Tennis News

Djokovic withdraws from Cincinnati

Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open, the tournament announced on Thursday.

The Serbian owns a 45-12 record at the ATP Masters 1000 hard-court event, triumphing in 2018, 2020 and 2023. Twelve months ago, Djokovic defeated Carlos Alcaraz in an epic deciding-set tie-break in the title match.

The 37-year-old holds a 29-7 record on the season, having captured his first Olympic gold medal in the men’s singles at the Paris Olympics last week, when he defeated Alcaraz in two tie-breaks less than two months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee to take a 4-3 lead in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

Djokovic is currently sixth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. The seven-time Nitto ATP Finals champion is trying to qualify for the season finale for the 17th time. Since 2007, the only year in which he missed out was 2017. The 2024 year-end championships will be held in Turin from 10-17 November.

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Fonseca's talent so obvious at 2, even the yoga instructor noticed

Of all people, a Brazilian yoga teacher can proudly claim that he was one of the first to recognise Joao Fonseca’s natural athletic ability.

The room inside the Fonseca’s house which is now an office was once an exercise space, where the #NextGenATP star’s father, Christiano, practised jiu-jitsu and had in-home yoga lessons. Meanwhile, a two-year-old Joao would be playing with a ball, as any toddler enjoys. But this was different. The coordination came easy. The reaction time was impressively quick. It was in that same exercise room where Joao and his father began playing mini-tennis matches.

“We made a little net in the middle and I played with my father a lot,” Fonseca told ATPTour.com. “My dad would play a match to 10 and it would be 9/3 and he would make it 9/9, and then sometimes he made me win and other times he would make it 11/9, a win for him. And I cried, I remember.”

Now 17 and one of the fastest-rising names in tennis, Fonseca, who last week won his first ATP Challenger Tour title, grew up a multi-sport athlete, playing soccer and tennis while also participating in jiu-jitsu and judo. It did not take long for the Fonsecas to realise that their son had potential.

“When he was two, we were like, ‘This boy is different,’” Christiano said. “I remember that my yoga teacher came here and he started playing with the ball with Joao and he said to me, ‘This boy is different. He has much more reflexes and coordination than the average.’ Very young, we knew he was different.”

<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/08/08/19/33/fonseca-rio-child.jpg” style=”width:100%;” alt=”Joao Fonseca in Rio.” />
^{Joao Fonseca (far left) attends the ATP 500 event in Rio de Janeiro as a child. Credit: Fonseca family}

From ages eight to 11, Fonseca practised for one hour a day, but that did not fully satisfy his tennis hunger. After practice, he went directly to hit against a wall or to ask his parents to join him for more play.

“In the first tournament that we took him to, he was maybe nine,” Roberta recalled. “All the tournaments were during the weekends so we said, ‘Choose one tournament to go to, because we can’t go all the weekends.’ He chose one tournament and he lost — I don’t remember — the second match.

“He came out to the car and said, ‘Oh please, I’d like to go to another one! Next week!’ He just lost his match and he asked us for the next tournament, because he wants to play again. He loves to compete. I think that’s his motivation.”

Some of the family’s fondest memories came at their mountain vacation home, where they have a tennis court, from which Joao could not be pulled away.

“I remember all the time he was asking somebody to go to the court with him, ‘Please, let’s go to the court! Let’s go to the court!’” Christiano said. “He didn’t carry the racquet. He was just dragging the racquet because it was big for him. It was funny.”

Fonseca formed an immediate bond with coach Guilherme Teixeira at age 12. The teen not only looks to Teixeira for tennis guidance, but also considers him a second father and best friend.

Sixth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, Fonseca accelerated to new heights last year when he and Teixeira made a tournament agreement — during the US Open boys’ singles event — that has since stuck.

“I stay only with WhatsApp. Only familiar people, good friends I try to answer on WhatsApp. Instagram, I can’t have my Instagram before a match and after a match,” Fonseca said of his distraction-less approach. “So when I start a tournament, I barely see my Instagram. More of my WhatsApp, I need to talk with [my team] sometimes, my family.”

