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Sinner Recognised At AC Milan Match, Meets Ibrahimovic

  • Posted: Nov 30, 2023

Sinner Recognised At AC Milan Match, Meets Ibrahimovic

Italian also catches up with Berrettini at the match

Jannik Sinner is blossoming into a superstar well beyond the tennis court.

The Italian was recognised on Tuesday at AC Milan’s match against Dortmund for his sensational close to the season. Sinner reached the championship match on home soil at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin and then led Italy to Davis Cup glory.

During his end-of-season surge, Sinner defeated World No. 1 Novak Djokovic three times in less than two weeks. He upset the Serbian in round-robin action at the Nitto ATP Finals (losing to him in the final) before taking down the 98-time tour-level titlist in singles and doubles when his country played Serbia in the Davis Cup semi-finals.

<a href=Jannik Sinner” />
Photo: AC Milan
The 22-year-old was recognised with a custom jersey at San Siro Stadium and had the opportunity to spend time with football legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The No. 4 player in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings stayed close to his tennis roots, though. Sinner caught up at the match with countryman Matteo Berrettini, who was by his side during Italy’s Davis Cup run.

<a href=Matteo Berrettini and Jannik Sinner catch up at AC Milan’s match against Dortmund on Tuesday.” />
Photo: AC Milan

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Medjedovic's Hobbies: UFC & Listening To Tupac

  • Posted: Nov 30, 2023

Medjedovic’s Hobbies: UFC & Listening To Tupac

Serbian won three Challenger titles this year

Hamad Medjedovic is the youngest player to win three ATP Challenger Tour titles this season. The Serbian, who advanced through qualifying at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, was also a semi-finalist at the ATP 250 events in Gstaad and Astana. Coached by former World No. 12 Viktor Troicki, Medjedovic is now making his debut at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by NEOM.

But what is the 20-year-old like off-court? ATPTour.com caught up with the World No. 110 in Jeddah to discuss his love for UFC and what he has learned on tour this season…

If you could have dinner with three people from the past or present, who would they be and why?
It’s a tough question but I’ll go to dinner with Mike Tyson, Tupac and Kobe Bryant. I like Mike Tyson’s personality, I was watching him when he was fighting. Even though I was a little kid, he was one of my role models. I love Tupac’s music, I’m listening to it all the time. And then Kobe, he’s one of the greatest athletes of all time and I’d love to meet him.

If you weren’t a tennis player, what job would you want?
I’d love to be in the FBI or something like that.

Do you watch FBI shows?
Yeah, of course I watch all the shows with FBI, CIA, all this stuff. It’s great to see them doing their job.

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Describe your perfect day if you are not playing tennis.
Sleeping long for sure to set up the day well. Then just spending time with my family, girlfriend and all the people I love since I don’t get to do that during the year since we are travelling a lot. Spending time with the people who I love would be the perfect day. Maybe go somewhere or just stay home.

If you had to choose between attending a music concert or a sporting event, what would you choose and why?
I’d go watch a sports event. I love concerts, but I don’t go so often because there’s a lot of people and huge crowds. I prefer sports. I’d love to watch UFC. My favourite fighter retired, but it’s Khabib [Nurmagomedov]. He was a lightweight champion and he was a perfect fighter to me.

Who are your best friends on tour?
The guys from Serbia, I’d say Miomir Kecmanovic being one of them and all the other Serbian guys. I’m good with all the guys that are here [in Jeddah], we have a really good relationship.

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What are your thoughts about the new rules and innovations at the Next Gen ATP Finals?
I love new things. I love adding something new to our sport because I feel like for so many years everything has been the same and now we get the chance to try new rules. No warm-up, shot clock, I like it and I’m happy to try it.

What’s something you’ve learned playing this year?
The difference between the ATP Challenger Tour and the ATP Tour, I don’t think there is a big change of level, they are all playing pretty similar. I will go into the new season knowing that these guys are not monsters. They are all just players and you can play with every single one of them.

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Nardi's Win In Jeddah Qualifies Fils

  • Posted: Nov 30, 2023

Nardi’s Win In Jeddah Qualifies Fils

Cobolli faces wait for his fate in Jeddah

Luca Nardi closed his Next Gen ATP Finals presented by NEOM campaign in thrilling fashion on Thursday in Jeddah.

