Tashkent – Enjoy a tennis week in the place where everything could happen!

THE TOURNAMENT: ATP CHALLENGER Tashkent Challenger

From 10/09 to 10/14

Surface: Hard outdoor

Prize money: $ 150,000

Tournament Location: Olympic Tennis School Massiv Yalangach Tashkent 100125 UZBEKISTAN

Past winners: 2016 Konstantin Kravchuk – 2015/2011 Denis Istomin – 2014 Lukas Lacko – 2013 Dudi Sela – 2012 Uladzimir Ignatik – 2010 Karol Beck – 2009 Marcos Baghdatis – 2008 Yen Hsun Lu

Italian nr.1 of entry list Thomas Fabbiano

Entry list: Thomas Fabbiano (Ita) – Dudi Sela (Isr) – Denis Istomin (Uzb) – Evgeny Donskoy (Rus) – Alexander Bublik (Kaz) – Laslo Djere (Srb) – Guillermo Garcia Lopez (Esp) – Lukas Lacko (Svk) – Egor Gerasimov (Blr) – Matteo Berrettini (Ita)

THE TOWN: Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan,  with its over 2,3 million inhabitants is the biggest and one of the oldest city in Central Asia, with a history of 2200 years. Due to its position in Central Asia, Tashkent came under Sogdian and Turkic influence early in its history, before Islam in the 8th century AD. After its destruction by Genghis Khan in 1219, the city was rebuilt and profited from the Silk Road. In 1865 it was conquered by the Russian Empire, and in Soviet times witnessed major growth and demographic changes due to forced deportations from throughout the Soviet Union. Today, as the capital of an independent Uzbekistan, Tashkent retains a multi-ethnic population with ethnic Uzbeks as the majority. It is best appreciated for its whole rather than its parts. If you are short on time visit it by renting a car, because the town is quite large. Lonely Planet writes on Tashkent: “Sprawling Tashkent is Central Asia’s hub and the place where everything in Uzbekistan happens. It’s one part newly built national capital, thick with the institutions of power, and one part leafy Soviet city, and yet another part sleepy Uzbek town, where traditionally clad farmers cart their wares through a maze of mud-walled houses to the grinding crowds of the bazaar. Tashkent is a fascinating jumble of contradictions that’s well worth exploring over several days.Like most places that travellers use mainly to get somewhere else, Tashkent doesn’t always immediately charm visitors, but it’s a surprisingly fun and interesting place, with the best restaurants, museums and nightlife in the country. There’s also plenty of opportunity to escape the metropolis for great hiking, rafting and skiing in Ugam-Chatkal National Park, just a 1½-hour drive away.”

TOP 3 ATTRACTIONS:

• Charwak Lake

• Mustakillik Square

• Metro Tashkent

BEST PLACES TO STAY:

• City Line Boutique Hotel. Very nice *** hotel just 700 metres away Tashkent International Airport. Rated 8.5 on Booking, this boutique accomodation offers deluxe double rooms at 70$ per night with free Wifi, parking and cancellation included.
• Hotel Wyndham Tashkent. Nice **** hotel with a great value for money, it’s located 200 metres from the Amir Timur Museum and 4 km from the famous Çhorsu Bazaar. Rated 8.1 on Booking, it offers superior double room at 202$ per night with good breakfast included.
• Radisson Blu Hotel. Excellent ****  hotel located at just 10 minutes walking from city centre and rated 8.3 on Booking, it offers a sauna, a brasserie restaurant with terrace and free parking area. A business double room of 28 mq2 with coffee machine costs 204$ per night with breakfast buffet available for purchase at 16$.

 

USEFUL LINKS:

Tashkent On Visit Uzbekistan

Tournament Info

Your Hotel in Tashkent

 

ENJOY!!!!

