Tennis Atlantic

 Recap: ATP Challenger Tour action for the month of January 2013

Noumea Challenger (December 31, 2012-January 6, 2013)

In the tropical paradise of New Caledonia, Adrian Mannarino got his year started off right with a straight set victory over the unseeded Andrej Martin. Martin beat top seed Steve Darcis in round 2, and beat Jonathan Dasnieres De Veigy in the semis. Meanwhile, Mannarino beat 3 seed and fellow Frenchman Marc Gicquel in the semis.

Sao Paulo (1) Challenger (December 31, 2012 -January 6, 2013)

In Brazil, former top 50 player Horacio Zeballos burst back into the top 70 with a straight set win over Brazilian Rogerio Dutra Silva, in what is a quality hard court result for the Argentine. Zeballos, who was the top seed, beat Gastao Elias in the semis, while Dutra Silva beat countryman Joao Souza, and both semis went the full 3 sets. Zeballos had already closed out 2012 with two straight challenger titles on clay.

Heilbronn Challenger (January 19-January 27, 2013)

The unseeded Michael Berrer took the title at the prestigious Heilbronn open on indoor hard courts in Germany, which featured a stacked field that included 5 players in the top 100. Berrer beat countryman Jan-Lennard Struff in straight sets in an all German final. Before that, he knowcked off top 60 player Paul-Henri Mathieu, the top seed in the semis. JL Struff beat seeded players Adrian Ungur and Benjamin Becker before beating Olivier Rochus in the semis.

Bucaramanga Challenger (January 22-January 27, 2013)

On red clay in Colombia, Federico Delbonis of Argentina, the 6 seed, beat 7 seed Wayne Odesnik in straights to capture the title after beating Paul Capdeville in the semis. Odesnik made the final by beating Alejandro Gonzalez of Colombia.

Maui Challenger (January 20-January 27, 2013)

In Maui, top seed Go Soeda took the title over the unseeded Mischa Zverev in straight sets after besting Tim Smyczek in the semis. Zverev showed positive signs of getting his game back on track in posting an opening round win over 2 seed Tatsuma Ito and also beating Alex Bogomolov and Michael Russell to reach the final.

–Steen Kirby