Tennis might not command the same global stage in Africa as in other regions, but the continent’s passion for the sport is undeniable. While Morocco hosts an ATP 250 tournament in Marrakech, the rest of Africa only sees ATP Challenger events or ITF-level competitions. The success of Eliakim Coulibaly at the Abidjan Challenger underscores the fervor for tennis in Ivory Coast and beyond.
On Sunday, April 27, Coulibaly captured the Challenger title in front of a home crowd in Abidjan. Ranked No. 324 in the world and seeded seventh, he defeated top-seeded Tunisian Aziz Dougaz in a thrilling comeback. Dougaz claimed the first set 7-6, but Coulibaly stormed back to take the next two sets 6-4, 6-4, securing the first ATP-sanctioned title in Ivory Coast’s history.
Ivory Coast’s President, Alassane Dramane Ouattara, declared Monday a special day off to celebrate Coulibaly’s achievement. The 22-year-old will also be immortalized with a statue in his hometown of Abidjan, recognizing him as the country’s first ATP title winner.
Coulibaly is no stranger to breaking records. Prior to his Challenger victory, he held the national record for ITF titles with 10 wins. His latest milestone has inspired hope for the growth of tennis in Africa and further international recognition.
How does the ATP calendar look?
The ATP schedule features tournaments of varying significance across the globe, with a typical calendar for top players following a familiar rhythm. The season kicks off in Oceania with preparatory events leading to the year’s first Grand Slam: the Australian Open.
From there, some players transition to Europe or the United States, while others head to South America to compete in the clay-court swing. Between March and April, the first two Masters 1000 events of the year, Indian Wells and Miami, are held in the U.S.
The action then shifts to Europe for the clay-court season, building up to Roland Garros. Key tournaments in this stretch include the Monte Carlo Masters, Madrid Open, and Rome Masters. After the French Open, the tour briefly moves to grass courts to prepare for Wimbledon.
By August, players return to North America for the summer hard-court series, including the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Masters, before the final Grand Slam of the year: the U.S. Open. The season concludes with an Asian swing featuring the Shanghai Masters and a European finale with the Paris Masters and ATP Finals.
What’s next on the ATP Tour?
The semifinals of the Madrid Open are currently underway, with Francisco Cerundolo, Casper Ruud, Jack Draper, and Lorenzo Musetti vying for the title in the Spanish capital.
The clay-court season will then proceed to the Rome Masters, beginning on May 7, marking the much-anticipated return of Jannik Sinner to the tour after serving a three-month suspension for a doping violation.
Following the Italian event, the focus will shift to the ATP 500 in Hamburg and the ATP 250 in Geneva, leading up to the final marquee clay-court event of the season: Roland Garros, where Novak Djokovic will aim to secure his record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title.