 

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Recanati – An unusual Italian tournament on hard in Leopardi’s birthplace 

THE TOURNAMENT: ATP CHALLENGER Guzzini Challenger

From 07/03 to 07/09

Surface: Hard outdoor

Prize money: $ 50,000

Tournament location: Circolo Tennis Francesco Guzzini – Via Le Grazie 10A, 62019 Recanati (Mc) Italy

How to get: CT Guzzini is centrally located in beautiful Recanati just 20 minutes from Piazza Giacomo Leopardi. Aeroporto delle Marche is far about 47 km and 40 minutes driving from tennis courts.

Past champions: 2016 Illya Marchenko – 2015 Mirza Basic – 2014 Gilles Müller – 2013 Thomas Fabbiano – 2012 Simone Bolelli – 2011 Fabrice Martin – 2010/2009 Stephane Bohli – 2008 Horacio Zeballos

Thomas Fabbiano is the entry list leader and winner of 2013 edition

Entry list: Thomas Fabbiano (Ita) – Lukas Lacko (Svk) – Blaz Kavcic (Slo) – Luca Vanni (Ita) – Sergiy Stakhovsky (Ukr) – James Duckworth (Aus) – Marton Fucsovics (Hun) – Quentin Halys (Fra) – Adrian Menendez Maceiras (Esp) – Duckhee Lee (Kor)

THE TOWN: Recanati is a town and comune in the Province of Macerata, in the Marche region of Italy. It was founded around 1150 AD from three pre-existing castles. In 1290 it proclaimed itself an independent republic and, in March 1798, it was conquered by Napoleon Bonaparte. It is the hometown of the tenor Beniamino Gigli and the poet Giacomo Leopardi, which is why the town is known to some as “the city of poetry”.

TOP 3 ATTRACTIONS:

• Leopardi House

• Infinito’s Hill

• Leopardi Square

BEST PLACES TO STAY:

• Hotel Softwood. Set in the heart of the Marche region, this ** hotel, rated 8,2 on Booking, is in Recanati, 800 m from Villa Musone and 5 km from Castelfidardo. It offers free parking, a buffet-style restaurant, and air-conditioned rooms with TV, minibar and private bathroom. A simple Italian breakfast of a coffee and a croissant is available in the hotel bar and is included in the room daily rate (from 70€).
• Agriturismo Raggioverde. Rated 8,5 on Booking and situated in an ancient farmhouse on the hills of Recanati at 500 from the town, this accomodation features free parking, a sun terrace, and an outdoor swimming pool. It offers air conditioned apartments with fully equipped kitchen and some also have a furnished balcony overlooking the town. Onsite restaurant offers traditional dishes of the Marche region. Prices start from 70€ per night with breakfast included.
• Gallery Hotel Recanati. Excellent **** hotel located in Recanati’s old town and rated 8,8 on Booking, it features modern rooms with LCD tv and free Wifi connection, a terrace with hot tub and amazing view of the countryside, a gourmet restaurant and a 24 hr front desk. A 19 mq2 deluxe double room with wooden floors and balcony costs 119€ per night with rich breakfast buffet included.

USEFUL LINKS:

Tournament Official Site

Visit Recanati Official 

Your Hotel in Recanati 

Enjoy your tennis stay in this wonderful Italian town!!!

Qingdao – The Chinese “Green Island” and the 2nd edition of this rich challenger event

THE TOURNAMENT: ATP CHALLENGER International Challenger China 2017 Qingdao

From 04/17 to 04/23

Surface: Clay outdoor

Prize money: $ 125,000

Past champion: 2016 Janko Tipsarevic

Defending champion Janko Tipsarevic

Entry list: Jordan Thompson (Aus) – Janko Tipsarevic (Srb) – Luca Vanni (Ita) – Blaz Kavcic (Slo) – Quentin Halys (Fra) – Andrej Martin (Svk) – Mathias Borgue (Fra) – Thomas Fabbiano (Ita) – Teymuraz Gabashvili (Rus) – Andrew Witthington (Aus)

THE TOWN: Qingdao (also spelled Tsingtao) is the largest city in eastern Shandong Province on the east coast of China with an urban population of 6,188,100. It lies across the Shandong Peninsula and looks out to the Yellow Sea. It is a major seaport, naval base, and industrial centre. The world’s longest sea bridge, the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge, links the main urban area of Qingdao with Huangdao district. It is also the site of the Tsingtao Brewery, the second largest brewery in China. In 2009, Qingdao was named China’s most livable city by the Chinese Institute of City Competitiveness.