By spending less time on social media, Fonseca saw direct and immediate correlation in his on-court results. The teen went on to capture the junior crown at the US Open. Starting this year at World No. 730 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Fonseca has skyrocketed more than 500 places, hitting a career-high No. 166 on Monday after winning the ATP Challenger Tour 75 event in Lexington, Kentucky.

<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/08/08/16/02/fonseca-us-open-2023-emotion.jpg” style=”width:100%;” alt=”An emotional Joao Fonseca celebrates winning the 2023 US Open boys’ singles title.” />
^{An emotional Joao Fonseca celebrates winning the 2023 US Open boys’ singles title. Credit: Sarah Stier/Getty Images}

Fonseca did not drop a set across five matches to become the youngest Brazilian champion in Challenger history (since 1978). And on the five-year anniversary of Jannik Sinner’s triumph at that same event, the Lexington Challenger crowned Fonseca. The Rio de Janeiro native lifted the title just one day younger (17 years, 11 months, 17 days) than the Italian.

Sinner won in Lexington and three months later he emerged victorious at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, the 20-and-under event which Fonseca is aiming to play at for the first time.

“In the ceremony, they gave me the trophy and announced, ‘Lexington is the first Challenger to have three 17-year-old champions. He said Shang Juncheng, Jannik Sinner,” Fonseca said.
“That’s really nice.”

Twenty minutes after making history Sunday, Fonseca kindly took the time to hit with three ballkids at the University of Kentucky’s indoor courts. When Fonseca’s self-imposed phone ban was lifted after collecting the trophy, he read a plethora of congratulatory messages, some from Brazilian surfer Pedro Scooby, Flamengo centre-back Leo Ortiz and former doubles World No. 2 Bruno Soares, among others.

Fans on social media are quick to refer to Fonseca with nicknames such as, ‘Little Sinner’ or ‘Another Guga’, in reference to Gustavo Kuerten, Brazil’s lone player to reach World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings. Through all the praise and promise, Fonseca is focussed on, “just trying to be Joao”.

<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/08/08/15/52/fonseca-kuerten-lexington-challenger-2024-feature.jpg” style=”width:100%;” alt=”Joao Fonseca (far right) and a friend meet Gustavo Kuerten.” />
^{Joao Fonseca (far right) and a friend meet Gustavo Kuerten. Credit: Fonseca family}

Fonseca, the youngest player in the Top 200, is proud of his mental resilience in Lexington. He arrived at the tournament having lost four of his past five matches across all levels. The two-time tour-level quarter-finalist avenged his most recent loss to Gabriel Diallo in the last eight and due to rain earlier in the week, Fonseca returned to court later that day for a semi-final victory.

Celebrating his 18th birthday on 21 August, Fonseca kept his cool when serving out the final, firing his signature inside-in forehand at 15/0. He fell on his back in relief when he clinched the championship, placing his hands over his eyes. Fonseca became the second-youngest player from South America to win a hard-court Challenger, only behind former World No. 3 Juan Martin del Potro.

“The way that I managed to win this tournament, those matches with mental strength and physical strength. I’m really happy to find a way to win those difficult matches against really good players,” Fonseca said.

“Five years from now I’m probably going to say that I’m going to be grateful for me trying to make this mental change so early, at 17. I wanna go to the pro tour and play the big tournaments, but I will be grateful for this week.”

Lexington is where the future shines 💫

2019 👉 Jannik Sinner
2024 👉 Joao Fonseca#OnTheRise | @atptour pic.twitter.com/WmB84yK0Pi

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) August 4, 2024

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Zverev races to third round in Montreal, Rublev advances

Alexander Zverev wasted little time in earning a Tour-leading 48th win of the season on Thursday at the Omnium Banque National présenté par Rogers in Montreal, where he cruised past Australian Jordan Thompson 6-1, 6-1 to reach the third round.

