Rafael Nadal turned up the heat on rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in their domination of the ‘Big Titles’ leaderboard by winning his third US Open trophy – and 16^th major overall – last Sunday in New York.

In defeating Kevin Anderson to capture the final major of the season, Nadal earned his fourth ‘Big Title’ of 2017, having already won his 10th titles at Roland Garros and the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters as well as his fifth Mutua Madrid Open. The Spaniard now has a combined 46 ‘Big Titles’ — a collection of Grand Slams, Masters 1000 events and Nitto ATP Finals — putting him one behind Novak Djokovic’s 47 and within five of leader Roger Federer, who holds 51.

Djokovic still has the best conversion rate, capturing one ‘Big Title’ for every 3.4 events played. But Nadal is close behind with a ratio of 3.5. Djokovic and Nadal share the record for 30 Masters 1000 titles won; Federer has 26 Masters 1000s titles.

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

 * Becker’s four other Grand Slam titles came before 1990.
** Edberg’s three other Grand Slam titles came before 1990.

Earlier this year Nadal qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals for the 13^th consecutive season, yet surprisingly he has never captured the title at the season finale. Victory in London from 12-19 November would also likely clinch for Nadal the year-end No. 1 Emirates ATP Ranking for the fourth time (2008, 2010, 2013). He currently leads the effective two-man race for the honour with five-time year-end No. 1 Federer, with whom he has shared this year’s four Grand Slam titles.

Federer qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals for the 15^th time after winning his eighth Wimbledon crown in July, which followed his Australian Open triumph in January. He also added ‘Big Titles’ at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami, winning the ‘Sunshine Double’ for the third time in his career.

Nadal still has plenty to play for in 2017. He has never won the three ‘Big Titles’ still on the table this season – the Shanghai Rolex Masters, the Rolex Paris Masters and the Nitto ATP Finals. He was the beaten finalist at the season finale in 2010 (l. to Federer) and 2013 (l. to Djokovic).

Federer has won the Nitto ATP Finals a record six times, most recently in 2011, but has a more modest record in Shanghai and Paris, winning both tournaments just once.

Stefanos Tsitsipas capped a perfect week on the clay of Genova, Italy, claiming his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title on Sunday.

The 19 year old did not drop a set en route to becoming just the third player from Greece to lift a Challenger trophy. He joins countrymen Konstantinos Economidis and Vasilis Mazarakis.

Tsitsipas’ victory marks the 11th time a teenager has tasted victory on the circuit this year and second of the week, following Felix Auger-Aliassime’s title in Sevilla on Saturday. He rises to a career-high No. 120 in the Emirates ATP Rankings and moves up 11 spots in the Emirates ATP Race To Milan, to the 16th position.

2017 Challenger #NextGenATP First-Time Winners: Bublik | Shapovalov | Auger-Aliassime | Santillan | Kuhn

Tsitsipas blogged about the breakthrough victory and spoke to ATPWorldTour.com…

Congratulations Stefanos on winning your first Challenger title. How did it feel to be standing with the trophy?
It was pretty special and something I’ve been dreaming about for a long time. It was a relief for me at the end. I was super happy and everyone on my team was happy. I brought a lot of happiness to people who were supporting me, throughout the whole tournament. They gave me a lot of positive energy and that helped a lot.

You did not drop a set this week. What was the key for you?
It was unusual. To not drop a set is rare and difficult to achieve. My serve was working very well throughout the week. I felt very comfortable with it. I was actually not going to play the Challenger, because it was right after the US Open finished and I wanted a rest. The last second I decided to play and it turned out to be a good decision.

You are just the third player from Greece to win a Challenger title. What does that mean to you for your country?
I am very happy to know this fact. And I am 100 per cent sure that it will inspire other kids in my country. It makes me happy, but I am going to keep working and it’s not the end of it.

Can’t thank enough my parents, siblings and friends for showing support and love. My first @ATPChallenger is dedicated to all of you!

— Stefanos Tsitsipas (@StefTsitsipas) September 10, 2017

Having lost two finals in Morocco last year, what did you take from those experiences into Sunday’s final in Genova?
It made me stronger for sure. It made me realize my mistakes from those two finals. I was ready for this one in Genova and I was more calm on the court. I handled the situation a bit better.

