Top-tier tennis is on the menu next week in Guadalajara as the sixth edition of the Jalisco Open unfolds at the Polideportivo Metropolitano de Tenis from Tuesday, March 15 through Sunday, March 20.

The quality of the ATP Challenger event improves year after year, tournament president Alejandro Ochoa said at a recent press conference.  “When we began in 2011, our highest classified player was 129th in the world. This year it is Marcos Baghdatis from Cyprus, who is 39th.”

Baghdatis, 30, who reached number eight in the world in 2006, will be joined by five other players in the ATP top 100: Horacio Zeballos (61) of Argentina, Víctor Estrella Burgos (67) of the Dominican Republic, Mikhail Youzhny (76) of Russia, Lucas Pouille (87) of France and Damir Dzumhur (93) of Bosnia. 

The highest ranked Mexican in the 32-player field will be Tigre Hank (446).

Prize money on offer totals US$115,000 dollars.  The winner of the singles competition will take home US$14,400, and 110 ATP points, The winners of the doubles event pocket US$6,200.

Tickets cost 60-120 pesos on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 80-170 pesos on Friday, 90-200 pesos on Saturday and 110-280 pesos on Sunday (finals day). They are available from Ticketmaster or at the gate. Saturday and Sunday tickets should be pre-purchased.

For more information go to http://jalisco-open.com or call (33) 3115-1183.