The No. 4 player in the PIF ATP Rankings was competing on hard courts for the first time since his semi-final run in March in Maimi but adjusted quickly to advance after 63 minutes.

Zverev dominated on serve, winning 95 per cent (18/19) of points behind his first delivery, according to Infosys ATP Stats, while he tallied a 20-8 winners-to-unforced errors ratio to avenge his semi-final defeat to Thompson in Los Cabos earlier this year and level their Lexus ATP Head2Head series at 2-2.

The second-seeded German has fond memories in Montreal, having defeated Roger Federer in straight sets to win the title in 2017 when he was aged 20.

Zverev will continue his quest this week at the ATP Masters 1000 hard-court event against 13th seed Holger Rune, who ousted Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta 6-1, 6-3.

The 27-year-old Zverev, a titlist in Rome earlier this year, is third in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. A deep run in Canada will further boost his chances of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals, an event he has won twice (2018, 2021).

Seeds Casper Ruud, Andrey Rublev and Grigor Dimitrov also advanced. Ruud defeated Australian James Duckworth 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3 while Rublev beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6(3), 6-2. Dimitrov downed Rinky Hijikata 6-1, 6-0.

Rublev won his second Masters 1000 title in Madrid earlier this year and has now equalled his best result at the Canadian Masters 1000 event by reaching the third round. He will next play Brandon Nakashima.

Australian Alexei Popyrin upset 11th seed Ben Shelton 6-4, 7-6(4) to level their Lexus ATP Head2Head series at 1-1. Shelton last year spoiled Popyrin’s hopes at his home Slam in Melbourne, where the lefty earned a third-round victory in straight sets.

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Nishikori stuns Tsitsipas, Foki floors Medvedev

Kei Nishikori earned his first Top 20 win since 2021 on Thursday at the Omnium Banque National présenté par Rogers in Montreal, where he upset World No. 11 Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4 to reach the third round at ATP Masters 1000 level for the first time in three years.

The Japanese lefty, currently No. 576 in the PIF ATP Rankings, rolled back the years with an impressive display against Tsitsipas to become the third lowest-ranked player to reach the last 16 at an ATP Masters 1000 event since the series began in 1990.

“It means a lot,” Nishikori said after reaching the third round. “I am playing well and feels I am back on track again, so I am really happy with the way I played today.”

Nishikori won 92 per cent (11/12) of net points and 60 per cent (9/15) of points on Tsitsipas’ second-serve, according to Infosys ATP Stats, to advance after just 79 minutes at the hard-court event.

“Beating Stef is not easy and for me it is a great win,” Nishikori added. “I stayed aggressive and was not missing too many balls today. It was much better than the first round.”

The 2016 finalist, making his ninth appearance at the Canadian Masters 1000 tournament, will next face 12th-seeded Frenchman Ugo Humbert or Portugal’s Nuno Borges.

Nishikori is a 12-time tour-level titlist and rose to a career-high No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings in 2015. The 34-year-old has been plagued by injuries in recent years and prior to Tuesday’s win against Alex Michelsen, had not earned a victory at ATP Masters 1000 level since Indian Wells in 2021.

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina also scored a major upset when he overcame World No. 5 Daniil Medvedev for just his third Top 5 win.

The Spaniard fired 24 winners en route to a 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 triumph against 2021 champion Medvedev. With his one-hour, 56-minute win, Davidovich Fokina improved to 1-4 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

The 25-year-old, who reached the semi-finals at the Canadian ATP Masters 1000 event last year in Toronto, will next play Karen Khachanov or Matteo Arnaldi.

Medvedev was competing in his first hard-court match since he reached the semi-finals in Miami in March. The 2020 Nitto ATP Finals champ, who is fourth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, is still seeking his first title since May 2023 when he won in Rome.

In a lunchtime of upsets, American qualifier Brandon Nakashima defeated countryman Tommy Paul 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-1 to reach the third round at a Masters 1000 event for the second time.

