NordicNaturalsChallenger Presented by Santa Cruz County Bank A USTA Pro Circuit Event Seascape Sports Club Aptos, CA Purse: $100,000 ​ Surface: Hard-Outdoor ​ For more information, please contact: Haley Kepler, Tournament Press-Aide Cell phone: 831 334-0221 ​ Email: [email protected] ​ ​ ● Live Streaming: http://www.procircuit.usta.com ​ ● Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seascapesportsclubofficial/ ​ ​ ● Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXAQG1Arf7vw9JR8vMMePyg ​ ● Twitter: @USTAProCircuit ​ ​ th On the first day of the 30 annual​ $100,000 Nordic Naturals Challenger presented by ​ Santa Cruz County Bank, 4 out of the 8 seeded players in the tournament lost in the first round. This is proof that the main draw event is a tough one, considering 22 of the 32 players have won a challenger title. Malek Jaziri (TUN), top seed in the tournament and currently ranked number 76 in the world, lost in the first round to Austin Krajicek (USA), who was one of four to qualify for the main draw event. Malek Jaziri (TUN) and Austin Krajicek (USA) have faced each other 6 times now, and 5 out of 6 times, Austin has won. Tonight, Austin was able to clinch the match in only 57 minutes. Earlier in the day, we saw the number 2 seed, Jordan Thompson (AUS) lose to Akira Santillan (AUS), who is only 20 years old and currently ranked number 161 in the world. Tomorrow, the next generation of tennis will be taking the tournament by storm, as we see 18 year old Casper Ruud (NOR) face 20 year old Quentin Halys (FRA) in the feature match on center court. This will be Casper Ruud’s (NOR) first USA pro circuit challenger since he turned pro in 2015. Directly before that match on center court, Konstantin Kravchuk (RUS) will face 20 year old Taylor Fritz (USA), who will be returning to Aptos for the second time after losing to Mischa Zverev in the first round in 2015. Young Taylor Fritz (USA) has a career high singles ranking of 53 (2016.08.29), and was named ATP Star of Tomorrow presented by Emirates in 2016 for being youngest player to finish in Top 100. ABOUT THE USTA PRO CIRCUIT: With approximately 90 tournaments hosted annually throughout the country and prize money ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, the USTA Pro Circuit is the pathway to the US ​ ​ Open and tour-level competition for aspiring tennis players and a frequent battleground ​ ​ for established professionals. The USTA launched its Pro Circuit 38 years ago to provide ​ ​ players with the opportunity to gain professional ranking points, and it has since grown ​ ​ to become the largest developmental tennis circuit in the world, offering nearly $3 million in prize money. John Isner, Maria Sharapova, Sam Querrey, Sloane Stephens, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Kei Nishikori, Victoria Azarenka and Andy Murray are among today’s top stars who ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ began their careers on the USTA Pro Circuit. NORDIC NATURALS CHALLENGER PRESENTED BY SANTA CRUZ COUNTY BANK - APTOS, CA, USA $100,000 RESULTS - AUGUST 07, 2017 Men's Singles - First Round [Q] A. Krajicek (USA) d [1] M. Jaziri (TUN) 62 61 A. Santillan (AUS) d [2] J. Thompson (AUS) 64 57 62 [Q] L. Broady (GBR) d [4] R. Bemelmans (BEL) 36 64 62 S. Groth (AUS) d [8] B. Fratangelo (USA) 67(5) 64 63 D. King (BAR) d [Q] C. Rungkat (INA) 62 63 Men's Doubles - First Round [WC] T. Fritz (USA) / M. Krueger (USA) d [WC] L. Corinteli (USA) / M. McDonald (USA) 75 75 S. De Waard (AUS) / B. Mclachlan (JPN) d [PR] K. Kravchuk (RUS) / D. Tursunov (RUS) 63 76(9) Mens Qualifying Doubles - Second Round Qualifying - [2] J. Jung (TPE) / D. King (BAR) d [1] R. Bemelmans (BEL) / J. De Loore (BEL) 75 61 .