You’ve had some great wins and tough losses in the past year. How have you remained confident?
I know where my level is. I know I am one of these good NextGen players who can do well here. I never lost hope. I did have some good wins and tough losses this year, but my family and my team are always encouraging me. It has been working well. They are very supportive. There are a lot of people around me, but I don’t feel pressure. It makes you realize how important you are, to have a big team around you and it’s something good. I’m lucky to have them.

Really happy holding my first @ATPChallenger ?! It was definitely a great week! Thank you #Genova ??! pic.twitter.com/1VmYSPuHw8

— Stefanos Tsitsipas (@StefTsitsipas) September 11, 2017

You are up to No. 120 in the Emirates ATP Rankings. Has cracking the Top 100 been a goal for you this year?
Yes, that’s right. I set this goal at the beginning of the year. I hope to achieve it and I hope to be competing at the main draw of the Australian Open next year. I’m close and 20 spots is a matter of a few tournaments and some extra concentration. It’s motivation for me and my team. It’s going to come for sure. One extra push at a time.

How has the recent success of other teenagers, particularly Denis Shapovalov and Andrey Rublev, driven you?
For sure it has. I saw what Shapovalov did a few weeks ago in Montreal and it inspired me so much. It made me realize that nothing is impossible. He’s a year younger than me, so it’s insane what he did. It makes it even more special.

What were your impressions on the tournament in Genova – the 2014 Challenger of the Year?
It was a very good tournament. I had a lot of positive energy from it. The hotel was really nice and the club was perfect with a really big centre court. It’s something rare for a Challenger. I saw it was voted as the best Challenger of the Year. I was playing in front of a lot of people from the beginning of the week. Everything was perfect.

Lastly, what are your goals for the rest of the year?
I would say to win another Challenger. That would bring me closer to my goal of Top 100. I aim for one more Challenger title. I will probably go to China after the [ATP World Tour] tournament in Metz.

A breakthrough ATP Challenger Tour title and a long way round to dodge Hurricane Irma – it’s been a week unlike any Marcelo Arevalo will experience again. The 26 year old became the first player from El Salvador to notch a Challenger title with his 7-5, 6-4 victory over local Daniel Elahi Galan in the Milo Open final in Bogota, Colombia on Sunday.

He had taken down fourth seed Nicolas Jarry, fifth seed Gerald Melzer and top seed Victor Estrella Burgos en route to the decider. The triumph prompted tears of elation and hopes of inspiring children back home to pick up a racquet.

“It feels really good. I’m really happy,” Marcelo said. “I’ve been chasing this for a few years. I cried after the match and I called my mum and dad because they have been my biggest supporters in life. 

“They have always believed in me. My results this year haven’t been good. I didn’t win many matches and my ranking was dropping to outside the Top 300. 

“From a bad year, this is now a good one. I have my confidence back again and I hope to continue winning matches and end the year in a better way.”

The surprise win came with an unexpected twist. Marcelo had to get to Cary, in the United States, for his next Challenger event but Hurricane Irma had other ideas.

With his flight to Miami cancelled, the Salvadoran was then rescheduled to fly into New York City, arriving at 2am on Tuesday, before taking on American Michael Mmoh later that same day.

Regardless of how he fairs against Mmoh, his win in Bogota ensures he will shift up to No. 219 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, closing in on his career-high mark of No. 176. It atones for a pair of runner-up finishes in Challenger events last season.

“Last year I had two chances to make it, in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and Granby, Canada, and I lost both,” Marcelo said. “When I was in those two finals, I was pretty tight and nervous.

“I was thinking what people were going to say if I won my first tournament. And what it would mean to my country, to have the first guy in history to win a Challenger title. 

“In this one, I said to myself that I already played two finals and I’m just going to play this one like it’s any other match. That’s what I did.

“A good goal for me would be to get back to No. 170 or 160, get into Australian Open qualifying and try to go even higher next year.”

The Arevalo family is well known in Salvadorian tennis circles. Marcelo’s brother Rafael created a tennis academy there and is the president of the national federation. His brother’s goal is to open 100 public courts around the country and Marcelo sees this as an inspiration in his bid to crack the Top 100 in the Emirates ATP Rankings.

“I hope that being the first from my country to win a Challenger title will be good for the kids, because it can make them believe,” he said. “If I did it, they can do it even better in the future. If I open the way for them, I can help them to believe that they can be a professional tennis player. I would like to see other guys like me fighting in the Challenger level. I would be really happy if I see that someday.”