The 20-year-old prevailed 3-4(4), 4-2, 4-3(1), 1-4, 4-3(3) in an all-Italian clash with Flavio Cobolli at King Abdullah Sports City to register his first win of the season-ending 21-and-under event. Although victory in the absorbing two-hour, 14-minute Green Group match was not enough to earn a semi-final place for Nardi, the World No. 115 showcased his class as he battled through a groin issue to seal his second tour-level win of the season.

“I am happy with the win,” Nardi told ATPTour.com. “Even if I didn’t qualify, I think today was the best match I played out of the three. I am a bit sad I did not qualify but I did not want to leave Jeddah without a win. I kept fighting today and I am happy.”

A win for Nardi ensured that top seed Arthur Fils was the first player to qualify for the semi-finals at the first ATP-sanctioned event in Saudi Arabia. The top seeded Frenchman later defeated Dominic Stricker in four sets. Stricker nonetheless secured his own semi-final spot, and simultaneously confirmed Cobolli’s exit from the tournament, by winning the second set against Fils.

<a href=Luca Nardi Fuel Index” />

Fuel Gauge shows how much a player should have left in the tank based on historical benchmarks.

Nardi responded to dropping the opening-set tie-break in style against Cobolli as he produced some stunning attacking tennis to claim the second and third sets. He appeared to clutch his groin when serving at 0-1 in the fourth set, however, and later called for a medical time-out at 0-3.

Cobolli closed out the fourth set with ease and, with his movement slightly hindered, Nardi began to take big cuts at the ball to try and shorten the rallies in the decider. The tactic worked, as he produced a rock-solid deciding tie-break which featured one of the shots of the week, a backhand flick from out wide that had the crowd on its feet.

“I don’t know what happened,” said Nardi when asked about the shot in his on-court interview. “I was just running, not even well because I was injured, and I hit the shot unbelievably. I said sorry because it was lucky. I am happy and I would like to see it later.”

As well as two tour-level victories, Nardi finishes 2023 with a 34-22 record on the ATP Challenger Tour which includes two title runs in Porto and Matsuyama, respectively.

Physicality Index Insights

Going into this match the goal for both players was to make it more physical and run less distance than their opponent. Nardi ended up finishing the match with a lower Physicality Index rating (8.1 vs. 8.4) and ran less distance (1.81 km vs. 1.92 km) than Cobolli. Both players saved their best physical performance for the fifth set, showing why they are some of the most elite athletes in the world for their age. Nardi and Cobolli were able to perform their highest distance per minute in the fifth set, due to longer average rallies. The match came down to Nardi ultimately being more aggressive in the bigger moments, pushing Cobolli into performing more higher speed distance and explosive movements.

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Physicality Index Insights: Day 3 In Jeddah

  • Posted: Nov 30, 2023

Physicality Index Insights: Day 3 In Jeddah

Four matches on schedule

The ATP and Tennis Data Innovations (TDI) will deliver unprecedented insights at the 2023 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by NEOM. Using state-of-the-art tracking metrics, the insights will assess the physical capacity required to compete at the highest professional level of our sport.

Read more to learn about Thursday’s matchups in Jeddah.

Arthur Fils vs. Dominic Stricker

Coming into Thursday’s match between Arthur Fils and Dominic Stricker, both players have had similar physical match profiles. They were both pushed in their first matches, with Physical Index ratings inline with their season averages, and saw those PI ratings drop in their second round match due to their dominating performances. Fils has an average Physicality Index of 7.4 and Stricker with an average rating of 7.0.

Fils has produced the most balanced and efficient physical output of any of the eight athletes in the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by NEOM. He seems to be hitting his “stride” heading into the last round robin match. He was able to keep the points shorter in his second match which allowed for him to manage the amount of high speed distance he ran. When he had to make explosive movements out to the corners, he executed those movements with ease. This explosive movement showed in Basecamp, when Fils lit up the 5-0-5 test, having the fastest times to the right and left side.

