The Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open begins on April 6, 2025, with a week of scorching tennis in Sarasota, Florida. The ATP Challenger Tour tournament, played on the slow green clay courts, takes place until April 13, with qualifying rounds kicking off on Sunday and the singles final on the last day.

It's a race that combines raw talent and seasoned ability, bringing spectators in to see who will hold up or improve on a surface that tests endurance as much as flair.

Kids' Day on opening day provides complimentary admission to 18-year-olds and younger, $10 adult admission, creating a family environment.

A History of Clay and Champions

Since its inaugural edition in 2008 as the Hurricane Open, the Sarasota Open has accounted for 15 editions, skipping two years during the pandemic.

It's become a launchpad for stars, with early champions like Kei Nishikori (2008), Nick Kyrgios (2014), and Frances Tiafoe (2017) going on to establish themselves in the ATP's upper echelons.

Today, these veterans are considered a safe bet for their skills and experience, but for those who are willing to give the young talent a chance through betting, there is currently a fliff promo offering bonus coins through their sweepstakes model, also for sportsbooks.

Recent champions like Thanasi Kokkinakis (2024), Daniel Altmaier (2023), and Daniel Elahi Galán (2022) are carrying the tradition forward, mixing fresh faces with players battling their way back to form. The clay courts have long been the levelling factor here, rewarding those capable of grinding rather than overpowering.

New Venue, New Style

This year brought in some changes to the tournament, a major one being its relocation to Sarasota Sports Club, leaving Payne Park Tennis Center after its 2022–2024 tenure.

The history of the tournament is quite a journey through Southwest Florida, Bradenton's United Tennis Center in 2008, Longboat Key in 2009–2014, Lakewood Ranch in 2015–2016, and back to Bradenton in 2017. The Sarasota Sports Club today has 19 Har-Tru clay courts, with a stadium court ringed by a lake and a 30,000-square-foot clubhouse. The step is part of the new ownership's initiative since 2022 to improve the experience, with hopes of beating last year's 4,000-plus ticket sales and cementing itself as a Challenger standout.

The 2025 Contenders

The singles draw matches 32 main-draw players against one another, with 16 more fighting through qualifiers beginning April 6.

As of early April, the field's still coming together, but recent ATP rankings and recent performances suggest three top favorites. The $175,000 prize purse, up from $82,000 in 2024, tying 2023's increase, adds fuel to the battle. Here's who's in the spotlight.

Top Pick: JJ Wolf

JJ Wolf, ranked World No. 94 or thereabouts, is the favorite this year. The American's aggressive baseline game is well-suited to clay, with semifinals in Florence (2022) and Dallas (2023) showing his form.

He defeated Frances Tiafoe in Dallas this year and reached the third round of the Australian Open in January 2025. At 26, Wolf is at his peak at the right moment, his power can overwhelm if he becomes accustomed to Sarasota's low-bouncing court.

Clay Specialist: Juan Pablo Varillas

Juan Pablo Varillas, just shy of No. 95, is built for this surface.

The Peruvian entered the Top 100 for the first time in 2022 at No. 60 following a Roland Garros fourth-round showing in 2023. A win at the Challenger in Santiago, Chile, in March 2025 shows that he's fit, employing ferocious topspin and tireless defense.

At 29, his guile can last longer than fresher legs in the climate of Florida.

Wildcard Threat: Ethan Quinn

No. 253 Ethan Quinn is the wild card to watch. The Georgia-born former NCAA singles champion turned pro in 2023 and played Indian Wells this year on a qualie, and he impressed.

His results on clay in 2024 were promising, and at 21 years old, he has the brute power to surprise folks. A lower seed will mean an equally tricky draw, but a couple of upsets are not out of the question.

Wolf's consistency is the advantage he has, but Varillas' control of clay and the potential Quinn has makes it a toss-up.

The Sarasota Sports Club's immaculate courts may be to the advantage of aggressors or disadvantageous if the clay is slower than normal. This Challenger visit during April 11–12 semifinals and April 13 final assures the raw, unfiltered tennis the fans desire.