The Lexington Open has become holy terrain for Teenage Breakthroughs on the ATP Challenger Tour.
The Outhard-Hard Court event in the US state of Kentucky, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this week, is the only challenger with three 17-year-old champions, a trio that includes the current world no. 1 Jannik Sinner. Shang Juncheng added his name to that list in 2022 and last year it was Joao Fonseca’s turn in the circle of the winner.
Flashback to 2019 and Sinner was hardly in the top 200 when he lifted the trophy. His characteristic red hair was curly as always and fans wondered about the emerging teenage quart. Lexington marked the second Challenger title of Sinner, with his first turnout in Bergamo earlier that year.
Photo: Charlie Baglan
“If you win two challengers, it means that you play tennis very well,” Sinner said after winning Lexington. “I think I did well with that.”
In 2022, ‘Jerry’ Shang became the youngest Chinese champion in the history of Challenger. And it was not only his shot options that the local fans won.
During the opening match of the Lefty, under the punishing Augustzon, a ballkid showed signs of overheating. Shang, in the midst of a tight three-set battle, immediately dropped his racket and hurried to help, screaming, “He is going to faint!” Shang lifted the boy in his arms and wore him behind the referee’s chair, from the direct sunlight.
Once in the shade, Shang handed the Ballkid a water bottle and carefully placed an ice pack behind his head. The Ballkid and Shang reunited the next day for a memorable photo.
What an act of sportiness?
In Lexington, ?? Juncheng Shang noted that a beam end was not feeling well and was there to help him rest something
? Sound?#AtpChallenger pic.twitter.com/Upxgdw5oox
– ATP Challenger Tour (@atpChallenger) August 3, 2022
Last year, on the five-year anniversary of Sinner’s Triumph in Lexington, Fonseca left his mark by claiming his first Challenger trophy. The Brazilian lifted the Lexington title just one day younger (17, 11 months, 17 days) than sinner.
“During the ceremony they gave me the trophy and announced:” Lexington is the first challenger to have three 17-year-old champions. He said, “Shang Juncheng, Jannik Sinner,” said Fonseca. “That’s really fun.”
Twenty minutes after Sunday’s history, Fonseca kindly took the time to hit with three ballkids on the inner houses of the University of Kentucky, a gesture that spoke volumes about the character of the teenager.
With a recent wave of teenage champions, the Lexington Open has long been proof of future stars. Former no. 8 John Isner graduated in 2007 from the University of Georgia and later triumphed in Lexington, his first challenger trophy.
A triumph in Lexington is more than a victory. It has been routinely a launch path to make further success.
Lexington is where the future shines?
2019? Jannik Sinner
2024? Joao Fonseca#Onterists | @atptour pic.twitter.com/WMB84YK0PI– ATP Challenger Tour (@atpChallenger) August 4, 2024
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