Keys to Match
Distance does not both both players, as they typically have higher distance than their opponents, as these players look to hit their forehand more than any other player in the Next Gen ATP Finals. Fils is going to look to make this more of a physical match, looking to push the PI of Stricker above 7.5 with a lot of high speed distance. Stricker has had most of his success on tour when he has been the aggressor, looking to hit his forehand from the deuce court. If Stricker have a higher distance total than Fils, and keep the average rally length below 3.7, that would means he is doing more of the dictating with his forehand.


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Luca Cobolli vs. Luca Nardi

Luca Nardi and Flavio Cobolli both had similar match outcomes in their second match, but the intensities of the match were extremely different. Both players had a Physicality Index rating of 7 or greater in very highly competitive first round-robin matches. In their second-round matches, the PI dropped below a 6, making these two matches the least physical matches of the tournament so far. The biggest difference between both second round matches were the intensities at which the two players were moving. The score of Cobolli’s second round match did not reflect the intensity at which he moved. His workload, high speed distance, and explosive movements per minute jumped way above his season threshold, meaning he was being pushed in every point that was played.

Keys to the Match
Both players have similar styles of play, looking to use their speed to create offense and take time away from their opponents. Both players have shown that they can handle the volume and intensity of movement at the highest levels of the sport. The player with the highest PI with the least amount of distance covered.

Luca Van Assche vs. Alex Michelsen

Luca Van Assche was one point away from taking a commanding two-sets-to-one lead last night, which could have put him in a position to win his second round robin match last night. Going into the forth set, Hamad Medjedovic’s pace of play was starting to slow down. Meaning, he was covering less distance at a slower speed. The exact opposite was happening to Van Assche, he was maintaining his high physical thresholds going into the forth. Van Assche has proven he can handle the physicality of the ATP tour. Earlier this year, he recorded back to back matches against Stanilas Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic with Physicality ratings of over 9.2.

Alex Michelson ran into an opponent who came out firing on all cylinders last night. He was able to put Michelson into defensive positions, using the dropshot to make Michelson use his explosive movements and high speed distance to defend. Both of his opponents have been able to push Michelson to the top of his intensity metrics (high speed distance and explosive movements).

Keys to the Match
In both of their matches against Medjedovic, Van Assche and Michelson’s Physicality Index was pushed due to two times as much high-speed distance than their common opponent. This was largely due in part to the high speeds required to defend the speed and depth of Medjedovic’s shots. Whoever accumulates the least amount of high speed distance in this match should come out on top.

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Abdullah Shelbayh vs. Hamad Medjedovic

Hamad Medjedovic has shown amazing resilience bouncing back after his first round-robin match where he pushed the limits of his physicality, winning the match in a fifth set tie-break. In the final set he began to experience cramping but was able to limit the amount of movement by going for bigger shots down the stretch. A large percentage of the physicality in that match came from the sheer volume of play. Michelson was making Medjedovid play a lot of balls to win each rally. In his second round robin match, Medjedovic was forced to cover high amounts of distance per minute. He saw a 20% increase in the amount of distance he was forced to cover per minute in his second match.

The run to round robin match three for Abdullah Shelbayh has looked a little different. He was almost pushed to his career high physicality index rating of 8.8, recording a PI rating of 8.3 in his loss to Van Assche. The high PI rating in round 1 came from Shelbayh reaching a new career high in workload. Yesterday, in round 2, high level returning and more efficient play off the ground allowed Shelbayh to dominate his match against Michelson. This match he was not pushed physically as he was in control the entire match.

Keys to Match
Medjedovic is coming off two very long physical performances and will have to be ready to play one more match that will test his limits if he wants to get out of group play undefeated. Shelbayh must try and make this a physical match, even if this means him reaching a new high PI rating. A high PI rating for Shelbayh would mean he is staying in points longer and making Medjedovic play one to two extra shots. If Shelbayh can force Medjedovic into running a high amount of distance per minute early in the match, this might help fatigue him faster, pushing Medjedovic to his PI limits!

