[CooCooCachoo]

The 2008 Challenger Player of the Year



Welcome!

As this year's Challenger Tour has come to an end, it is once again time to elect who was the most impressive player of the year at this level. With a grand total of 173 Challengers having been held, with 118 players at least racking up one singles title and tournament winners hailing from 40 different countries, there are plenty of players to choose from.

Previous Winners:

2007 -  Pablo Cuevas
2006 -  Guillermo Cañas

It was also a turbulent year in which several players who started the year in Challengers rose to the Top 100 to get direct entry into Grand Slams (e.g. Eduardo Schwank, Thomaz Bellucci, Diego Junqueira, Yen-Hsun Lu, Teimuraz Gabashvili, Alberto Martín, Jérémy Chardy, Jan Hernych), while some players formerly performing almost solely at ATP-level could not avoid sliding down the ladder and had to start playing Challengers, with mixed success (e.g. Michael Berrer, Carlos Berlocq, Pablo Cuevas, Jiri Vanek, Evgeny Korolev, Hyung-Taik Lee, Donald Young, Sergio Roitman, Dudi Sela, Olivier Rochus, Kristof Vliegen).

While some of these players rose mostly due to successes in events other than Challengers, in this poll you are asked to focus on Challenger results only. In particular, when voting, you are asked to keep the following questions in mind:

• Who has won the most titles?
• Who has won the strongest tournaments?
• Who has the better win/loss record?
• Who was the best all-court player, racking up successes on all surfaces?
• Whose game has proven to be the most consistent?
• Who excelled in both singles and doubles?

In any case, please do not be led by nationalism or fanaticism.

The contestants:

1. Christophe Rochus
   
2. Diego Junqueira
   
3. Thomaz Bellucci
   
4. Go Soeda
   
5. Robert Kendrick
   
6. Eduardo Schwank
   
7. Yen-Hsun Lu
   
8. Kristof Vliegen
   
9. Teimuraz Gabashvili
   
10. Other

All contestants will be properly introduced in posts #2 - #11.

Have fun voting!



Your Moderators,

Edu [Toribeté]
Tijn [CooCooCachoo]

[CooCooCachoo]

CHRISTOPHE ROCHUS

• Started the year as #184, but closed it at #69 (+115)
• Win/loss record in Challengers:
  • 41 / 15
  • 73.21%
    
• Ate 1 bagel
  
• Served 2 bagels
  
• Wins include:
  • Gimeno-Traver, Granollers, Karanusic, Troicki, Berlocq, Andreev, Koubek, Darcis
    
• Losses include:
  • Odesnik, De Bakker, Crivoi, Pospisil, Roger-Vasselin

2008 Singles:

W (2)

14. St. Brieuc, France, €30K+H, Indoor Clay
20. Zagreb, Croatia, $50K+H, Clay

F (3)

19. Rijeka, Croatia, €30K+H, Clay
34. Manerbio, Italy, €64K+H, Clay
37. Orléans, France, €105K+H, Indoor Hard

SF (3)

11. Tanger, Morocco, €30K+H, Clay
23. Prostejov, Czech Republic, €127.5K+H, Clay
40. Mons, Belgium, €106.5K+H, Indoor Hard

QF (3)

12. Meknes, Morocco, €30K+H, Clay
31. Graz, Austria, €30K+H, Clay
39. Trnava, Slovakia, €85K+H, Clay

2008 Doubles:

W (0)

F (0)

[CooCooCachoo]

DIEGO JUNQUEIRA

• Started the year as #231, but closed it at #78 (+153)
• Win/loss record in Challengers:
  • 49 / 24
    
  • 67.12%
    
• Ate 2 bagels
  
• Served 4 bagels
  
• Wins include:
  • Pashanski, Delgado, Devilder, M. Gonzalez, Ventura, Greul, Massu, Hartfield, Dabul, Gil
    
• Losses include:
  • Aranguren, Alves, Quintero, Poch-Gradin, Crugnola, Santos, Souza
    

2008 Singles:

W (3)

20. San Remo, Italy, €30K+H, Clay
29. Rimini, Italy, €42.5K+H, Clay
35. Como, Italy, €42.5K+H, Clay
 
F (3)

