BARLETTA, January 22, 2016

The ATP Challenger Tour will return to Barletta the week of 11 April. The city is located in the north of Apulia in south eastern Italy and has a current population of about 94,000. It is famous for the Colossus of Barletta, a bronze statue, representing a Roman Emperor.

Aljaz Bedene won the title in 2012

The tournament takes place on red clay at the Circolo Tennis Barletta Hugo Simmen and was last held in 2012 with Aljaz Bedene claiming the title of the €42,500 event. The Slovenian defeated Potito Starace in the final, winning 6-2, 6-0. He also captured the title the year before beating Filippo Volandri in straight sets.

Nadal clinched his first ATP Challenger trophy in Barletta in 2003 (photo: raffaeledambra)

In March 2003 Rafael Nadal – aged 16 at that time – clinched his first of two ATP Challenger titles, winning the final against fellow Spaniard Albert Portas 6-2, 7-6. After lifting the trophy in Barletta, Nadal finished runner-up in Aix-en-Provence in April and took his second title in Segovia in August. One year later he won his first ATP World Tour event in Sopot.