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Van Assche: A Math Wizard & Rugby Fan

  • Posted: Nov 30, 2023

Van Assche: A Math Wizard & Rugby Fan

Frenchman is competing in Jeddah

Luca Van Assche first cracked the Top 100 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in April the same week he earned his maiden tour-level victory in Estoril. The Frenchman is a three-time ATP Challenger Tour champion and is now debuting at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by NEOM.

But what is the 19-year-old like off-court? ATPTour.com caught up with the World No. 70 to discuss his perfect day and love for other sports…

If you could have dinner with three people, who would they be and why?
Roger Federer because he’s my idol. Arthur Fils because he is my friend. Then I will choose Bjorn Borg because he was one of the best players in another generation.

Do you remember watching Federer when you were growing up? Was there a match or tournament that stands out?
Yeah, I watched a lot of Roger Federer playing tournaments. If I have to think of one match I think it’s the final against Rafa in the 2017 Australian Open. He was coming back and it was a pretty good match. I watched so many matches from him, difficult to think of just one.

Describe your perfect day if you are not playing tennis.
I would sleep and I would wake up late, around 9:30 or 10 so I can have a long night but I still have some hours to enjoy my day. Then I would have a good breakfast. I will go to a restaurant with some friends, spend time with my family. Just things with friends, doing some activities or go to the cinema or game or some activities.Then eat some good pizza for dinner.

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If you weren’t a tennis player, what job would you want?
I think I could be an engineer because I love everything with mathematics and everything. So I think it could be interesting for me. I enjoy doing mathematics and I’m still continuing it at university now.

You’re very early in your career but is that something that after your career you would maybe pursue?
Yeah, of course after my career. I don’t really want to be a tennis coach. And maybe I would like to change to learn new things outside the sport. I think that’s why I’m continuing my studies and I know that I will have another job after my tennis career.

If you had to choose between attending a music concert or a sporting event, what would you choose and why?
I will choose a sports event. I went twice to a rugby game this past month, the Rugby World Cup in France so maybe that or football, PSG in France. Or maybe Formula 1.

Did you watch France play at the Rugby World Cup?
Yes, I watched two games. One was New Zealand against Ireland and the other one was France against New Zealand.

Who are some of your best friends on Tour?
I think my best friend on tour is Arthur Fils because he’s my age, he’s French, I grew up with him. I know him very well. We spent a lot of time together and we have a lot of memories. I am still young, so I don’t know everybody and not everybody is from my generation. So for the moment it’s him, but maybe in the next years I will have a lot of friends.

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When did you first meet Arthur? When do you first play with him?
I think maybe when I was nine years old we played a tournament and then we played a lot of tournaments together. It was great.

What is the most interesting thing you’ve done in your life?
This week in Jeddah is an extraordinary experience for us spending time with other players, who I didn’t know very well. It’s a new country for me, a new civilisation. So it is great experience. It was great to see to see the Old City.

Is there a nice place you’ve been to for holiday?
I went to Venice. I went to Italy a lot. I went for tennis tournaments in Morocco and it was great, another culture from France.

What’s one thing you’ve learned this year on Tour?
I’ve learned a lot of things. I think I learned that I have the level of the best players in the world. I think I gained a lot of experience because it was my first year on Tour. So I had a lot of new experiences, new matches, new tournaments, new cities. It was very interesting for me and I learned a lot of things through all my matches.

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Day 3 Preview: Fils, Stricker Seek SFs In Jeddah

  • Posted: Nov 29, 2023

Day 3 Preview: Fils, Stricker Seek SFs In Jeddah

Medjedovic, Shelbayh meet for first time in evening session

The group-stage drama peaks on Thursday at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by NEOM, when the four semi-final places will be decided.

It’s all to play for in the Green Group, where Arthur Fils will bid to complete a perfect 3-0 group campaign by beating Dominic Stricker. Italians Flavio Cobolli and Luca Nardi will also square off in the same group, with Nardi in search of his first win of the week.

Fils followed a five-set opening win against Nardi with a dominant victory against Cobolli in which he lost just five games. But Stricker enters Day 3 behind an equally comprehensive victory against Nardi, setting the stage for a high-level encounter.

The pair met once before, with Stricker notching a 7-6(4), 7-6(4) victory this July in Gstaad.