11. Salinas, Ecuador, $35K+H, Outdoor Hard
27. Turin, Italy, €85K+H, Clay
28. San Benedetto, Italy, €30K+H, Clay
 
SF (4)

9. Santiago, Chile, Clay, $35K+H, Clay
14. St. Brieuc, France, €30K+H, Indoor Clay
40. Aracaju, Brazil, $75K+H, Clay
41. Florianopolis, Brazil, $35K+H, Clay   
 
QF (4)

33. Vigo, Spain, €30K+H, Clay
43. Buenos Aires, Argentina, $75K+H, Clay
44. Cali 2, Colombia, $125K+H, Clay  
48. Lima, Peru, $50K, Clay   

2008 Doubles:

W (0)

F (1)

44. Cali 2, Colombia, $125K+H, Clay

[CooCooCachoo]

THOMAZ BELLUCCI

• Started the year as #183, but closed it at #85 (+98)
• Win/loss record in Challengers:
  • 31 / 8
    
  • 79.49%
    
• Ate 0 bagels
  
• Served 3 bagels
  
• Wins include:
  • Schwank, A. Beck, Massu, Capdeville, Vassallo Arguello, Garcia-Lopez, Berdych
    
• Losses include:
  • Haider-Maurer, Alves, S. Gonzalez
    

2008 Singles:

W (4)

9. Santiago, Chile, Clay, $35K+H, Clay
16. Florianopolis, Brazil, $35K+H, Clay
18. Tunis, Tunisia, $125K+H, Clay
19. Rabat, Morocco, €42.5K+H, Clay
  
F (0)

SF (2)

23. Prostejov, Czech Republic, €127.5K+H, Clay
43. Buenos Aires, Argentina, $75K+H, Clay
 
QF (2)

1. Sao Paulo, Brazil, $100K+H, Outdoor Hard
20. Bordeaux, France, €85K+H, Clay

2008 Doubles:

W (1)

18. Tunis, Tunisia, $125K+H, Clay
 
F (3)

10. Bogota, Colombia, $125K+H, Clay
16. Florianopolis, Brazil, $35K+H, Clay
43. Buenos Aires, Argentina, $75K+H, Clay 

[CooCooCachoo]

GO SOEDA

• Started the year as #212, but closed it at a career high of #114 (+98)
• Win/loss record in Challengers:
  • 41 / 13
    
  • 75.93%
    
• Ate 3 bagels
  
• Served 2 bagels
  
• Wins include:
  • Phau, Lu, Devvarman, Lee
    
• Losses include:
  • Marchenko, Lorenzi, Echagaray, Rehnquist
    

2008 Singles:

 W (4)

10. Kyoto, Japan, $35K+H, Indoor Carpet
16. Busan, South Korea, $75K+H, Outdoor Hard
21. New Delhi 2, India, $50K, Outdoor Hard
48. Toyota, Japan, $35K+H, Indoor Carpet    

F (1)

47. Yokohama, Japan, $35K+H, Outdoor Hard

SF (2)

20. New Delhi, India, $50K, Outdoor Hard
31. Vancouver, Canada, $100K+H, Outdoor Hard

QF (4)

4. Waikoloa, Hawaii, USA, $50K+H, Outdoor Hard
13. Leon, Mexico, $50K+H, Outdoor Hard
27. Winnetka, Illinois, USA, $50K, Outdoor Hard
44. Busan 2, Korea, $100K+H, Outdoor Hard

2008 Doubles:

W (0)

F (2)

4. Waikoloa, Hawaii, USA, $50K+H, Outdoor Hard
10. Kyoto, Japan, $35K+H, Indoor Carpet

[CooCooCachoo]

ROBERT KENDRICK

• Started the year as #107, but closed it at #97 (+10)
• Win/loss record in Challengers:
  • 41 / 15
    
  • 73.21%
    
• Ate 0 bagels
  
• Served 4 bagels
  
• Wins include:
  • Phau, Becker, Sela, Russell, Amritraj, Bogomolov Jr., Young, Levine
    