For Lonely Planet: “Combining fresh sea air and dashing good looks, Qīngdǎo (青岛) – the name means ‘Green Island’ – is a rare modern city that has managed to preserve some of its past while angling a dazzling modern face to the future. Its blend of concession-era and modern architecture puts China’s standard white-tile and blue-glass developments to shame. The winding cobbled streets, historic German architecture and red-capped hillside villas are captivating and there’s so much to enjoy in the city’s diverse food scene, headlined by the ubiquitous home town beer Tsingtao. Meanwhile, the seaside aspect keeps the town cooler than the inland swelter zones during summer, and slightly warmer in winter.”

TOP 3 ATTRACTIONS:

• Laoshan Scenic Area

• May Fourth Square

• St. Michael Cathedral 

BEST PLACES TO STAY:

• Wu Sheng Guan Holiday Hotel. Very good **** hotel rated 8.8 on Booking and located along Qingdao’s Huiquan Bay which features a business centre, fitness centre and a karaoke lounge. The on site buffet Restaurant serves international cuisine. A 25 mq2 fashion double room costs 65€ per night with free WiFi and parking.
• The Westin Qingdao. Excellent 5 stars hotel rated 8.8 on Booking which enjoys a good postion in Shinan district and offers indoor pool, fitness center and restaurant, and provides free WiFi and parking. The price for an amazing Westin double room with marble bathrooms starts from 94€ per night.
• Qingdao Seaview Garden Hotel. Opposite the beach front, this ***** hotel, rated 9.2 on Booking. is a European-style property facing the ocean and surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens. It offers an outdoor salt water pool with a large kid’s pool, a kid’s club with beach area and painting classes, 4 dining options and free internet access. We suggest to spend something more to get a deluxe king room (40 mq2) with sea view costs at 190€ per night. Is absolutely terrific!

USEFUL LINKS:

“That’s Qingdao” Tourism Site

Qingdao on China Travel Guide

Choose your hotel in Qingdao

Enjoy your Tennis Trip in Qingdao!!!

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Barletta – Ymer for the twice, Bedene for the hat-trick…in this ancient town of Apulia.

THE TOURNAMENT: ATP CHALLENGER Open Città della Disfida 

From 04/10 to 04/16

Prize money: € 43,000

Surface: Clay outdoor

Tournament location: Circolo Tennis Barletta Hugo Simmen – Via del Santuario 7, 76121 Barletta (BT) Italy

How to get: Tennis club is very close to city centre and main transport services, infact it’s just 3,9 km from station. The closest airport is Bari Airport just 50 km from tennis courts.

Past champions: 2016 Elias Ymer – 2012/2011 Aljaz Bedene – 2010 Pere Riba – 2009 Ivo Minar

Defending champion Elias Ymer

Entry list: Gastao Elias (Por) – Aljaz Bedene (Gbr) – Norbert Gombos (Svk) – Alessandro Giannessi (Ita) – Casper Ruud (Nor) – Arthur De Greef (Bel) – Maximilian Marterer (Ger) – Federico Gaio (Ita) – Elias Ymer (Swe) – Thomas Fabbiano (Ita)

THE TOWN: Barletta is a city, comune and capoluogo together with Andria and Trani of Apulia, in south eastern Italy. Barletta is also a provincia (Barletta-Andria-Trani) and its population is around 94.700 citizens. The city’s territory belongs to the Valle dell’Ofanto river. Barletta is famous for the Colossus of Barletta, a bronze statue, representing a Roman Emperor (perhaps Theodosius II). This statue, called “Eraclio” by the inhabitants of Barletta, about 4 metres (13 feet) tall, is the biggest statue from the late Roman Empire. According to a local folk story, Eraclio saved the city from a Saracen attack.

