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Fonseca follows in Sinner’s footsteps with Lexington Challenger title

  • Posted: Aug 04, 2024

Joao Fonseca etched his name in the record books Sunday when the 17-year-old became the youngest Brazilian to win an ATP Challenger Tour title.

The #NextGenATP star, who strengthened his claim on sixth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, did not drop a set en route to his Lexington Challenger triumph. Competing in his second final at that level, Fonseca showed no signs of nerves as he defeated Australian Li Tu 6-1, 6-4 to clinch the trophy. The teenager fell on his back in relief after securing the milestone victory.

“I’m really happy to win my first title. It means a lot to me,” Fonseca told commentator Bryan Fenley. “One year after of my first big title, which was the US Open juniors. I’m really, really happy. It was not easy. Really hard work back home. I really want to thank my coaches, my parents, they’ve supported me my whole life, not only incentivising me to play tennis, but also with being a good kid with maturity. It’s really nice.”

The Lexington Challenger has featured a trio of 17-year-old champions since 2019, including Jannik Sinner, current World No. 1, who won the hard-court event five years ago Sunday. China’s Shang Juncheng triumphed in 2022. Coincidentally, Fonseca is just one day younger than Sinner was when the Italian won in Lexington.

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The 2023 US Open boys’ singles champion, who reached the quarter-finals at this year’s tour-level events in Rio de Janeiro and Bucharest, is set to climb 48 spots to World No. 166 in Monday’s PIF ATP Rankings, marking his Top 200 debut. Fonseca is aiming for his maiden trip to the 20-and-under Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, which runs from 18-22 December in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

“I try not to think so much about ranking, just try to improve week after week, day by day,” Fonseca said. “I just try to improve my game and to win matches. I try to develop not only as a player, but also a person.”

Fonseca is the seventh-youngest player from South America to claim a Challenger title and second-youngest from the continent to win a hard-court tournament at that level. Only Juan Martin del Potro was one month younger when he won a hard-court Challenger.

Youngest South American-born Players to win a Challenger title (since 1978)

Player Age Title
Juan Martin del Potro 17 years, 1 month, 13 days 2005 Montevideo
Horacio De La Pena 17 years, 1 month, 17 days 1983 Thessaloniki
Juan Martin del Potro 17 years, 6 months 2006 Aguascalientes
Gabriel Silberstein 17 years, 9 months 1993 Ribeirao
Mauricio Hadad 17 years, 10 months 1989 Bogota
Juan Martin del Potro 17 years, 10 months 2006 Segovia
Joao Fonseca 17 years, 11 months 2024 Lexington

In other ATP Challenger Tour action, August Holmgren captured his second title in three weeks by triumphing at the Porto Open in Portugal, where the Dane defeated sixth-seeded Spaniard Alejandro Moro Canas 7-6(3), 7-6(6) in the final.

<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/08/04/19/05/holmgren-portoch-2024.jpg” style=”width:100%;” alt=”August Holmgren celebrates winning the Porto Challenger.” />
August Holmgren celebrates winning the Porto Challenger. Credit: Lourenco A Rodrigues

A 2022 graduate of the University of San Diego who fell to Ben Shelton in that year’s NCAA singles championship match, Holmgren saved a match point in Saturday’s semi-finals against third seed Mikhail Kukushkin.

Following his title run, the 26-year-old is up to No. 167 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, one spot behind Fonseca, setting the Dane up for a new career-high Monday. Two weeks ago, Holmgren won the Pozoblanco Challenger, his first title at that level.

Belgian Raphael Collignon won his maiden Challenger title at the Platzmann Open in Luedenscheid, Germany. The 22-year-old rallied past top seed Botic van de Zandschulp 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the final.

Hugo Dellien collected his 12th Challenger title and second in the past month with a dominant run at the Svijany Open 2024 in Liberec, Czech Republic. The 31-year-old Bolivian dropped one set all week, overcoming Dane Elmer Moller 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 in the final.

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Lammons & Withrow claim Washington crown

  • Posted: Aug 04, 2024

Americans Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow have jumped into Nitto ATP Finals qualifying contention after claiming their second title in as many weeks in the final of the Mubadala Citi DC Open Sunday.

After winning in Atlanta last week, the pair defeated Brazilian duo Marcelo Melo and Rafael Matos 7-5, 6-3 in the final in Washington. They became the first all-American champions at the ATP 500 since Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan in 2015.

