How the Genoa Challenger overcame tragedy to propel Tstisipas & more

The Italian city of Genoa endured a horrific tragedy in 2018, when the iconic Ponte Morandi partially collapsed following a torrential rainstorm. As vehicles fell into the Polcevera River, 43 people lost their lives.

While sports may seem insignificant in the face of such devastation, they can serve as an important outlet for those to combat grief. Such is the case with the ATP Challenger Tour event held in the heart of Genoa.

Three weeks after the 2018 tragedy, the Genoa Challenger provided a moment of inspiration as the city continued to mourn and rebuild. It was a memorable moment in the face of adversity. Home hero Lorenzo Sonego was crowned champion that week in front of a full crowd.

The Ponte Morandi bridge collapsed in August 2018. Credit: Andrea Leoni/AFP via Getty Images

Sonego, then 23, triumphed on the red clay to make his Top 100 debut in the PIF ATP Rankings. The Turin native returned to Genoa the following year and successfully defended his title.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this week, the AON Open Challenger has featured seven champions who have climbed inside the Top 25, including Sonego.

In 2017, a Greek wild card with wavy blonde hair won the title without dropping a set. You guessed it, 11-time tour-level titlist Stefanos Tsitsipas, who was 19 years old and ranked No. 161 when he claimed the trophy. The following year, Tsitsipas won the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF.

“It was pretty special and something I've been dreaming about for a long time,” Tsitsipas said after winning in Genoa. “It was a relief for me at the end.”

The 2019 Nitto ATP Finals champion’s triumph in Genoa marks his lone title on the ATP Challenger Tour.

Former World No. 9 Fabio Fognini captured a pair of titles in Genoa (2008, 2010). Last year, Fognini returned to the tournament for the first time in 13 years and treated the home crowd to a run to the final.

The city's premier sporting event, which takes centre stage during the first week of September, won Challenger Of The Year honours in 2014. It is a sight to behold year after year. Akin to the Foro Italico in Rome, the venue features parasol pine trees surrounding the main stadium and ampitheatre-style seating.

But the ATP Challenger Tour 125 event has been much more than high-level players competing for rankings points and prize money. The Genoa tournament has provided a source of comfort in times of need, whether it was shortly after the Ponte Morandi bridge collapse or in 2016, when all proceeds went to victims of a 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck central Italy.

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