Rafael Nadal recently confirmed he will play again. Another sporting legend making his return, golfer Tiger Woods, reflected Tuesday on his friend Nadal’s comeback in a press conference at the Hero World Challenge.

“I think what Rafa’s done is extraordinary. I mean, he won the Australian Open on a broken foot,” Woods said. “The guy is beyond tough and beyond competitive. And he knows that Father Time is here. Every athlete faces it. And [in] some sports it happens faster than others.

“Unfortunately, just like every sport, you can get aged out. And I don’t want to see him go. I never want to see [Roger Federer] go. But that’s just what happens.”

🎙️ @TigerWoods talks to the media before teeing it up at the Hero World Challenge. https://t.co/9qrgeFWjeU

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 28, 2023

Woods further explained that fans around the world should not think about the possibility of tennis without Nadal, but enjoy the Spanish lefty while he is still competing.

“I just think that we should all enjoy watching him compete,” Woods said. “And watch him play and what he’s meant to the game and what he’s meant to all of us just to see the passion and how he plays and why he plays.”

Hamad Medjedovic may have been a late arrival in Jeddah for the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by NEOM, but he wasted little time bringing some drama to the 21-and-under season finale on Tuesday night.

The Serbian held off a spirited Alex Michelsen comeback and a bout of cramp in the final-set tie-break for a 4-2, 4-3(3), 3-4(3), 3-4(5), 4-3(4) victory to round out the opening day of action in style in Jeddah. Medjedovic deployed his heavy forehand to great effect throughout the two-hour, 27-minute encounter and fired 47 winners, including 14 aces, to prevail in the third-longest match in Next Gen ATP Finals history.

“It’s a very special feeling to win my first match at this tournament,” Medjedovic said. “When he levelled at two sets all I felt he had the momentum after I didn’t use the chances that I had.”

The 20-year-old only touched down in Jeddah at 1 a.m. on Monday morning due to being part of Serbia’s team at the Davis Cup Finals, but he appeared to have acclimatised quickly to his new surroundings. Medjedovic’s consistent powerful striking kept Michelsen under pressure as he opened a two-set lead, and he later said that he felt comfortable with the new rules and innovations in use this week.

“I was lucky that I played last match [today],” he said. “I watched these guys and saw how they were doing, and I was okay with the rules.”

After Michelsen dialled in behind serve to roar back into the pair’s maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting, Medjedovic was serving at 2-2 in the fifth set when he was struck by a bout of cramp in his calf. After holding on for 3-2, he took big cuts at the ball to try and shorten points, a tactic which ultimately paid off as he won the first three and the final four points of the tie-break to move to 1-0 in Red Group.

The second Serbian to compete at the Next Gen ATP Finals after Miomir Kecmanovic in 2019, Medjedovic has risen 147 spots from No. 257 to No. 110 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings this season. His next test in Jeddah is a clash with second seed Luca Van Assche on Wednesday night, when Michelsen will hope to notch his first win of the tournament against Abdullah Shelbayh.

Arthur Fils and Flavio Cobolli will meet in a clash of undefeated players Wednesday afternoon at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by NEOM in Jeddah.

The top-seeded Fils made a good start to his run at the 21-and-under tournament on Tuesday when he battled past Italian Luca Nardi in five sets. The Frenchman will try to maintain his momentum against Nardi’s countryman, Cobolli, with both stars 1-0 in Green Group. Fils admitted to having to adjust to the special ruleset, including no warmup on court immediately before the match.

“It’s a mental adjustment, but it’s also a physical one,” Fils said. “Normally I never play before a match. Today I had to play right before with my coaches.”

Cobolli, who last month cracked the Top 100 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the first time, defeated 2022 Milan semi-finalist Dominic Stricker in four sets.

In an evening session match between the other two undefeated players, second seed Luca Van Assche will take on Serbian Hamad Medjedovic, who closed the event’s opening day with a thrilling five-set win against American Alex Michelsen that ended at 12:49 a.m. local time. 

Medjedovic will take confidence from holding off Michelsen’s comeback attempt from two sets down. The Serbian is coached by former World No. 12 Viktor Troicki.

Van Assche pushed Medjedovic’s countryman, World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, to three sets in Banja Luka earlier this year one round after upsetting former World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka.

In the afternoon session, Nardi will play Stricker and in the evening Shelbayh will face Michelsen.