The 2022 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF champion saved both break points he faced, hit 26 winners and just 11 unforced errors to seal his win after two hours and 14 minutes.

Nakashima holds a 3-0 Lexus ATP Head2Head record against Paul, having also earned wins against the 10th seed in 2022 and 2023. Nakashima will next play fifth seed Andrey Rublev or Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

Paul’s early exit means he missed the chance to climb in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. The American is 10th in the Live Race To Turin and 150 points behind eighth-placed Tsitsipas, who occupies the final qualification spot. Paul is 34-13 on the season and has clinched crowns in Dallas and Queen’s Club.

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Machac on Olympics relationship speculation: 'The story deserves a movie or a book at least!'

The biggest story of tennis at the Paris Olympics was Novak Djokovic securing the gold medal, the most important title he was missing. The Serbian emerging victorious was not a surprise.

What is a surprise is that nearly a week later, there is a tennis-related story making international headlines with people from outside of the sport declaring it worthy of a movie, even earning a segment on the TODAY Show, one of the biggest morning shows in the United States.

That story is the gold-medal mixed doubles run of Czech mixed doubles pair Tomas Machac and Katerina Siniakova. Two days before the start of the competition, news circulated in the Czech media that the longtime partners had separated three weeks prior.

“I think everybody was curious from the beginning, because we said that we are not together before the tournament,” Machac told ATPTour.com. “The media tried to push it before the Olympics. I don’t know why, but it was one or two days before the game, so it wasn’t easy for us. But we have a good relationship between us together.”

The Czechs won their first three matches in straight sets, including a first-round victory against top-seeded Germans Laura Siegemund and Alexander Zverev, who clinched the United Cup for their country earlier this year. The deeper Machac and Siniakova advanced, the closer fans paid attention to the nature of their relationship. They had separated, but were getting along perfectly well on court.

The big question after they claimed the gold medal against China’s Wang Xinyu and Zhang Zhizhen and shared a celebratory kiss was whether they were back together.

“Everybody was watching us, what we are going to do, or how does it look like. But we shared a lot of time together there, so I think everybody was curious about it,” Machac said. “But after in Czech, they started to ask lots of questions. But we keep our privacy, so I think it’s the better way, to keep your privacy.”

At the same time, Machac completely understands the fans’ fascination with their story and does not mind it.

“I think the story deserves a movie or a book at least,” Machac said. “I think somebody has to pick us up and say that we need to write it, or we need to film the movie, because this is not happening every day for sure. I think it’s a really interesting story. And let’s see, in the future, maybe we can share something.”

For Machac, the Olympics are of the “highest value”. Beyond the relationship talk, simply participating in the event for the first time was a dream come true. His goal was to win a medal of some kind. To depart Paris with gold was even more special. “If you lost in the final, you have silver, it’s really nice,” Machac said, before cracking a smile. “But gold is gold.”

“It’s ridiculous. From the beginning, I was just happy that I can be there, part of the group, part of the team. And to play every event there — the normal doubles, mixed doubles, singles, it was really tough from the beginning. But it was great that I can share the gold with Kate,” Machac said. “We managed to beat great players and reach the gold medal. And after the ceremony and everything, it was mind blowing.”

Machac was proud that despite the attention, he and Siniakova were able to prove they “are pretty strong”. They were rewarded with a memory for a lifetime.

“Nothing is impossible, it’s not true. Everything is possible. We just showed the world that this is possible. And I think life and everything writes the story,” Machac said. “You don’t know what is going to happen in two days, in one day. Just live life as you want to live, and just believe and work on your stuff that you want to do, and enjoy life.

“You never know what is going to happen. We just need time. We will, for sure, keep the privacy right now, especially with what happened. So let’s see what’s going to happen.”

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Boulter through but Dart out of Canadian Open

British number one Katie Boulter beats Bernarda Pera as compatriot Harriet Dart is knocked out by Diana Shnaider.

