Orleans Challenger Celebrates 20 Years of Tennis, Art, and Cuisine

Celebrating 20 Years of the Orleans Challenger: A Symphony of Tennis, Art, and French Cuisine

Experience culinary artistry daily, with a different celebrated chef in the kitchen, while every champion leaves with a unique painting.

Date: September 26, 2025

The Co’Met Orléans Open embodies more than just another ATP Challenger Tour stop; it serves as a vibrant celebration of tennis, cultural heritage, and French culinary excellence.

This week, as it commemorates two decades of tradition, the indoor hard-court tournament has solidified its reputation for offering an unparalleled experience to players and spectators alike.

“I wish I were 20! But it’s the tournament that reaches this age,” chuckled tournament director Didier Gerard in a video shared on the Co’Met Orléans Open YouTube channel. “I never imagined staging so many tournaments. Organizing such an event is incredibly complex, but thanks to my team, we’ve consistently excelled every year.”

From its inception, Gerard envisioned a distinctive experience. Rather than simply hosting a tennis event, he aimed to create an unforgettable occasion, incorporating the essence of French gastronomy. Every day, a top-tier chef delights players and guests with exquisite meals. This year’s culinary stars include Bernard Vaussion, a former executive chef at the Élysée Palace, who has served six French presidents over four decades.

It’s no surprise that around 26,000 enthusiastic fans flock to the Co’Met Orléans Open each year. However, the event faced challenges during its early years, as Gerard recalls.

“On the inaugural day in 2005 at 2 p.m., I turned to my wife, Séverine, and said, ‘The tournament isn’t going to succeed,’” he remembered. “I genuinely feared that we might not make it through the week due to the numerous difficulties we faced. Running an event is a whole different ballgame compared to being a player.”

“Yet another cherished memory was that final Sunday when my first partners told me, ‘Everything was fantastic; can’t wait for next year!’ So, I experienced both water and fire in the same week.”

The tournament’s identity is also uniquely tied to art. Instead of traditional trophies, champions receive a one-of-a-kind painting from a local artist, ensuring a memorable keepsake that won’t collect dust in a trophy cabinet.

Jubilation for @jakefearnley01 🎉🏆#ATPChallenger | @the_LTA pic.twitter.com/QEbz1CNWu3

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) September 29, 2024

Initially held at the vintage Palais des Sports, with its nostalgic 1970s flair, the Orleans Challenger transitioned to the state-of-the-art Arena Co’Met in 2023. The Challenger 125 event boasts former No. 4 player Sebastien Grosjean as its ambassador.

Over the years, the Orleans Challenger has welcomed an impressive lineup of tennis stars, including World No. 2 Jannik Sinner, who made his mark here at just 18 years old as the then No. 128 ranked player in 2019. Jack Draper was a finalist in 2023, while Daniil Medvedev reached the quarter-finals in 2016, sharing the spotlight with Andrey Rublev, who made a semi-final appearance as a lucky loser. Local favorites like Richard Gasquet, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Ugo Humbert have also electrified the crowds.

A particularly memorable championship match unfolded in 2010, pitting Nicolas Mahut against a young Grigor Dimitrov, who was just 19 at the time. Mahut saved a championship point and secured his victory in a nail-biting deciding-set tie-break.

Beyond unforgettable games like the thrilling 2010 final, the Co’Met Orléans Open has cultivated a distinctive identity, winning the hearts of players for twenty remarkable years.

“When players arrive at Orleans, they inevitably feel like they’re at an ATP 250 or even 500 event,” Gerard shared. “As Denis Shapovalov mentioned last year, ‘Minimum 250’. Former champion and Top 10 player David Goffin, accustomed to the grandest venues, assured us that the atmosphere here rivals that of an ATP 500.”