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In the Red Group, Jordanian wild card Abdullah Shelbayh will look to build on the considerable momentum he gained from flying through the last eight games of his Wednesday win against Alex Michelsen. The rising Arab star, whose native Jordan neighbours Saudi Arabia, will take on Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic knowing a three-set or four-set win will guarantee his place in the semi-finals.

“I’ve known him since we were 10 years old,” said Shelbayh of Medjedovic. “I think it was in Italy the first time I met him. He’s a great guy, I know his family very well and they’re great people. It’s not going to be an easy match. We’ve never played against each other, but we have played doubles together. We won a title in Turkey together as well.

“I think it’s going to be a fun match to play. Another important one for me and also for him depending on his match today, but every win now counts for all of us in the group so of course I’m going to have to focus on recovering well and see how tomorrow goes.”

Medjedovic, who tops the group at 2-0 after closing Wednesday’s play with a win against Luca Van Assche, is also looking forward to meeting his buddy on the court.

“Abdullah is a great friend of mine,” said the Serbian. “I’ve known him since I was a little kid. He’s a great player, we won a doubles title together when we were kids and I’m just happy to face him tomorrow.”

Also in the Red Group, the second-seeded Van Assche will meet Michelsen, who still has a potential path to the semi-finals despite his 0-2 record.

ORDER OF PLAY – THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2024

CENTRE COURT start 3 p.m.
[5] F. Cobolli (ITA) vs. [7] L. Nardi (ITA)

Not Before 4 p.m.

[1] A. Fils (FRA) vs. [3] D. Stricker (SUI)

Not Before 8 p.m.

[2] L. Van Assche (FRA) vs. [4] A. Michelsen (USA)
[6] H. Medjedovic (SER) vs. [WC/8] A. Shelbayh (JOR)

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Medjedovic Moves Top Of Group With Van Assche Victory

  • Posted: Nov 29, 2023

Medjedovic Moves Top Of Group With Van Assche Victory

Serbian improves to 2-0 in Red Group

After winning a marathon five-setter to open his Next Gen ATP Finals presented by NEOM campaign, Hamad Medjedovic got the job done in four sets on Wednesday night against second seed Luca Van Assche.

In a 4-2, 2-4, 4-3(7), 4-1 victory, the Serbian saved three set points and battled back from 1/5 down in a pivotal third-set tie-break. In serving out the match, he saved three break points as he closed out the win with two unreturned serves.

“For sure the tie-break changed a lot of things in this match,” said the World No. 110. “He had three set points. I stayed focussed on the important points. I was consistent, hitting the ball hard, and I’m glad that I won the tie-break.”

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Medjedovic moved to the top of the Red Group at 2-0 behind the win. Both his form and his record leave him in strong position to qualify for the semi-finals, though his place in the knockout stages is not yet confirmed.

“I felt that my backhand today worked really well,” said the powerful Serbian, who hit 29 winners, including 13 aces. “I was having confidence playing to his backhand, also on the forehand. I played good from both sides.”

The 20-year-old will bid to complete a perfect 3-0 group campaign on Thursday when he meets Abdullah Shelbayh. Van Assche, now 1-1 in Jeddah, will play American Alex Michelsen on the final day of group play.

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#NextGenATP Stricker On Following Fed & Stan: ‘Switzerland Will Be Looking’

  • Posted: Nov 29, 2023

#NextGenATP Stricker On Following Fed & Stan: ‘Switzerland Will Be Looking’

21-year-old is third seed at Next Gen ATP Finals presented by NEOM

All great eras must come to an end, but the next one also has to start somewhere.

Dominic Stricker is well aware of the void that will be left in Swiss tennis once Stan Wawrinka joins Roger Federer in retirement from the ATP Tour. The 21-year-old Stricker grew up watching his two countrymen regularly lifting the biggest titles in the game and competing in some of the most memorable matches in history.

While the achievements of Federer and Wawrinka will be a tough act to follow for Switzerland’s next generation of ATP Tour stars, the Alpine nation may have already unearthed a natural successor in Stricker. His clean-hitting lefty game has already earned him five ATP Challenger Tour titles and a career-high of No. 88 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

“I think Roger’s retirement was very emotional for of us, especially maybe for us Swiss players,” Stricker told ATPTour.com in Jeddah, where he is the third seed at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by NEOM. “Stan is putting in a lot of work for us young players. The fact that he’s playing Davis Cup again is amazing for us. He’s here to help us all the time.