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Coric excited for Sinner showdown: 'That's why you play tennis'

Jannik Sinner has taken the tennis world by storm in 2024. Few players knew that storm was coming before Borna Coric.

The two men, who will meet Thursday in the second round of the Omnium Banque National présenté par Rogers, have known each other since they were teens training at renowned coach Riccardo Piatti’s academy. Now they will face off on one of the world’s biggest stages, at the Montreal ATP Masters 1000 event.

“That’s why you play tennis, and that’s why I train. I think it’s the same for everybody. So for sure, it’s a great excitement, and it’s going to be a very good test to see where I’m at,” Coric said. “Now, obviously he’s the big favourite. He’s playing unbelievable tennis this year. But I always like a good challenge and it’s going to be very fun, for sure.”

Coric and Sinner have enjoyed opposite levels of success in 2024. The Croatian admitted it has been a struggle for him, especially during the clay-court season, when he tallied a 2-5 record according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

The former No. 12 player in the PIF ATP Rankings felt his level was there early in the year on hard courts, but the results did not come. Then on clay, when he typically feels well, Coric did not.

That has not stopped the 27-year-old from working hard to put himself in position to take advantage of an opportunity like the one he will have against Sinner. He will try to stun the star who claimed his first major title at the Australian Open and later climbed to World No. 1.

Their first Lexus ATP Head2Head clash came two years ago in Monte-Carlo, where Sinner emerged victorious 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.

“I remember it was not that good of a match to be honest. I think we played in Monaco, I lost in three sets. I remember also he was struggling. I didn’t play well. He didn’t play well, for sure,” Coric said. “It was kind of a very [sloppy] match, I would say. I don’t think he was happy with his level either, but he managed to win in the end.”

Coric believes he met Sinner for the first time in 2017 or 2018 and that in the following few years, “he really improved so much in all aspects in the game”.

“When you see the improvement, the guy was putting in the work and the mental attitude that he needs to improve and [that] he needs to do better some things,” Coric said. “Absolutely huge respect for him.”

What specifically has the 22-year-old improved on most since his early days at Piatti’s academy?

“He just sticks to his game plan and to his routine. Obviously, [he is a] very, very hard-working man,” Coric said. “When I saw him the first time, he had an unbelievable backhand, good forehand, and also a good serve. And now he’s one of the best servers on Tour, I would say, and he is an unbelievable mover as well. He was not moving that good when I first saw him. So really, he did improve a lot in those three, four years.”

A win would change the course of Coric’s entire season. With 19 victories against Top 10 opponents on his resume, the Montreal qualifier, who defeated Pedro Martinez in the first round of the main draw, will try to add No. 20 to the list.

“I’m going to enjoy it,” Coric said. “I’m happy with my level of tennis so far here, so hopefully it can be a good match.”

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The joy & motivation of Kei Nishikori

The smile on Kei Nishikori’s face said it all Tuesday afternoon in Montreal. The former No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings had just crushed a forehand winner past #NextGenATP American Alex Michelsen to seal his place in the second round of the Omnium Banque National présenté par Rogers.

More importantly, it was a flash of the Japanese star’s best tennis. The 34-year-old enjoyed finding that form to battle on at the ATP Masters 1000 event.

“In the end, yes, but first and second sets, no, because I still struggled with how I played,” Nishikori told ATPTour.com, cracking a laugh. “I think that’s because I haven’t played many matches and I don’t have confidence, and especially [since] I lost easily last week. I didn’t play good last week. That’s why I was also worried coming into today.

“But in the end, I was playing much better, like I wanted to play, so I have to be happy with how I played today.”

Nishikori has hit the highest of highs in the sport, earning 435 tour-level wins, 12 ATP Tour titles, competing in four Nitto ATP Finals and reaching a major final at the 2014 US Open. Competing in just his ninth tournament since October 2021, he is beginning his journey back towards the top of the tennis world.

