It isn’t everyday that you see a player in the Top 30 feature in a Challenger draw. It is rarer still to see such a player feature when a grand slam event is still live. Yet that is the situation at the Newport Beach Challenger.
World No.24 and former US Open finalist Kei Nishikori is the highest ranked player in the draw. Indeed, he is arguably the highest profile player in a Challenger since World No.4 Alexander Zverev was making his way up.
Nishikori elected to return in Newport Beach after deciding that he was not match-ready to feature over five sets at the Australian Open. Nishikori starts against a qualifier. He could face Denis Kudla in the second round. Kudla nearly defeated 5th seed Dominic Thiem but was beaten over five sets.
Nishikori has not played since a second round defeat to Gael Monfils in Montreal back in August. The tournament will be Nishikori’s first at Challenger level since a loss to Amer Delic in November 2010.
Beyond Nishikori, the draw is strong for such a tournament. World no.81 Frances Tiafoe, and No.91 Taylor Fritz both feature. Reilly Opelka, Ernesto Escobedo, and Tim Smyczek all feature. Smyczek reached the second round in Melbourne.
The other Challenger next week takes place in Rennes, France. Mikhail Youzhny is the top seed. He faces young French talent Corentin Moutet.
