Brilliant Boulter puts GB into BJK Cup semi-finals
Katie Boulter beats Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in straight sets to send Great Britain into the semi-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup in Malaga.
Katie Boulter beats Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in straight sets to send Great Britain into the semi-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup in Malaga.
Italian world number one Jannik Sinner beats American Taylor Fritz in straight sets to win his first ATP Finals title in Turin.
The ATP and FITP have today announced that the ATP Finals will be staged in Italy for a further five years, through 2030. The extension follows a five-year term through 2025 in Turin, where the ATP’s season finale has excelled.
The Nitto ATP Finals has experienced standout success in Italy, reinforcing its legacy as a major global sporting event and the crown jewel of the Tour. This year in Turin, the event attracted a record-breaking on-site audience of more than 183,000, with all 15 sessions sold out across the eight days. Prize money in 2024 reached $15.25 million – an all-time tournament record. With five additional years of collaboration, ATP and FITP will continue to drive progress, capitalising on Italy’s position as one of the world’s strongest and most established tennis markets.
ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said: “Over the past four years, Italy has shown itself as an incredible host of our most prestigious event, with the vision to create a truly special experience for both players and fans. Thank you to FITP and all event partners for their support over the past four years. We look forward to continuing to raise the bar together.”
FITP President Angelo Binaghi said: “Tennis has a special place in the history and culture of this country. The Nitto ATP Finals are treasured by Italian fans, and this connection is now stronger than ever with Jannik Sinner as the World No.1. We look ahead with excitement, confident in the knowledge that this event will continue to grow even stronger in the years ahead.”
The location options beyond 2025 are under evaluation, with further updates to be provided in due course.
Emma Raducanu beats Canada’s Rebecca Marino in straight sets to give Great Britain the lead in their Billie Jean King Cup quarter-final in Malaga.
Fans following the Nitto ATP Finals on social media this week had a fun new way to engage with the season finale.
Through a combination of Augmented Reality technology, 3D modelling and live data, fans were able to enjoy select hot shots from the Nitto ATP Finals in a first for the tournament, with a younger audience firmly in mind.
The clips began with a stunning Casper Ruud lob and would go on to include a Daniil Medvedev backhand, Carlos Alcaraz’s dazzling court coverage, Taylor Fritz’s Thor-like forehand and Alexander Zverev’s electric backhand.
To view the full AR immersive hot shots on Instagram, click this link or scan the QR code at the top of the page.
Watch all of them in our AR playlist below.
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Britain’s Gordon Reid loses in the Wheelchair Masters singles final with a three-set defeat by Tokito Oda.
Great Britain have never won the BJK Cup, but expectation is building before their quarter-final against Canada on Sunday.
Two years ago Taylor Fritz made his debut at the Nitto ATP Finals and advanced to the semi-finals. On Sunday, the American will try to cap his second appearance in the season finale with a trophy.
But the fifth seed will face a big challenge in the final at the Inalpi Arena when he stands across the net from top seed Jannik Sinner. It is a rematch of both this year’s US Open final and a clash from Group Ilie Nastase play earlier this week.
“I thought the match here was actually even a higher level from both guys. Jannik is extremely even-keeled,” Fritz’s coach, Michael Russell, told ATPTour.com. “He’s just so calm under pressure and explosive out of the corners. He’s very agile and able to turn defence into offence better than most of the guys on Tour, which makes it challenging.
“But Taylor knows that and Taylor, when he serves how he can serve with high percentages, it puts so much pressure on his opponents. He has a lot of confidence and he’s hitting the ball great.”
Watch Fritz Turin SF Highlights:
In recent years Fritz has experienced a lot of firsts. In Indian Wells two years ago he claimed his maiden ATP Masters 1000 trophy and just two months ago he made his first major final at the US Open. What has he learned from those big-match experiences, especially his recent effort in New York?
“I think a lot of it is managing emotions and also having confidence, vanquishing any self doubt,” Russell said. “We all talk about being in finals of major events, but then actually being able to do it, that gives you the confidence from having that experience and putting yourself in those positions time and time again. You get more comfortable every time you’re on the court in that situation.”