By his side is 2002 Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson, who began coaching Nishikori earlier this year.

“He’s such a nice guy. He’s doing everything he can to be able to come back. And I think I have to say he’s one of, if not the most talented player I’ve ever worked with because everything comes very easy for him,” said Johansson, who has coached the likes of David Goffin, Maria Sakkari and Sorana Cirstea. “He’s also very light in his body, so his movement is quite effortless. So it’s been a lot of fun, but of course, we had some setbacks with some injuries here and there, and that I think could be the only thing that is holding him back, because I feel like the tennis is improving week by week, but we need to be able to keep his body in shape.”

Nishikori is also clearly enjoying his time on the court and with the fans. After his match point against Michelsen, he looked at his team nearly laughing from how well he closed out the match. “I surprise myself too sometimes,” he joked.

“It was different when I was young. I feel like I’m trying to enjoy it a little more because I really appreciate where I am right now. I cannot compare to those top four players, but I still am in good position and I think I showed good tennis today, so that gives me a little more motivation coming in this summer. I’m always looking forward to playing.”

The World No. 576 explained that it has not always been easy, especially at the Paris Olympics, where he lost in straight sets in the first round to Jack Draper. But he believes that the more matches he plays, the quicker his confidence will build.

“I think I just need a couple more matches, good matches, even if I lose,” Nishikori said. “I think that gives me a little bit more confidence every week. And I hope I can play [more] good tennis next round.”

Since arriving in Montreal, Nishikori has benefitted from training with the game’s biggest stars, including World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev.

“This is also what he needs,” Johansson said. “He needs to feel how they play, how they move, how they serve, how they return. He’s such a smart player, so he will pick it up.”

Nishikori added: “I’ve been practising with Jannik a lot in Monaco and here too. I think that’s helping a lot, because they are a little bit different than other Top 10 players. The Top 10 players give me good rhythm, and you have to be ready every point, and they don’t give you free points. So I always enjoy it, and it’s good for me. I don’t know if it’s good for them, but it’s obviously helping me to get back to my level.”

The good thing for Nishikori is that he has the tools to find his best game. Johansson raved about the Japanese player’s ball-striking ability.

“For me, the contact that he has [with] the ball is just insane. And you can tell him in practice, ‘Try to do this, try to do that’, and he does it like that,” Johansson said, snapping his fingers. “And this, I think, is a gift. But also he sees things very clear on the court. So for example, when he plays a match, and then after we discuss, we see pretty much the same things. So he’s very aware of what happens on the court. And I think that’s his biggest gift.”

Nishikori will try to show that on Court Rogers Thursday, when he plays eighth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Montreal second round. They have split their two previous Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings, the most recent of which came three years ago in Miami.

“I think I have to enjoy, keep my motivation ready every week,” Nishikori said. “Right now, I cannot expect to be playing good tennis 100 per cent yet. So I just need to enjoy every match, and hopefully sometimes my tennis will be back.”

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Thompson breaking new ground: 'I've been working my whole life'

Jordan Thompson made history Monday when he cracked the Top 30 in the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time aged 30. Only three players in the 21st century have accomplished the feat for the first time at an older age: Gilles Muller (33), Jan-Lennard Struff (30) and Michael Llodra (30).

“It’s pretty special. Thirty on 30,” Thompson told ATPTour.com after advancing to the second round of the Omnium Banque National présenté par Rogers. “I’ve been working my whole life to keep pushing forward. So hopefully I can keep going. Top 30 is a good milestone for me, but hopefully I can keep pushing on.”

It has been a long time coming for the Sydneysider. His father, Stephen, is a tennis coach and has mentored ‘Thommo’ since the age of four.

“I remember my dad putting in a lot of hours on the court that I probably never thanked him for, and my mom a lot of time driving in the car with me,” Thompson recalled. “I remember I spent so many hours just driving all around — well, my mom spent all those hours driving around Sydney — and I probably never thanked her either. So it’s a lot of sacrifice that goes into any professional athlete. I have a lot to thank them for.”