“Lucky for us it was a little hot and we could kind of bring the heat today,” Lammons said during the trophy ceremony. “Thanks to my partner Jackson. We got some good momentum going the last couple of weeks. We love playing here in the States.”

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The Americans put on a strong display of serving, winning 87 per cent of their first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats. They dropped just 10 points on serve and defended both break points against them en route to taking an eighth ATP Tour title as a pair.

After the home triumph, Withrow thanked the Washington fans for their support: “You guys have been amazing all week for us,” he told the stadium crowd. “We feel the energy, we feel like you guys love doubles.”

Rising four places to ninth in the PIF ATP Doubles Rankings, the Americans head to the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers in Montreal, where they will face Tomas Martin Etcheverry and Alejandro Tabilo in the opening round.

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Djokovic completes his Golden Slam puzzle: ‘I can’t wait for the celebration’

  • Posted: Aug 04, 2024

The long wait is over for Novak Djokovic.

After nearly two decades of consistently winning the biggest titles and breaking some of the most difficult records that tennis has to offer, the Serbian on Sunday finally added an Olympic gold medal to his sizeable collection of honours. Djokovic, who has long spoken of winning Olympic gold for his country as one of his most sought-after goals, was visibly emotional after overcoming Carlos Alcaraz in a gripping encounter in Paris.

“I’m overwhelmed with everything that I’m feeling right now,” said Djokovic in post-match comments to NBC. “Millions of different emotions of course: positive, too proud, too happy. The possibility to fight for a gold and to win a gold for the first time in my career for my country is arguably the biggest success I ever had.

“Of course, I want everything there is to win in my individual career, but winning Davis Cup and particularly the golden medal at an Olympic Games for Serbia at the age of thirty-seven is unprecedented. Just starting my celebration, I can’t wait for what’s coming up in the next forty-eight hours.”

Long acknowledged as one of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen, Djokovic added an Olympic gold medal to his record 24 major singles titles by overcoming Alcaraz in a pair of tie-breaks. The Serbian is the fifth player to complete the Career Golden Slam by winning all four Grand Slam events and Olympic gold in singles, after Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams.

“Yes, [my] puzzle, it is [complete],” acknowledged Djokovic, who has spent more weeks as No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings than any other player (428). “I’m telling myself always that I am enough, because I can be very self-critical. It’s probably one of the biggest internal battles that I keep on fighting with myself, that I don’t feel like I’ve done enough. That I haven’t been enough in my life, on the court and off the court, so it’s a big lesson for me.

“I’m super grateful for the blessing to win a historic gold medal for my country, to complete the Golden Slam, to complete all the records.”

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Alcaraz's silver lining after Djokovic defeat: 'My moment will come'

  • Posted: Aug 04, 2024

There was no golden ending for Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Yet despite his disappointment at his defeat to Novak Djokovic in the gold-medal match on Court Philippe-Chatrier, the Olympic flame inside the Spaniard remains well and truly alight.

“I always want to win, that’s for sure, but taking the silver medal, I have to be really proud,” said Alcaraz in post-match comments made to NBC. “I’m building a really great career and I hope it’s going to keep going.

“Honestly, I’m pretty proud to be in this position, I’m pretty proud to bring a medal to Spain. I’m pretty sure that my moment will come, and I will bring the gold medal to Spain one day. So I’m going to wait for that moment and I’m going to work for that moment, but right now I have to enjoy lifting the silver medal, it’s pretty amazing as well.”

Alcaraz has good reason to feel confident about the future. Sunday’s loss was a rare low moment in what has otherwise been a largely stellar year for the Spaniard. He lifted his third and fourth major titles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, respectively, while he also lifted his fifth ATP Masters 1000 crown in Indian Wells in March.

The No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings also knows how close he was to Djokovic in Sunday’s high-level encounter. Alcaraz forced the Serbian to fend off eight break points en route to victory, and he will leave Paris satisfied he gave his all in pursuit of Olympic glory.

‘It is painful to lose the way that I lost this match. I had my opportunities… I couldn’t take them,” said Alcaraz. “Novak is playing great, he really settled in his position, in the difficult moments he increased his level, he played unbelievable. I’m really disappointed but honestly, I’m going to leave the court with my head really high. I gave everything that I had fighting for Spain, it was everything to me so I’m proud the way that I played today.”

The next few months also promise plenty for Alcaraz, who is currently 38-7 for the season and second in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. He is next set to compete at the Cincinnati Open later this month, when he will resume his pursuit of rival and current Live Race leader Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz is bidding to finish the season as ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF for the second time.