• Losses include:
  • Widom, Groth, Bogdanovic, Krajinovic
    

2008 Singles:

 W (2)

44. Louisville, Kentucky, USA, $50K+H, Indoor Hard  
45. Nashville, Tennessee, USA, $75K, Outdoor Hard

F (4)

16. Tallahassee, Florida, USA, $50K, Outdoor Hard
20. Bradenton, Florida, USA, $50K, Clay
30. Lexington, Kentucky, USA, $50K, Outdoor Hard
41. Sacramento, California, USA, $50K, Outdoor Hard

SF (2)

5. Dallas, Texas, USA, $50K, Indoor Hard
27. Winnetka, Illinois, USA, $50K, Outdoor Hard

QF (3)

10. Bogota, Colombia, $125K+H, Clay
15. Humacao, Puerto Rico, $50K, Outdoor Hard
42. Calabasas, California, $50K, Outdoor Hard

2008 Doubles:

W (0)

F (1)

16. Tallahassee, Florida, USA, $50K, Outdoor Hard

[CooCooCachoo]

EDUARDO SCHWANK

• Started the year as #171, but closed it at #58 (+113)
• Win/loss record in Challengers:
  • 27 / 5
    
  • 84.38%
    
• Ate 2 bagels
  
• Served 6 bagels
  
• Wins include:
  • A. Beck, Kunitsyn, Junqueira, Gicquel, Phau
    
• Losses include:
  • Crivoi, Lorenzi, Cabal
    

2008 Singles:

 W (3)

17. Cremona, Italy, €30K+H, Outdoor Hard
18. Rome, Italy, €30K+H, Clay
20. Bordeaux, France, €85K+H, Clay
  
F (1)

9. Santiago, Chile, Clay, $35K+H, Clay
 
 SF (1)

3. La Serena, Chile, $50K, Clay
 
QF (1)

11. Salinas, Ecuador, $35K+H, Outdoor Hard

2008 Doubles:

W (3)

3. La Serena, Chile, $50K, Clay
9. Santiago, Chile, Clay, $35K+H, Clay
17. Cremona, Italy, €30K+H, Outdoor Hard
F (1)

27. Lugano, Switzerland, €85K+H, Clay

[CooCooCachoo]

YEN-HSUN LU

• Started the year as #111, but closed it at #64(+47)
• Win/loss record in Challengers:
  • 38/ 10
    
  • 79.17%
    
• Ate 1 bagel
  
• Served 6 bagels
  
• Wins include:
  • Phau, Soeda, Reynolds, Berrer, Spadea
    
• Losses include:
  • Vicente, Bachinger, Pedersen
    

2008 Singles:

 W (3)

4. Waikoloa, Hawaii, USA, $50K+H, Outdoor Hard
20. New Delhi, India, $50K, Outdoor Hard
42. Tashkent, Uzbekistan, $125K+H, Outdoor Hard
  
F (3)

16. Busan, South Korea, $75K+H, Outdoor Hard
18. Lanzarote, Spain, €42.5K+H, Outdoor Hard
21. New Delhi 2, India, $50K, Outdoor Hard
  
 SF (2)

10. Kyoto, Japan, $35K+H, Indoor Carpet
43. Seoul, Korea, $125K+H, Outdoor Hard
  
QF (1)

44. Busan 2, Korea, $100K+H, Outdoor Hard 

2008 Doubles:

W (0)

F (0)

[CooCooCachoo]

KRISTOF VLIEGEN

• Started the year as #94, but closed it at #83 (+11)
• Win/loss record in Challengers:
  • 27/ 5
    
  • 84.38%
    
• Ate 0 bagels
  
• Served 2 bagels
  
• Wins include:
  • K. Beck, A. Beck, Garcia-Lopez, Bolelli, Melzer
    
• Losses include:
  • J. Minar, Crugnola
    

2008 Singles:

 W (4)

5. Wroclaw, Poland, €106.5K+H, Indoor Hard
34. Geneva, Switzerland, €30K+H, Clay
36. Düsseldorf, Germany, €30K+H, Clay
39. Grenoble, France, €42.5K+H, Indoor Hard
    
