Challenger Salinas

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The Salinas Challenger is a tennis tournament that is held annually in the city of Salinas, Ecuador in the Salinas Yacht Club in the first days of March. It gives 50 points for the ATP ranking and also it gives $25,000 in money prizes. The tournament uses Wilson balls in its hard surface. This tournament is known because the games are played mostly during the day in a very hot temperature. This Challenger has always been very enjoyable for all the players that come, because of all the support they get from the fans and the environment that Salinas provides. Also because of the great organization that it has for example players arrive in Guayaquil and they are transported to Salinas, in a one hour drive. Players are hosted in the beautiful hotel Barceló Colón Miramar, which is located in the center of Salinas.

Many players that have played in this challenger have become very famous, like Guillermo Cañas, David Nalbandian, Juan Ignacio Chela, Nicolás Lapentti. In the past years more international players have played the challenger and the level of the players has become better.

Although the courts are always well the stands are not that well and it bothers the players as when people move it makes and awkward sound.

[edit] Tournament champions

• 1996, Óscar Martínez, Spain.
• 1997, Oliver Gross, Germany.
• 1998, André Sá, Brazil.
• 1999, Juan Ignacio Chela, Argentina.
• 2000, Davide Sanguinetti, Italy.
• 2001, David Nalbandian, Argentina.
• 2002, Iván Miranda, Peru.
• 2003, Giovanni Lapentti, Ecuador.
• 2004, Alejandro Falla, Colombia.
• 2005, Dennis van Scheppingen, Holland.
• 2006, Benjamin Becker, Germany.
• 2007, Juan Pablo Brzezicki, Argentina.

[edit] Tournament organizer

Fernando Valdivieso, Ecuadorian, he is also the organizer of all the other challengers that are played in Ecuador such as the Challenger of Guayaquil, Challenger of Quito, Challenger of Cuenca, Challenger of Manta.

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