ORDER OF PLAY – WEDNESDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 29 2023

CENTRE COURT start 3 p.m.
[3] D. Stricker (SUI) vs [7] L. Nardi (ITA)

Not Before 4 p.m.
[1] A. Fils (FRA) vs [5] F. Cobolli (ITA)

Not Before 8 p.m.
[4] A.Michelsen (USA) vs [WC] A. Shelbayh (JOR) [8] [2] L. Van Assche (FRA) vs [6] H. Medjedovic (SRB)

Arthur Fils knows what he wants from a tennis match.

Whether watching at home or strutting his stuff on court himself, the #NextGenATP Frenchman values style just as highly as he does substance. Fils attributes that belief to a generation of natural-born French entertainers whom he grew up admiring.

“I watched a lot of Gael Monfils and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and of course I know Yannick Noah because he won Roland Garros,” Fils told ATPTour.com. “[Style] is so important, because when you watch a tennis match you don’t want to be on the couch and just see one game, one game, one game. You want to see some highlights, and I think with Monfils, Tsonga and the backhand of Richard Gasquet, we saw a lot of highlights.”

The 19-year-old Fils demonstrated some of his own shotmaking ability on Tuesday in Jeddah, where he beat Luca Nardi in his first match as top seed at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by NEOM. Fils is in Saudi Arabia attempting to cap a breakthrough year, during which he rose from No. 249 to No. 36 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings and lifted his maiden ATP Tour trophy in Lyon.

That title run at a clay ATP 250 was one of a series of impressive performances Fils produced in his homeland this season. He reached an ATP Challenger Tour final in Quimper in January and back-to-back semi-finals at indoor ATP 250s in Montpellier and Marseille in February before his Lyon triumph. Some players struggle to handle the expectations of a home crowd. Fils relishes it.

“The home support is incredible,” he said. “Us guys are playing for this kind of energy, for this kind of crowd. When you play at home, everyone is supporting you, everyone is screaming your name. It’s something deeper and I think if I’m French, and I’m going to play elsewhere, it is not going to be the same as when I’m playing at home. We are playing for this kind of stuff.”

A country steeped in tennis history, France’s wait for a men’s singles Grand Slam champion this year stretched to 40 years. Public expectation for a first male major winner since Noah at Roland Garros in 1983 is something that the likes of Monfils, Gasquet and the now-retired Tsonga have all been burdened with.

None of those players have managed to break the duck, but Fils still views his more experienced compatriots as a vital source of advice as he prepares to lead his country’s charge, alongside fellow #NextGenATP Frenchmen such as Luca Van Assche and Arthur Cazaux, in the years to come.

“They help me a lot in the locker room, on the court and off the court,” said Fils of the older French players on Tour. “I don’t have any pressure [from the public], I just want to be as good as them or better than them, but no pressure.

“My goal in tennis is to enjoy every second I can on the court. To smile in every match that I’m playing and to try my best to win some great tournaments and if I can to go high in the rankings. I will try my best and I have some big goals.”

While being free-spirited on court is often seen as something of a French trait, Fils is not basing his own approach on any of his ATP Tour colleagues, past or present. He has already shown himself as a charismatic presence who enjoys responding to big atmospheres, and he is ready to push as high as possible in his own unique way.

“My explosiveness and my physical condition [are my strengths],” said Fils. “The way I play helps me sometimes, because the crowd likes to support me a lot in physical battles.

“It’s something in my personality to bring the energy. It’s not important for my game, but important for myself.”

Dominic Stricker made his Top 100 debut in September following a fourth-round appearance at the US Open, where he stunned seventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in a five-set, second-round thriller. The lefty also collected two ATP Challenger Tour titles this season to become the first Swiss player to win five trophies at that level before his 21st birthday.

But what is the 21-year-old like off-court? ATPTour.com caught up with the World No. 94 in Jeddah to discuss his love for golf, football and more…

If you could have dinner with three people, who would they be and why?
Roger Federer, really nice guy. I would also go for Tiger Woods, because I really like to play golf. Then maybe I would go for Michael Jordan, because we know what he has done in sport is amazing.

What’s the most interesting thing that you have done in your life?
When I was young, I did a lot of fishing. That was something I really enjoyed, out on a boat in Switzerland.

Any particular fish that you would catch?
Not really, just a bit of everything.

Describe your perfect day if you are not playing tennis.
I would say trying to sleep as long as I can and then get some good breakfast. I think I’ll go for a round of golf and after I would maybe go into the city in Switzerland somewhere to get a nice dinner. Go to bed maybe and watch some series of Netflix or something.