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Djokovic extends big titles lead with Olympic gold

  • Posted: Aug 04, 2024

Novak Djokovic once again rewrote the record books on Sunday at the Paris Olympics. 

The 37-year-old defeated Carlos Alcaraz in a scintillating gold-medal match to claim his first Olympics gold medal. By doing so, the Serbian has now won every ‘Big Title’ up for offer and completed the Career Golden Slam.

Djokovic owns 72 ‘Big Titles’, which are a combination of Grand Slam championships, trophies at the Nitto ATP Finals and ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, and Olympic singles gold medals. The Serbian has claimed at least one Big Title in 16 of the past 18 seasons.

No other player has won Olympic singles gold, a major and all nine Masters 1000 events. The Serbian owns the standalone men’s record for championships at Grand Slams (24), Nitto ATP Finals (7) and Masters 1000s (40). 

The Olympics have long been Djokovic’s white whale. A bronze medalist in Beijing, the Serbian finished fourth in London and Tokyo. After losing to Alcaraz in straight sets last month in the Wimbledon final, he flipped the script in Paris. 

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Djokovic has won one ‘Big Title’ for every 3.1 events played (72/225). The player closest to him in winning rate at these events is Rafael Nadal, who has won one for every 3.5 tournaments played.

The 99-time tour-level titlist will now turn his attention to becoming the third player to eclipse the 100-titles mark, joining Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103), according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Current and Former Champions’ Big Titles Won (20+ Big Titles, Records Since 1990)

<td data-sheets-value=”{‘1′:2,’2′:’Nitto ATP Finals’}” style=”color: #1f2223; padding: 2px 3px; border-bottom-color: #000000; border-right-color: #000000; border-top-color: #000000; text-align: left;”>NATPF

<td data-sheets-value=”{‘1′:2,’2′:’Novak Djokovic’}” style=”color: #00aeef; padding: 2px 3px; border-bottom-color: #000000; border-left-color: #000000; border-right-color: #000000; text-align: left;”>N. Djokovic

<td data-sheets-value=”{‘1′:2,’2′:’Rafael Nadal’}” style=”color: #00aeef; padding: 2px 3px; border-bottom-color: #000000; border-left-color: #000000; border-right-color: #000000; text-align: left;”>R. Nadal

<td data-sheets-value=”{‘1′:2,’2′:’Roger Federer’}” style=”color: #00aeef; padding: 2px 3px; border-bottom-color: #000000; border-left-color: #000000; border-right-color: #000000; text-align: left;”>R. Federer

<td data-sheets-value=”{‘1′:2,’2′:’Pete Sampras’}” style=”color: #00aeef; padding: 2px 3px; border-bottom-color: #000000; border-left-color: #000000; border-right-color: #000000; text-align: left;”>P. Sampras

<td data-sheets-value=”{‘1′:2,’2′:’Andre Agassi’}” style=”color: #00aeef; padding: 2px 3px; border-bottom-color: #000000; border-left-color: #000000; border-right-color: #000000; text-align: left;”>A. Agassi

<td data-sheets-value=”{‘1′:2,’2′:’Andy Murray’}” style=”color: #00aeef; padding: 2px 3px; border-bottom-color: #000000; border-left-color: #000000; border-right-color: #000000; text-align: left;”>A. Murray

Player Grand Slams 1000s Total^ (Avg)
24/75 7/16 40/130 72/225 (3.1)
22/67 0/11 36/128 59/208 (3.5)
20/81 6/17 28/138 54/240 (4.4)
14/52 5/11 11/83 30/147 (4.9)
8/61 1/13 17/90 27/164 (6.1)
3/61 1/8 14/120 20/191 (9.5)

^Includes Olympic Games gold medals and tournament participations. Djokovic won Olympic singles gold in 2024, Murray in 2012 and 2016, Nadal in 2008 and Agassi in 1996.

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Luka Doncic, Matthew McConaughey, Roddick congratulate Djokovic on Olympic gold

  • Posted: Aug 04, 2024

Novak Djokovic completed his wish list on Sunday when he finally claimed an Olympic gold medal for the first time with his win against Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the Paris Olympics.

Stars from inside and outside the tennis world quickly congratulated the Serbian. NBA star Luka Doncic, actor Matthew McConaughey, Juan Martin del Potro, Martina Navratilova and plenty more were among those who took to social media after the match ended.

ATPTour.com looks at some of those posts below.