The Australian has fond memories of those early days. He worked hard to steadily improve, reaching a career-high No. 18 in the juniors and cracking the Top 100 in 2016 aged 22. He credits it all to his family and the coaches who helped him along the way.

“It is odd for a father and son, but we never really had an argument, and we never really do on the court. I remember one time, I thought I was right, but I was wrong. And then when I found out, I just let it go, and never did it again,” Thompson said. “He was always trying to make sure my technique was in order. Pretty much every shot that I have is owed to my dad.

“[I was] hitting kick serves before 10 years old and working on forehand technique, backhand technique, slice, everything. He always told me, ‘If you want to be a good player, you’ve got to do everything well’. So hopefully I’m doing that.”

Thompson’s father still helps Jordan today, training him when they’re together during the preseason and traveling for a few weeks in the middle of the year. “I’m pretty lucky,” Thompson said.

The 30-year-old is one of the most gritty players on the ATP Tour, using his fighting spirit and all the tools in his bag. Whether a heavy kick serve out wide, a defensive slice, or angles off the forehand wing, Thompson employs it all to find ways past his opponent.

In February, the Australian won his first ATP Tour title in Los Cabos. In the quarter-finals, Alex Michelsen led him 6-0, 4-1, 15/40 on Thompson’s serve. The rugby fan rallied, then defeated Alexander Zverev in a final-set tie-break and Casper Ruud to lift the trophy. What is next for the World No. 30?

“The real goal is to be a seed at the Grand Slams for me. So I’m getting close. Hopefully I can do that,” Thompson said. “But also it’s about trying to keep getting better and keep improving, so hopefully I can do that for a few more years, while my career is still going.”

When a young Thompson was training with his father in Sydney, he did not spend all his time dreaming of winning titles. But this year he checked that box off and is now a Top 30 player seemingly still in position to break new ground.

“I just wanted to win matches, and if the title came with it, unreal. But I think everyone wants to win titles. The way I see it is it’s one point at a time, not really looking too far ahead,” Thompson said. “Of course I want to win a title, but at the start of the week, I’m not thinking, ‘I want to win this title’. I’m obviously there to win it, but I’m taking it point by point and taking it opponent by opponent. So I think it’s more the fact that I don’t look ahead to too much.

Fourteen months ago, Thompson fell from the Top 100 for a week. Ever since, he has soared towards the top of the sport.

“For nearly the last 10 years, I’ve finished inside the Top 100. A couple of weeks I fell out in two separate years, I think,” Thompson said, before reflecting on his return to form. “I’ve got to put that down to the coaching, my dad and [coach] Marinko [Matosevic] getting me back on track there.

“I just got straight back out… There’s always work to be done.”

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Berrettini, Opelka headline Cincinnati wild cards

Former World No. 6 Matteo Berrettini, Reilly Opelka, Marcos Giron and Max Purcell have been awarded wild cards for the Cincinnati Open, the tournament announced Wednesday.

The Italian Berrettini will bring his 10-match winning streak to the ATP Masters 1000 event, having won back-to-back titles in Gstaad and Kitzbühel. It will mark the 28-year-old’s sixth Cincinnati appearance.

Opelka’s next stop in his comeback trail is a familiar one. The 6’11” American first played in Cincinnati as an 18-year-old wild card in 2016 and reached the quarter-finals four years later. Opelka has competed in three tournaments in the past month following a 23-month injury layoff.

Giron looks to continue his standout season. The 31-year-old won his maiden tour-level title in Newport and is currently at a career-high No. 34 in the PIF ATP Rankings. Purcell aims to defend quarter-final points from last year’s run as a qualifier.

Qualifying wild cards were awarded to Cincinnati-native J.J. Wolf, Mackenzie McDonald, Zachary Svajda and Brandon Holt. The Cincinnati Open runs from 12-19 August.

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