What’s the best round you’ve ever had golfing?
Lowest score was 74, two over par. I think it was this year, it was a good round.

Do you play golf right-handed?
Yeah.

If you weren’t a tennis player, what job would you want?
I think it would be something with sports. But when I was young, I actually went one day to see how the job is as a teacher in school. But I’m happy that I that I chose tennis, I think it’s better for me.

What’s the biggest lesson that you’ve learned so far from playing on Tour?
A lot. I think one of the best ones is you have to be very serious with travelling, with all these temperature changes, it is not that easy when you get out of the plane or into the plane and all that stuff. I think that’s a big lesson I had to learn.

Who are some of your best friends on Tour?
All the players that are here, we’re very good friends. But also all the Swiss players. Everyone is a nice guy with everyone who’s playing on Tour now. It’s just a great team we also have for Davis Cup. We always have a nice group.

If you had to choose between attending a music concert or a sporting event, what would you choose and why?
I’d go for sport for sure. I think I would go for soccer in Switzerland and I would go for Young Boys Bern because it’s my club. They are my favorite team in Switzerland and football. I’m also from Bern, so as soon as I’m home I’m trying to go watch their matches.

Out of the rule innovations featured at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by NEOM, what’s the one you are most excited to watch?
I think it’s going to be interesting with this no warmup. I think it will be very special because usually you have a few minutes to warm up, to find your game a bit. But now it’s going to be really interesting.

Ben Shelton is among the stars who have committed to play the Brisbane International, which will be held in the first week of the 2024 season alongside the United Cup and the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open.

“I’m thrilled to be playing the Brisbane International for the first time in 2024. My first trip to Australia was last January, and it was such an amazing experience. The fans were so welcoming,” Shelton said in a tournament press release. “I’m looking forward to exploring Brisbane and playing in front of the local fans. Hopefully, there will also be a chance to fit in some sightseeing during my visit.”

Other players who will compete in the ATP 250 include recent Nitto ATP Finals competitor Holger Rune, former World No. 1 Andy Murray and 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov.

The ATP 250 will be held for the first time since 2019. Murray is a two-time champion at the event and Dimitrov won the tournament in 2017.

The Hologic WTA Tour will have a WTA 500 event at the same time, with Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina and Naomi Osaka among the players set to play.

Last month, a category five storm, Hurricane Otis, caused significant damage to Acapulco, home of the Abierto Mexicano Tell presentado for HSBC.

Tournament organisers have launched a fundraiser to support the city’s rebuilding efforts. Donations can be made to the effort, which is in partnership with ONG Construyendo.

Players who have competed in the tournament have shared their own support of the cause.

Stefanos Tsitsipas said: “This natural disaster has created a crisis and Acapulco needs your help. The tournament together with ONG Construyendo is leading the way and trying to rebuild this whole city. Your effort is much appreciated.”

Grigor Dimitrov said: “It’s been very, very difficult seeing what’s happening with Hurricane Otis out there. [Acapulco is] one of my favourite tournaments that I love playing, that I’ve played and I’ve won. I’m very saddened to see how everybody’s struggling out there.”

Alexander Zverev said: “Donate to help raise money to rebuild the beautiful city of Acapulco and to help the people of Acapulco. Let’s rebuild this beautiful place.”

Luca Van Assche joined fellow Frenchman Arthur Fils as a first-day winner at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by NEOM, but only after a physical four-set win over Jordan’s Abdullah Shelbayh Tuesday in Jeddah.

After splitting the first two sets that were filled with punishing, extended baseline exchanges, the tournament’s second seed broke clear of Shelbayh in the third and ultimately closed out the match 4-3(5), 3-4(5), 4-1, 4-1 as Shelbayh’s movement was impacted by cramps in his right quad later in the match.

Shelbayh thrilled enthusiastic local Jeddah fans with his creative angles, net approaches and regular drop shots, but Van Assche’s slight edge in the backcourt was telling. Shelbayh also paid the price for converting just two of 17 break points.

“It was a tough match today, against a very tough opponent. I know Abdullah very well, he’s an amazing player,” Van Assche said. “He was almost at home with the crowd cheering for him. It was a good match for me and really tough from the beginning to the end.”

“It’s very difficult to not have a warm up before the match, so I just hit a couple of balls before in the second court.”

Shelbayh clipped 28 winners to Van Assche’s 17, but his 34 unforced errors proved costly, as did his cramping, which he attributed in part to the tension of the moment.