F (0)

SF (0)

35. Freudenstadt, Germany, €30K+H, Clay

 QF (0)

2008 Doubles:

W (1)

35. Freudenstadt, Germany, €30K+H, Clay

F (1)

12. Sunrise, Florida, USA, $100K+H, Outdoor Hard

[CooCooCachoo]

TEIMURAZ GABASHVILI

• Started the year as #124, but closed it at a career high of #65 (+59)
• Win/loss record in Challengers:
  • 29 / 10
    
  • 74.36%
    
• Ate 0 bagels
  
• Served 1 bagel
  
• Wins include:
  • Vanek, O. Rochus, Cuevas, Navarro, Gimeno-Traver, Andujar, Hartfield, Phau, Kunitsyn, Schüttler
    
• Losses include:
  • Marchenko, Vicente, Polansky
    

2008 Singles:

 W (4)

19. Telde, Spain, €30K+H, Clay
22. Karlsruhe, Germany, €30K+H, Clay
24. Milano, Italy, €30K+H, Clay
40. Mons, Belgium, €106.5K+H, Indoor Hard
    
F (0)

SF (0)

 QF (2)

30. San Marino, €85K+H, Clay
31. Cordenons, Italy, €85K+H, Clay

2008 Doubles:

W (0)

F (0)

[CooCooCachoo]

MOST NOTABLE OTHER CONTESTANTS

... IVAN NAVARRO

• Started the year as #122, but finished as #74 (+48)
• Winner of three singles titles (Meknes, Pozoblanco/Cordoba, Medjugorje)
• Two times runner-up (Bogota, Alphen aan den Rijn)
• Winner of one doubles title (Tanger)
• Win/loss record:
  • 36 / 14
  • 72.0%

... MARTIN VASSALLO ARGUELLO

• Started the year as #76, but finished as #71 (+5)
• Winner of three singles titles (Asuncion, Buenos Aires, Lima)
• Two times runner-up (Rabat, Prostejov)
• Win/loss record:
  • 41/ 13
  • 75.93%

... SERGIO ROITMAN

• Started the year as #70, but finished as #118 (-48)
• Winner of one singles title (Guayaquil)
• Four-time runner-up (Braunschweig, Graz, Medellin, Lima)
• Winner of one doubles title (Bordeaux)
• Win/loss record:
  • 34 / 16
  • 68.0%

... BOBBY REYNOLDS

• Started the year as #112, but finished as #70 (+42)
• Winner of three singles titles (Tallahassee, Baton Rouge, Knoxville)
• No lost finals
• Winner of four doubles titles (Heilbronn, Humacao, Tallahassee, Champaign)
• Win/loss record:
  • 28/ 12
  • 70.0%

... LUKASZ KUBOT

• Started the year as #222, but finished as #210 (+12)
• Winner of one singles title (Oberstaufen)
• Winner of nine doubles titles (Busan, Lanzarote, Fergana, Prostejov, Karshi, Seoul, Bratislava, Helsinki, Cancun)
• Win/loss record:
  • 22 / 23
  • 48.89%

... NICOLAS DEVILDER

• Started the year as #114, but finished as #73 (+41)
• Winner of three singles titles (Braunschweig, Constanta, Poznan)
• One-time runner-up (Lugano)
• Win/loss record:
  • 35/ 11
  • 76.09%

... MARCOS DANIEL

• Started the year as #105, but finished as #87 (+18)
• Winner of three singles titles (Bogota, Cali, Bogota)
• One-time runner-up (Napoli)
• Win/loss record:
  • 27 / 8
  • 77.14%

... ANDREAS BECK

• Started the year as #207, but finished as #109 (+98)
• Winner of two singles titles (Sarajevo, Dresden)
• Two times runner-up (Düsseldorf, Jersey)
• Win/loss record:
  • 27 / 14
  • 65.85%

... SIMON GREUL

• Started the year as #218, but finished as #126 (+92)
• Winner of two singles titles (Freudenstadt, Alphen aan den Rijn)
• One-time runner-up (Tarragona)
• Win/loss record:
  • 38 / 22
  • 63.33%