TOP 3 ATTRACTIONS IN BARLETTA AND SURROUNDINGS:

• Colossus of Barletta

• Castel del Monte (34 km)

• Cathedral

BEST PLACES TO STAY:

• Best Western Hotel dei Cavalieri. Very good **** hotel rated 8.1 on Booking it offers features a regional restaurant, a cocktail bar, a fitness room and a wellness centre. A 20 mq2 double economy costs 77€ per night with breakfast, free WiFi and parking.
• Itaca Hotel. Cute ****hotel set directly on Barletta’s seafront and close to the historic centre, this structure offers relaxing views of the Adriatic Sea and a regional restaurant. Rooms come with free Wi-Fi and are equipped with modern furniture. Price? 98€ per night with breakfast and parking included.
• Nicotel Barletta. Wonderful **** hotel rated 8.4 on Booking and situated at a 15-minute walk from Barletta town centre. It boasts air-conditioned rooms, a 24-hour reception and a rich buffet breakfast, the free WiFi and parking. The price for a classic style 19 mq2 double room is 112€ per night with free cancellation and breakfast.

USEFUL LINKS:

Tournament Info 

Barletta Tourism on PugliaImperiale.com

Accomodations

Enjoy!!!

Quanzhou – A Chinese tennis week in the “ancient” town

THE TOURNAMENT: ATP CHALLENGER 2017 International Challenger Quanzhou

From 03/20 to 03/26

Money prize: $ 50,000

Surface: Hard outdoor

Tournament location: Quanzhou Blossom Garden Tennis Center – Blossom Garden, Fengze District, Quanzhou, Fujian Province, 362008, China, P.R.

Main players: Janko Tipsarevic (Srb) – Evgeny Donskoy (Rus) – Roberto Carballes Baena (Esp) – Yuki Bhambri (Ind) – Yuichi Sugita (Jpn) – Duckhee Lee (Kor) – Luca Vanni (Ita) – Blaz Kavcic (Slo) – Maximilian Marterer (Ger) – Thomas Fabbiano (Ita)

Janko Tipsarevic will be Nr.1 of entry list

THE TOWN: Quanzhou is one of the most ancient town of China and the largest town of Fujian Province with over 6 millions inhabitants. Lonely Planet introduces the town these words: “The role of Quánzhōu (泉州) as an integral part of the maritime Silk Road during Song and Yuan rule is still felt in the city’s architecture, cuisine and ethnic diversity. Today it’s a handsome, if grossly undervisited place – due partly to the lure of nearby Xiàmén – but what Marco Polo described in the 13th century as ‘one of the two ports in the world with the biggest flow of merchandise’ does not easily fade away. Wandering Quánzhōu’s ancient stone streets and temples of many faiths creates a rare sense of timelessness in urban China. Hints of a rich Islamic and maritime past are readily visible, and the atmosphere at times feels like a city further west. There are also easy day trips from here to the fascinating historic villages of Chongwu and Xunpu which have long faced out towards the sea.”

TOP 3 ATTRACTIONS OF QUANZHOU: 

• Kaiyuan Temple

• Lao Zi Statue

• Qingjing Mosque

BEST PLACES TO STAY:

• Quanzhou Overseas Chinese Hotel. Excellent **** hotel located in the Licheng District neighborhood in Quanzhou, 100 m from Quanzhou Fuwen Temple and 300 m from Quanzhou Qingjing Mosque. Business center is available for customers. The price for a 22 mq2 standard double room is $ 46 per night with good breakfast included.
• Quanzhou C&D Hotel. Very good ***** accomodation rated 8.5 on Booking and top located in Quanzhou. Boasting an indoor swimming pool, soothing massage services, meeting and banquet facilities as well as 3 on-site dining options. Free Wi-Fi is available in all areas. Free public parking for customers. A modern 28 mq2 superior twin room costs 99$ with breakfast.
• Wanda Vista Quanzhou. Wonderful ***** hotel considered the top in town either by Booking or TripAdvisor. Facing the Jinjiang River, it is located in the heart of Quanzhou, just a 2-minute stroll from Wanda Plaza. It features an indoor pool, a fitness centre and modern accommodation with free internet access. Hotel provides babysitting, currency exchange, concierge services and free public parking. To try the tasty onsite Zhen chinese restaurant. An enormous deluxe king room costs 115 $ per night with free cancellation.

