Puerto Vallarta Open Named Best 2018 Challenger by ATP

NEW YORK - Feb. 7, 2019 - PRLog -- The Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board congratulates the Puerto Vallarta Open on being named one of the top challenges in the world. Announced this morning by the ATP this morning, the 2018 ATP Challenger Tour Tournaments of the Year, are voted by players. Winners included the Vancouver (Canada) and Heilbronn (Germany) Challenger Tour stops for the second consecutive year, with Puerto Vallarta (Mexico) making its debut on the ATP Challenger Tour calendar in 2018.

"This win is important for us because it represents the quality of products Puerto Vallarta is presenting to the world, said Javier Aranda, Director of the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board. "We want to become Mexico's sports destinations and with the Vallarta Open and the mountain bike race Down Puerto Vallarta are among some of the great sport events taking place in Puerto Vallarta."

The ATP Challenger Tour is a launching pad for up-and-coming players to improve their skills, gain experience and necessary ATP Ranking points. Challenger tournaments provide ATP players with important playing opportunities for much of the year and provide local tennis fans with the chance to see world-class tennis and rising stars.

In 2018, the ATP Challenger Tour included 159 events in 40 countries which provided US$13.092 million prize money. More than 820,000 spectators attended these tournaments worldwide. ATP Challenger Tour matches are streamed live on www.atpchallengertour.com.

"We sincerely thank ATP and are deeply grateful to all those who made PVO possible, not only those who worked and contributed their knowledge, but also those who believed in us and placed their trust in our first edition of the Puerto Vallarta Open," Puerto Vallarta Open Tournament Director, Francisco Javier Romero Gonzalez. "It is a source of great joy to be able to take the name of Puerto Vallarta to the highest place in world tennis and present it for what it is, one of the most complete and beautiful tourist destinations on the planet."

Puerto Vallarta has a long history with the ATP. It held its first Challenger in 1994 and hosted tournaments for the ATP Challenger Tour and the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) from 1996 to 1998. International Tennis Federation (ITF) Futures Tournaments were held in Puerto Vallarta from 2000 to 2010. Tennis legends such as Martina Navrátilová, Billie Jean King, Vasek Pospisil, Santiago González Torre have played in Puerto Vallarta.

This year's Puerto Vallarta Open will take place from April 29 to May 5 and will have a prize bag of 135,400 USD. For tickets or more information on the Open, please visit  www.puertovallartaopen.com