... DANIEL GIMENO-TRAVER

• Started the year as #168, but finished as #90 (+78)
• Winner of two singles titles (Aarhus, Brasov)
• Two times runner-up (Tanger, Banja Luka)
• Winner of one doubles title (Telde)
• Win/loss record:
  • 41 / 19
  • 68.33%

... LEONARDO MAYER

• Started the year as #175, but finished as #115 (+60)
• Winner of one singles title (Medellin)
• Three times runner-up (Bronx, Cali, Asuncion)
• Winner of three doubles titles (Florianopolis, Quito, Asuncion)
• Win/loss record:
  • 46 / 22
  • 67.65%

... HYUNG-TAIK LEE

• Started the year as #46, but finished as #107 (-61)
• Winner of two singles titles (Seoul, Yokohama)
• One-time runner-up (Toyota City)
• Winner of one doubles title (Tanger)
• Win/loss record:
  • 16 / 2
  • 88.89%

... ROKO KARANUSIC

• Started the year as #135, but finished at a career high of #91 (+44)
• Winner of two singles titles (Belgrade, Kolding)
• One-time runner-up (Eckental)
• Win/loss record:
  • 29 / 11
  • 72.5%

... VINCENT SPADEA

• Started the year as #79, but finished as #76 (+3)
• Winner of two singles titles (Waco, Calabasas)
• Two times runner-up (Waikoloa, Tulsa)
• Win/loss record:
  • 25 / 37
  • 67.57%

... DENIS ISTOMIN

• Started the year as #216, but finished at a career high of #105 (+111)
• Winner of two singles titles (Bukhara, Karshi)
• Two times runner-up (Saransk, Cherkassy)
• Winner of two doubles titles (Penza, Saransk)
• Win/loss record:
  • 45/ 26
  • 63.38%

... KEVIN KIM

• Started the year as #189, but finished as #117 (+72)
• Winner of two singles titles (Aptos, Tulsa)
• Two times runner-up (Vancouver, Champaign)
• Win/loss record:
  • 43 / 24
  • 64.18%

... FILIPPO VOLANDRI

• Started the year as #41, but finished as #102 (-61)
• Winner of two singles titles (San Marino, Cordenons)
• Win/loss record:
  • 15 / 19
  • 78.95%

... CARSTEN BALL

• Started the year as #378, but finished as #204 (+174)
• No singles titles won
• One-time runner-up (Tunica Resorts)
• Winner of six doubles titles (Wolfsburg, Mexico City, Bradenton, Carson, Binghamton, Nashville)
• Win/loss record:
  • 20 / 15
  • 57.14%

... JAN HERNYCH

• Started the year as #155, but finished as #81 (+74)
• Winner of two singles titles (Prague, Bratislava)
• One-time runner-up (Ostrava)
• Win/loss record:
  • 22 / 10
  • 68.75%

... ALBERTO MARTÍN

• Started the year as #138, but finished as #100 (+38)
• Winner of two singles titles (Trnava, Tarragona)
• Two times runner-up (Monza, Chiasso)
• Winner of four doubles titles (Meknes, Monza, Chiasso, Como)
• Win/loss record:
  • 42 / 22
  • 65.63%

[CooCooCachoo]

In the course of the week, more information will be added and the poll will go online.

In the mean time, you can post suggestions etc.

[Nathaliia]

BOGGO!!!!

(And Gooch)

[Caio_Brasil]

Kubot, Reynolds and Koellerer seem to be fair contestants judging their success in both singles and doubles. The other ones should be those with most titles/runners-up like Bellucci, Gabashvili, Soeda, Vliegen and Junqueira IMO.

[TankingTheSet]

Some players I think would deserve consideration:

Teimuraz Gabashvili for winning four challengers in 2008 despite playing a lot of ATP tournaments in the season.

Christophe Rochus for remarkable consistency in challengers, enabling him to reach the Belgian #1 position, it shows mental resilience so late in his career.

Alberto Martin for consistency.

Eduardo Schwank for winning three challengers in a row early in the season.

Thomaz Bellucci for winning four challengers and three in a row early in the season.

Kristof Vliegen for winning four challengers.