“It’s not going to be easy when Stan retires as well, but it’s also great for me that then the whole of Switzerland will be looking out for the next Roger and Stan. It’s just good to have them in your country and to know that the country really follows tennis a lot.”

Stricker remembers when he became one of those millions of Swiss fans who followed all-time great Federer and three-time Grand Slam champion Wawrinka as they took on the world’s best.

“I think I followed them as soon as they were on TV and as soon as I got a bit more into tennis,” said Stricker. “I don’t remember the first match that I saw, but of course there are a few you will never forget.

“I started [playing] when I was six, but I think I [became more aware of Federer and Wawrinka] maybe somewhere around 10 or 11. I became Swiss champion when I was 11, so maybe that was the time I got a bit more into tennis and everything got a bit more serious.”

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Federer and Wawrinka’s influence on Stricker became more direct once he met his illustrious countrymen in person. Before he retired, Federer twice invited the youngster to practise in Dubai, while the 38-year-old Wawrinka is now his colleague on the ATP Tour.

“I know Roger and Stan are two amazing players,” said Stricker. “I think they did a lot for the for the sport in our country. I’ve had the pleasure to practice with both and that’s just something I will never forget, because these guys are two of the best players that we’ve ever had.

“It’s just great to know that they’re always here if I have any questions, to be here to answer them for me, and I think that’s very good to know.”

Wawrinka has proven more than just a reliable source of off-court advice this year for Stricker. In July the pair took to the doubles court together on home soil in Gstaad and dropped just one set all week en route to the title at the clay-court ATP 250.

<a href=Dominic Stricker and Stan Wawrinka” />

Dominic Stricker and Stan Wawrinka won a doubles title in July in Gstaad. Photo Credit: Fabian Meierhans/EFG Swiss Open Gstaad

“It was a great experience,” recalled Stricker. “We decided very late to actually team up and then we got used to each other and better after every round. To do it at home was even better. It was just a great week and a title I will never forget.

“I think [Stan] always told us young players that we should come to him and ask him, that we shouldn’t be afraid to ask him anything. He’s always very nice. He is so open to us, and we can really ask him everything. That’s just great to know that you can ask a player like Stan everything.”

While happy to take guidance from his illustrious countrymen, Stricker isn’t sure his naturally aggressive game can be easily compared to either Federer or Wawrinka.

“Stan is maybe a bit more defensive gameplay-wise, I would say, but still if he can, he goes for it,” he said. “I think Roger, he just had the perfect game. He served very well, he had a great return, great backhand and an even better forehand.

“I think maybe [I am] a bit more similar to Roger, because he really tried to be offensive, as I do as well. I would say my game is more like Roger’s, but still, it’s very different.”

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Fils Makes Statement In Basecamp, First Tennis Combine

  • Posted: Nov 29, 2023

Fils Makes Statement In Basecamp, First Tennis Combine

Players undertook four skill challenges

Who claimed bragging rights in Jeddah before the on-court action had even begun at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by NEOM?

Seven competitors at this year’s 21-and-under event in Jeddah undertook physical drills at King Abdullah Sports City, where they participated in ‘Basecamp’. The tennis combine measured the physical and athletic skills of the ATP Tour’s next generation of tennis stars. The challenges included a 10-Metre Sprint, a Vertical jump, a 5-0-5 Drill and a Star Drill.

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Frenchman Arthur Fils produced a standout display, topping the leaderboard in all of the challenges. The 19-year-old leapt 51cm in the Vertical Jump, one cm clear of second-placed Flavio Cobolli and 5cm ahead of third-placed Abdullah Shelbayh.

Fils ran the 10 Metre-Sprint in 1.72 seconds, with Shelbayh (1.75s) and Luca Nardi (1.76s) completing the top three. The Frenchman topped the Forehand and Backhand 5-0-5 Test, recording times of 2.63 seconds and 2.29 seconds.

