Tennis: Rising stars, veterans set for Tiburon Challenger

The $75,000 Tiburon Challenger is a collision course waiting to happen.

You get young upstarts like Ben Shelton, last year’s finalist before he cracked the Top 20 rankings in the world in September. The annual pro tennis tournament hosted by Tiburon Peninsula Club also draws hungry former Top 20 players, some more than a decade older than Shelton.

“It’s exciting to see the collision between up-and-coming players and grizzled veterans,” said Tiburon Challenger tournament director Adam Gagnon. “That makes for great tennis watching.”

Hard to believe but Shelton actually lost in three sets in the 2022 final to Zachary Svajda. Ranked No. 177 in the world back then, Shelton went on to catch fire, earn a spot in the 2023 U.S. Open semifinals and vault up the world rankings.

“There’s no way you could predict that,” said Gagnon. “That type of run usually takes a while. Top 20? Are you kidding me? He was a treat to have on the courts here.”

The 16th annual Tiburon tournament has become such a fan favorite for Marin tennis fans that both the semifinals on Oct. 7 and the finals on Oct. 8 are sold out in advance for the first time. “Great news for the event, but not so much for people who haven’t bought a ticket,” said Gagnon.

Svajda returns to defend his title with a milestone of his own. He won three qualifying rounds to advance to the main draw at the U.S. Open, where he lost a four-setter to Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo in the first round.

The top seed in Tiburon this week is Alex Michelsen, a 19-year-old from Alison Viejo who is ranked No. 110. Svajda and Michelsen met in the semifinals at the Cary, N.C., Challenger tournament three weeks ago with Svajda winning 6-3, 7-5. The 20-year-old Svajda then claimed his second Challenger title and moved up to a career-best ranking of 168.

Representing the “grizzled veterans” in Tiburon will be four players who’ve already been where Svajda and Michelsen hope to ascend. Besides being a steppingstone for young players, Challenger tournaments allow seasoned pros the chance to earn valuable ranking points in hopes of getting into the main draws at the Grand Slams and other top tournaments next year.

• Steve Johnson is a 33-year-old ranked No. 209. In 2016, he was the top American when he ranked a career-best 21.
• Canadian Vasek Pospisil, 33, comes to Tiburon at No. 186. He ranked No. 25 in 2014 and helped his country capture its first Davis Cup title with four wins in doubles last year.
• No. 200 Tennys Sandgren, 32, once ranked as high as No. 41. His claim to fame is that he had seven match points against Roger Federer in the 2020 Australian Open quarterfinals but was unable to convert.
• German Bernard Tomic is a 30-year-old ranked No. 295. He was No. 17 in 2016.

If you’re looking for a sleeper and potential rising star consider Brandon Holt, son of Tracy Austin. Holt cracked the top 200 earlier this year but has recently fallen to 290. The 25-year-old made his Grand Slam debut at the 2023 U.S. Open after being slowed by a hand injury.

This year’s event should be nicknamed Taste of Tiburon, which is a remarkable undertaking for this tiny town. The Lodge at Tiburon houses many players and coaches, while other folks are hosted at the homes of TPC members.

Club members also support the event by buying luxury boxes for the tournament. Luxury boxes are so popular that the tournament had to add more this year. Even the catering is done through a Tiburon business.

IF YOU GO

What: Tiburon Challenger

When: Oct. 1-8

Where: Tiburon Peninsula Club

Draws: 32 players in singles; 16 doubles teams

Tickets: $30-50 (semifinals on Oct 7 and finals on Oct. 8 sold out)