The score in the US Open final was 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 in favour of Sinner. But in the match Fritz served for the third set and had a chance to push the encounter into a fourth set, so he had opportunities. Since then, the eight-time ATP Tour titlist has made the semi-finals in Shanghai and now the final in Turin.
“We’re all proud of the way that he’s conducted himself and the work that he’s putting in and it’s a constant process,” Russell said. “It doesn’t stop. It never stops. You’ve got to continue to put the work in and [follow] the process and the progress and the results will come.”
[ATP AWARDS]Regardless of the result Sunday, Fritz will leave Turin having broken new ground. He will climb to a career-high No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings on Monday and become the first American to finish in the year-end top four since James Blake was No. 4 in 2006.
“It’s fantastic. To start the year outside of the Top 10 and then finish the year [at No.] 4, it’s a phenomenal achievement,” Russell said. “Credit to Taylor and the team for really improving, continuing to improve, continuing to progress.
“He’s put in a lot of hard work and to make the final of the US Open, to be in the final here, to win multiple 250 events, it’s not easy. It’s a long year, its a lot of travel, there’s a lot of adversity to deal with and he’s just done a really remarkable job of being mature and dealing with those variables.”
Two years ago, Fritz was new to the Nitto ATP Finals scene, and making the semi-finals was a breakthrough in itself. Now the 27-year-old has a chance to cause a big upset and stun the Italian crowd for the biggest title of his career.
“He’s definitely more confident in his abilities and that parlays into not just playing on court, but the fitness part, the mental toughness, the resilience,” Russell said. “He’s always been a great competitor, but now he’s seeing the results. That leads to a new level of confidence when you’re in those pressure moments — the belief to go for certain shots, to hit certain serves, to be able to take the racquet out of your opponent’s hand.
“That’s the difference of Taylor in 2024 compared to Taylor in 2022.”
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Carlos Alcaraz says winning next week’s Davis Cup for Rafael Nadal is a “huge motivation” and will mark the “most special” tournament of his career.
A day after being knocked out of the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, Carlos Alcaraz landed in Málaga to join the Spanish team, which will take the court against the Netherlands in the Davis Cup Final 8. It’s a competition that is always special, but this time will be a momentous occasion because it will be Rafael Nadal’s last tournament as a professional.
And the significance of it hasn’t eluded Alcarez. Far from it.
‘It’s probably the most special tournament I’ll play in my career, because of what’s happening, because of the circumstances,’ Alcaraz began. ‘The Davis Cup has always been a tournament that I’d love to win one day, I’m passionate about representing Spain. I’ve said it many times: one of the greatest things in the world is being able to represent your country in any field. Having Rafa by my side, knowing it’s his last tournament, will make it much more special,’ he went on.
‘I’ll try to contribute and help the team any way I can – for me, for Spain and especially for Rafa. No player deserves more to finish the incredible career he had with a title, and I know how special the Davis Cup is for him. It will be a difficult challenge but winning it for Rafa is a huge motivation.’
[ATP AWARDS]Alcaraz, 21, is clear about what the priorities are for the next week, aware that Nadal’s farewell is a unique moment in his life.
‘Rafa’s farewell is much more important, at least for me,’ said Alcaraz. ‘The Davis Cup is every year. Rafa’s farewell, saying goodbye to a legend of the sport, unfortunately only happens once. The Davis is very important, representing your country and trying to win it for Spain, but personally I’m very excited to be by Rafa’s side for his farewell. And the fact that it’s in the Davis, which is a very important tournament for him, virtually where he started his career with that victory against Roddick… Being able to retire in this competition is special, and it is for me, too. It will be an incredible event because of the occasion and hopefully it will end with the title.’
Alcaraz helped Spain qualify for the Final 8, scoring two singles points in Valencia (against Ugo Humbert in the series against France and Tomas Machac in the tie with the Czech Republic) and one in doubles (joining forces with Marcel Granollers to defeat Jakub Mensik and Adam Pavlasek).
Spain will take the court on Tuesday against the Netherlands in the Davis Cup Final 8.
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