“I am really happy about it,” Fils said. “It is nice and I am pleased to have had some good results. The guys did good, but I did better.

“It is nice because you have targets. I had to pass 50[cm] in the jump and I made it, so I am happy. It was very nice. I am doing these drills by myself and with my coach but here, it is the first time I am doing the Vertical Jump. I am happy to do it and it is nice to do a competition with the boys. I hate losing. If I can push a little bit more, I will push a little bit more.”

10-Metre Sprint

Italians Nardi and Cobolli performed well at the combine, similar to that which has long been used in the NFL. Nardi earned three top-three finishes (10-Metre Sprint, Backhand 5-0-5 Test, Star Drill), while Cobolli was in the top three four times (Backhand 5-0-5 Test, Forehand 5-0-5 Test, Vertical Jump, Star Drill).

Basecamp Star

Both enjoyed the experience and even challenged the biggest stars on Tour to give Basecamp a go.

“It was a good experience for us. It is the first we are doing this for everyone,” Cobolli said. “I want [Carlos] Alcaraz to do this for sure.”

Nardi added: “The best compared to Flavio for me was the 10-Metre Sprint. I think I made a good time but I think the 5-0-5 Drill Test was a good test and I hope I can do better in the future if I have the chance. I want Novak [Djokovic] to do it.”

Dominic Stricker’s best result came in the Forehand 5-0-5 Test, with the Swiss finishing second.

Basecamp

“It was good to do some of the tests,” Stricker said. “It was great to do some sprints and direction changes. I think it is good and for the preseason coming in December, so we can see what to work on and I will try to get faster.”

Basecamp Reaction

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An Introduction To 'Basecamp' At The Next Gen ATP Finals presented by NEOM

  • Posted: Nov 29, 2023

An Introduction To ‘Basecamp’ At The Next Gen ATP Finals presented by NEOM

Learn more about the pre-tournament physical competition

Welcome to Basecamp.

Seven competitors at the 2023 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by NEOM were put through their paces Sunday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. ‘Basecamp’ is one of a several innovations being introduced for the latest edition of the 21-and-under event, to be held from 28 November to 2 December.

So what exactly is Basecamp? Similar to the NFL’s Scouting Combine, it is a selection of tailored and general challenges that measure the physical and athletic skills of participants. The tests, which highlight the demands of being a professional tennis player, can be used to showcase the attributes of the ATP Tour’s next generation of tennis stars.

Here is all you need to know about Basecamp’s four challenges:

Vertical Jump

How It Works: Conducted on court using Force Plates, the player stands flat-footed on a mat before jumping and reach as high as they can. The player’s height off the floor will be measured to determine a score.
Attribute Being Measured: Power

<a href=Flavio Cobolli” />

Flavio Cobolli does the Vertical Jump in Jeddah. Photo Credit: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour

10-Metre Sprint

How It Works: Conducted on court using timing gates and computer vision sprint assessment technology. From a static start, the player sprints 10 metres between timing gates as fast as possible.
Attributes Being Measured: Acceleration, Speed, Sprint Mechanics

Andullah Shelbayh

Abdullah Shelbayh performs the 10-Metre Sprint in Jeddah. Photo Credit: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour

5-0-5 Test

How It Works: The player starts on the centre of the baseline, facing the net. Two Light Signals are positioned close to the net, next to each other. If the left-hand Light Signal flashes, the player must run directly left to the side of the court and then back to the centre of the baseline. If the right-hand Light Signal flashes, the player must run directly right to the side of the court and then back to the centre of the baseline.
Attributes Being Measured: Agility, Reaction Time

<a href=Dominic Stricker” />

Dominic Stricker in action during the 5-0-5 Test in Jeddah. Photo Credit: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour

Star Drill

How It Works: Conducted on court using Reactive Light Signals and timing gates. The player begins on the centre of the baseline and completes five out-and-back shuttle runs in a star formation, as fast as possible. The player must face the net at all times, and touch the Reactive Light Signal on the floor at each tip of the star.
Attribute Being Measured: Tennis-specific Movement

<a href=Arthur Fils” />

Arthur Fils performs the Star Drill in Jeddah. Photo Credit: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour

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