The local player roster will be extended when the three invites to the main draw are confirmed, which in turn will have a further six spots reserved for players coming through qualifiers (the qualifier roster will close next Wednesday) and two Special Exempts.
The maximum favorite will be the Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas and there will be five Argentines among the first 8 seeds: Facundo Bagnis, Camilo Ugo Carabelli, Juan Manuel Cerundolo, Santiago Rodriguez Taverna and Renzo Olivo.
The contest is category 80 and will be played for the first time in Villa María, a place that has received in recent years ITF circuit tournaments for both professionals and juniors, as well as South American minors. Information on ticket sales will be released in the coming days.
This is the fifth Challenger of the 6 that Argentina will have in 2002, a record season in number of tournaments that allowed many Argentine players to reach their best historical ranking this year.
Likewise, Argentina is the nation that has won the most titles in the category so far in 2022, with 17 conquests and the particularity that four players, all Under 23, won their first professional tournament corresponding to this circuit: Santiago Rodríguez Taverna, Facundo Díaz Acosta, Francisco Comesaña and Juan Bautista Torres.
Last year, Argentina garnered 20 titles and also led the world ranking. Throughout its history, it has accumulated 376 conquests in the category, with Carlos Berlocq as the standard (19).
LIST OF PLAYERS MAIN DRAW
1. Juan Pablo Varillas (PER) 100
2. Facundo Bagnis (ARG) 105
3. Camilo Ugo Carabelli (ARG) 121
4. John Manuel Cerundolo (ARG)
5. Felipe Meligeni Alves (BRA) 144
6. Yannick Hanfmann (GER) 150
7. Santiago Rodriguez Taverna (ARG) 157
8. Renzo Olivo (ARG) 167
Luciano Darderi (ITA) 177
Daniel Dutra da Silva (BRA) 209
Andrea Collarini (ARG) 212
Francisco Comesana (ARG) 216
Dmitry Popko (KAZ) 232
Juan Bautista Torres (ARG) 234
Gonzalo Lama (CHI) 236
Nicolas Kicker (ARG) 240
Genaro Olivieri (ARG) 241
Miljan Zekic (SRB) 244
Pol Martin Tiffon (ESP) 245
Facundo Diaz Acosta (ARG) 249
Gonzalo Villanueva (ARG) 277
PRESENTATION OF THE TOURNAMENT
On Friday, September 2, starting at 11:00 at the Social Sport Club, the event will be presented, with the presence, among others, of the President of the Argentine Tennis Association, Agustin Calleri; the Mayor of Villa Maria, Martin Rodrigo Gill; and the President of the host club, David Sigifredo.