PERUGIA CHALLENGER TURNS 10
ENTRY LIST REVEALED: NARDI, PASSARO AND GIGANTE ARE INCLUDED
THE TOURNAMENT WILL BE PRESENTED ON MAY 30
Perugia, May 20, 2025 – The Internazionali di Tennis Città di Perugia | G.I.Ma. Tennis Cup is celebrating a historic tenth edition. From June 8 to 15, the Umbrian capital will host the ATP Challenger 125 organized by MEF Tennis Events, between the show on the clay courts of the Perugia Tennis Club and the numerous initiatives accompanying a birthday of great value. After the start of the Italian tradition of the last two seasons, with Edoardo Lavagno finalist in 2023 and the current ATP number 45 Luciano Darderi champion in the last edition, the entry list still promises numerous Italian tennis players ready to have their say. Also for this year, G.I.Ma. confirms itself as the title sponsor of the event, with the essential and constant contribution to give another week of great tennis in Umbria. The press conference to present the event is scheduled for Friday, May 30 at 12:00 inside the Tennis Club Perugia.
The entry list speaks Italian: at least six Italians in the main draw – Already in 2024 the Italian wave had overflowed on the red clay of Perugia, and in 2025 this tradition is destined to continue. The entry list of the ATP Challenger 125 led by world number 63 Roberto Carballes Baena can count on at least six Italians in the main draw, awaiting the results of the qualifications and wild cards. Among them, the name of Luca Nardi stands out: the ATP number 94 is considered one of the most crystalline talents on the national tennis scene and as the number three seed he aims to give impetus to his season. With him there is also the host Francesco Passaro, who comes from the excellent result at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia where he reached the third round also beating the number 15 of the world Grigor Dimitrov. Matteo Gigante is looking for confirmation: the Roman shone in the month of May with the victory at the Challenger of Rome, before playing for the second time in his career the second round at the Foro Italico. Closing the Italian sextet are Andrea Pellegrino, Federico Arnaboldi and Francesco Maestrelli. Among the names at the starting line in Perugia, the presence of the former number 23 ATP Dusan Lajovic stands out, a specialist of the surface with two trophies lifted on the main circuit, as well as that of Bernard Tomic, former number 17 of the world ranking. Closing the entry list is the 2005 class Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez: the Mexican was number one in the Junior world both in singles and doubles and will arrive in Perugia with the ambition to amaze.
Cancellotti: “It will be a special edition” – Tournament director Francesco Cancellotti can’t wait to get started: “We are coming to a special edition, the one that celebrates the tenth anniversary of the Internazionali di Tennis Città di Perugia | G.I.Ma. Tennis Cup. As director, I am excited and happy to be able to welcome the best international players to my city, Perugia, this year too. I am sure that the fans of Perugia, the entire Umbria Region and beyond, will make their warmth felt by packing the stands of the splendid Tennis Club Perugia. The technical level, like every year, guarantees us a unique show. As many as 4 Top 100 players, including the Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena and the Italian Luca Nardi. How can we not mention our Francesco Passaro, who is also present this year in his home tournament and to whom I wish all the best. It will be a special edition, the one that celebrates the tenth anniversary of the tournament, which has stood out on the international scene for its charm and the presence of an extraordinary audience. The ATP, on the occasion of the tenth edition, will reward the event for this achievement and I invite the whole city to take part in the event”.
Greetings from the Sports Councillor Pierluigi Vossi – “Celebrating the tenth edition of the Internazionali di Tennis Città di Perugia means recognising the value that this tournament has been able to build over the years, becoming a sporting event of international importance – said the Sports Councillor of the Municipality of Perugia, Pierluigi Vossi –. The Perugia Tennis Club, with its clay courts and the warmth of our public, is the ideal setting to welcome great athletes and enthusiasts. As a municipal administration, we are proud to support an event that combines sport, promotion of the territory and active participation. This event is not just a sporting competition, but a moment of celebration for the whole city, capable of enhancing Perugia as a place of sport and culture at a European level.”