000 USTA Pro Circuit Challenger event hosted by the Forestmeadows Athletic Center on April 23-28.

Japan’s Taro Daniel, ranked just outside the Top 100, is the top seed, while four wild card spots in the main draw remain to be announced. Daniel last month reached the third round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells after defeating former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic.

The Tallahassee Challenger is the second of three consecutive challenger tournaments held on clay courts to help develop players on the surface leading up to the 2018 French Open, and is part of the 2018 USTA Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge.

Thirty-two players will compete in the qualifying tournament April 21-23 for four additional main draw berths. Among the qualifying entrants are Emilio Gomez, son of French Open champion Andres Gomez; Sebastian Korda, son of Australian Open champion Petr Korda; and Federico Coria, brother of former world No. 3 and French Open finalist Guillermo Coria.

Admission to the Tallahassee Tennis Challenger is $5 daily April 23-24, $10 daily April 25-26, $15 for the semifinals on April 27, and $20 for the finals on April 28. A weekly pass is available for $50 by visiting the Forestmeadows Athletic Center.

With more than 90 tournaments hosted annually throughout the country and prize money ranging from $15,000 to $125,000, the USTA Pro Circuit is the pathway to the US Open and tour-level competition for aspiring tennis players and a frequent battleground for established professionals. Andy Murray, Maria Sharapova, John Isner, Sloane Stephens, Kei Nishikori, Victoria Azarenka, and Sam Querrey are among today’s top stars who began their careers on the USTA Pro Circuit.

For more tournament info go to www.TallahasseeChallenger.com.