USEFUL LINKS:

Quanzhou on ChinaTravelGuide

China Highlights about Quanzhou

Accomodations 

Enjoy this new tennis trip!

Bratislava – Tennis circus returns in the heart of old Habsburg monarchy

THE TOURNAMENT: ATP CHALLENGER Peugeot Slovak Open

Date: From 7/11 to 13/11

Money Prize: 85,000$ + H

Surface: Hard Indoor

Tournament Location: Aegon Arena – Prikopova 3255/6, 83103 Bratislava.

How to get: Aegon Arena is quite centrally located in Bratislava and can easily accessible from airport with a 15 minutes taxi drive. Old town is far just 3 km.

Recent Past Winners: 2013 Lukas Lacko – 2012 Lukas Rosol – 2011 Lukas Lacko – 2010 Martin Klizan

Top Seeded Players: Florian Mayer (Ger) – Illya Marchenko (Ukr) – Adam Pavlasek (Cze) – Lukas Rosol (Cze) – Ivan Dodig (Cro) – Jan Lennard Struff (Ger) – Andrei Martin (Svk) – Thomas Fabbiano (Ita) – Vasek Pospisil (Can) – Daniil Medvedev (Rus)

THE TOWN: Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia, and with a population of about 450,000, the country’s largest city. It is located in southwestern Slovakia, occupying both banks of the River Danube and the left bank of the River Morava. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries. The history of the city has been strongly influenced by people of different nations and religions, namely by Austrians, Croats, Czechs, Germans, Hungarians, Jews, Serbs and Slovaks (in alphabetical order).The city was the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary, a part of the larger Habsburg Monarchy territories, from 1536 to 1783. Lonely Planet on Bratislava: “Proximity to nature gives Slovakia’s capital its strongest flavouring. The Danube wends through the city, and cycle paths weave through the verdant flood plain that begins just outside the centre. Meanwhile, the densely forested Small Carpathians are just a 30-minute walk from the train station; the trailer to a mountainous extent that runs countrywide, virtually unimpeded by civilisation. Then there’s ski runs and vineyards to amble through.The charming – if tiny – old town (starý mesto) is the place to start appreciating Bratislava. Stroll narrow pedestrian streets of pastel-coloured 18th-century buildings or sample the myriad sidewalk cafes under the watchful gaze of the city castle, which harks back to medieval times. Done with the old? In with the new(er): the city boasts intriguing socialist-era architecture, and one of Eastern Europe’s most spectacular modern art spaces. Contrasts like this are all part of Bratislava’s allure.”

TOP 3 ATTRACTIONS IN BRATISLAVA:

• OLD TOWN

• DEVIN CASTLE RUINS

• SLAVIN

BEST 3 HOTELS TO STAY:

• Hotel Blue Bratislava. Close to Polus City Shopping Center and just 3,5 km from old town, this modern *** hotel offers free wifi, parking and tasteful breakfast buffet. Prices for a 22 mq2 double room in b&b starts from 65€ per night. Rated 8.8 on Booking.
• Skaritz Hotel & Residence. Wonderful **** hotel located in the heart of Bratislava’s pedestrianized Old Town. This accomodation, rated 9.0 on Booking, offers large rooms and apartments, free internet and free access to the sauna. The price for a 35mq2 double room is 89€ per night with breakfast and free cancellation included.
• Arcadia Hotel. Fantastic boutique ***** hotel, rated 9.2 on Booking, which rises in a 13th century building loated in Old Town at just 100 mt from St.Michael’s Gate. It includes a spa, a slovak restaurant and a stylish Library Bar. A standard non refundable double room costs 169€ per night with free Spa access and wifi but with breakfast not included.

 

USEFUL LINKS:

Tournament Official Site

Visit Bratislava Official

Look for an accomodation in Bratislava

 

ENJOY!!!