“With the importance of the moment and thinking that I had my chances against the top seed in my group, and knowing that I had great fan support as the only Arab player here, that had something to do with the cramping,” Shelbayh said. “I just have to find a way to not let that happen in big moments again.

“The shot clock in terms of timing between serves and the shorter points was interesting, although it didn’t really affect me because I don’t take too much time between points. The free fan movement and noise during points is a little different, but we know the rules are unique to this tournament and we all play by them.”

Physicality Index Insights
This was by far the most physical match so far of the tournament, although only four sets. Van Assche’s physicality index was heavily driven by acceleration/deceleration activity. Van Assche hit 98% of the highest work load (1161) seen across the 2021 and 2022 Next Gen ATP Finals and performed 30% more explosive movements (530 vs. 408) than Shelbayh over the course of the match.

The first two sets were the most physical of the tournament so far. If the first two sets had been repeated for a four-set match, the match Physicality Index would have been 10 for Van Assche and 9.7 for Shelbayh. Van Assche covered 1.21 km in the first two sets, which was almost as much distance as Stricker covered in his four-set match. In closing out the match in the forth set, Van Assche doubled Shelbayh in high speed distance (60 to 31m) and explosive movements (151 to 63).

Learn more about the Physicality Index

Flavio Cobolli made a winning start on debut at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by NEOM on Tuesday, when he overcame 2022 semi-finalist Dominic Stricker 4-2, 3-4(7), 4-1, 4-2.

Stricker is the only player at this year’s event to have competed at the innovative tournament before, but Cobolli was not fazed by the Swiss’ prior experience. The Italian made a fast start as he adjusted to the no warm-up rule, while he won the majority of the No-Ad points to take control.

With his one-hour, 39-minute win, Cobolli improved to 1-0 in Green Group play. Arthur Fils also earned victory on Day 1 of the first ATP Tour sanctioned event in Saudi Arabia, defeating Luca Nardi.

“I warmed up for a lot of time today, so I was really hot on the court,” Cobolli told ATPTour.com. “I started the match really well. The courts are so fast, but I was faster [than Stricker]. I played a really good match and I’m really happy.”

Cobolli, who struck 25 winners in his first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting against Stricker, has enjoyed an impressive year, winning an ATP Challenger Tour title in Lisbon. He also cracked the Top 100 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the first time in October.

“I think the match didn’t feel quicker, but with these new rules, anything can happen,” Cobolli added. “This was the first match, so let’s see how it goes tomorrow.”

Stricker competed at the innovative event before, playing under the first-to-four games, best-of-five-set format. The 21-year-old has also earned strong results on indoor hard this year, advancing to the quarter-finals at the ATP 500 in Basel, where he earned a Top 10 win against Casper Ruud.

He was unable to deal with Cobolli’s intensity and tempo on Tuesday, though, falling to defeat in the round-robin stage at the 21-and-under event for the first time.

Arthur Fils became the first ATP Tour winner on Saudi Arabian soil on Tuesday at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by NEOM, but only after the top seed overcame a stern five-set test from Luca Nardi in Jeddah.

The 19-year-old Fils prevailed 2-4, 4-3(6), 4-2, 1-4, 4-2 against his Italian opponent to make a winning start to Green Group. The Frenchman won 80 per cent (33/41) of points behind his first serve to ensure a winning debut at the season-ending 21-and-under event.

“It was a tough match. The first time in my life I’m playing first to four games,” said Fils in his on-court interview. “Things can change very quickly. I was leading two sets to one, had break points, and I was feeling very good. Then I lost a deuce point and everything changed, but I’m really happy to win today.”

Perhaps needing more time to settle due to the absence of an on-court warmup (one of several new innovative rules in place for this week’s tournament), Fils struggled for consistency off both wings across the opening 45 minute at King Abdullah Sports City. He crucially saved a set point before winning the second-set tie-break, however, and held his nerve again in the deciding set for a two-hour, three-minute triumph.

“I had a good [warm-up],” said Fils. “I went to play with my coaches 15 minutes before the match, so I came to the court very warm… It’s [nonetheless] very tough to play without the warm-up.”

Fils has enjoyed a breakout year on the ATP Tour, clinching his first title at that level in Lyon in May. He will finish the season at No. 36 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, having started 2023 at No. 249 — the biggest jump into the Top 50 from last year of any player on Tour.

Third seed Dominic Stricker and fifth seed Flavio Cobolli are the other two players in Green Group. The pair is next on court in Jeddah, where the eight-strong field is split into two groups of four.