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Djokovic edges Alcaraz to complete career Golden Grand Slam

  • Posted: Aug 04, 2024

Novak Djokovic added some last-gasp gold plating to his all-time great career in spectacular style on Sunday afternoon in Paris. By battling past his great rival Carlos Alcaraz with his finest display of the 2024 season, the 37-year-old Serbian completed his emotional final step to the ‘Golden Slam’ of winning all four majors and an Olympic gold medal.

Djokovic overcame the in-form Alcaraz 7-6(3), 7-6(2) on Court Philippe-Chatrier to become champion, at what is likely to be his final Olympic games, just eight and a half weeks after undergoing meniscus surgery on his right leg. The top seed pulled through a pair of tie-breaks, including in an epic 94-minute first set, to close out victory against his great rival in a match of the highest quality.

“We almost played three hours for two sets. It was an incredible battle, incredible fight,” said Djokovic, who was comprehensively outplayed by Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final only last month. “When the last shot went past him, that was the only moment I actually thought I could win the match. I mean I believed that I could win, but to actually win it, because he keeps on coming back. He keeps on asking me to play my best tennis.

“I don’t know what to say. I’m still in shock, honestly. I put my heart, my soul, my body, my family, my everything on the line to win Olympic gold at age 37. I finally did it.”

With his victory on Court Philippe-Chatrier, Djokovic fulfilled a long-held objective of clinching the one significant prize in singles tennis that has eluded him for so long. The record 24-time Grand Slam champion was visibly emotional and tearful after firing a forehand winner past Alcaraz to seal his spot at the top of the podium.

“Everything [about this is special], but most of all it is my country,” said Djokovic. “It’s my pride to play for Serbia. I know Carlos and Rafa [Nadal], they love to play for Spain. Andy [Murray] loved to play for Great Britain. Roger [Federer] for Switzerland. Alex Zverev won in Tokyo for Germany. You saw the reactions of all these guys when they win. It’s something special.”

Djokovic had not won a tour-level title in 2024 prior to arriving in Paris, but after claiming gold in the French capital he has become just the fifth player — after Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams — to complete the ‘Golden Slam’ of winning all four major titles and an Olympic gold medal in singles.

Players To Complete ‘Golden Slam’ Of Winning All Four Majors & Olympic Gold

Player Year Completed
Steffi Graf  1988
Andre Agassi  1999
Rafael Nadal  2010
Serena Williams  2012
Novak Djokovic  2024

Both Djokovic and his great rival Alcaraz showcased remarkable resilience under pressure as a first set featuring 13 break points (Djokovic 5, Alcaraz 8) somehow reached a tie-break without a break of serve. The highlights included Alcaraz rallying from 0/40 to hold in the fourth game, while Djokovic pulled through a see-saw ninth game, packed with scintillating tennis from both players, having faced five break points.

Djokovic’s final break point of the set doubled as a set point at 6-5, 30/40. Although he could not convert, the Serbian retained his composure to reel off four straight points from 3/3 in the tie-break and move ahead on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

In contrast to the opening set, there were few chances on return for both players in the second set. Yet that was not a reflection of any drop in level from two of the world’s top players. Djokovic continued to use variations of pace to keep Alcaraz moving around the court, while the Spaniard, who fended off the only break point of the set in the third game, responded with some trademark moments of shotmaking magic.

Djokovic consistently found a way to force errors from his powerful opponent, however, and also produced his fair share of high-class winners. A rasping, cross-court forehand winner at 2/2 in the second-set tie-break was illustrative of just how dialled in the Serbian was, and he did not blink as he reeled off the next four points to clinch the match.

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Alcaraz was aiming to add an Olympic title to his already-stellar summer, during which he won his third and fourth Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, respectively. However, the 21-year-old Spaniard could not forge a breakthrough on return against Djokovic, who saved all eight break points he faced and won 78 per cent (53/68) of points behind his first serve.

“It is painful to lose the way that I lost this match,” said Alcaraz, who was the youngest man to contest a singles gold-medal match since the Olympic Tennis Event returned in 1988. “I had my opportunities… I couldn’t take them. Novak is playing great, he really settled in his position, in the difficult moments he increased his level, he played unbelievable.

“I’m really disappointed but honestly, I’m going to leave the court with my head really high. I gave everything that I had fighting for Spain. It was everything to me so I’m proud the way that I played today.”

Sunday’s encounter was the second on Court Philippe-Chatrier between the No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings Djokovic and No. 3 Alcaraz after Djokovic triumphed in the 2022 Roland Garros semi-finals. The Serbian now leads the pair’s overall Lexus ATP Head2Head series 4-3.

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