The Russian teen revolution is here. In September, 19-year-old Karen Khachanov claimed his first ATP Challenger Tour crown with a comeback win in Istanbul. On Sunday, Andrey Rublev joined his close friend and countryman, winning his maiden title with a dramatic victory in Quimper, France.

The 18 year old rallied from a set and a break down to upset top seed and home favourite Paul Henri-Mathieu 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-4. The turning point of the match came with Rublev down a break at 3-2 in the second set. He would convert his seventh chance to break back, reeling off 10 of 15 games to seal the win after two hours and 24 minutes.

Watch Final Highlights

“It’s such a great feeling,” Rublev said following the match. “I’m so happy to win it and I’m going to try to work harder to play better and better.

“Today was a tough match against such a great player. I was just trying to do my best. The surface here is really fast, so when I had chances I was trying to go for it.”

ATP Challenger Tour Winners Aged 18 & Under (since start of 2015)

Rublev ascends to a career-high World No. 161 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, becoming the 11th teenager in the Top 200. He is the third teen to win an ATP Challenger Tour title this year, joining Taylor Fritz and Blake Mott, and the first qualifier, having claimed six matches in eight days. Players aged 18 & under have now accounted for 10 Challenger titles in the last 14 months.

“I was playing really poorly in the U.S. (last month) and losing everything. Then, I saw on the calendar there were two Challengers here in Cherbourg and Quimper. I couldn’t stay in America because there were only ATP tournaments, so I came here to get back in shape and get some [Emirates ATP Rankings] points. I didn’t think I was going to win. It couldn’t be better.”

Russians are now 4-0 in finals this year, following Mikhail Youzhny‘s three wins in three weeks in January.

Rublev will next travel to Indian Wells to compete in qualifying at the first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event of the year. He reached the second round in his lone Masters 1000 main draw in Miami in 2015.

All-Star Line-up in the Desert – The first of nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments of the season, the BNP Paribas Open, gets underway at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Thursday, headlined by a star-studded field, including 43 of the Top 50 in the Emirates ATP Rankings (17 of the Top 20) as of March 7. This is the 41^st edition of the tournament, which was held at nearby Mission Hills in Palm Springs in 1976.

BNP PARIBAS OPEN (Indian Wells) – A Top 5 player in the Emirates ATP Rankings has lifted the champion’s trophy in 14 of the past 15 years (except 2010). The three active players to rank No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings have all won the title at least three times, including World No. 1/reigning champion/four-time winner Novak Djokovic (2008, ’11, ’14-15), No. 3/four-time champ Roger Federer (2004-06, ’12) and three-time winner Rafael Nadal (2007, ’09, ’13). Federer withdrew from this year’s tournament due to a knee injury. This is the first time he has missed the tournament after 15 consecutive appearances.

Big Four Dominance – The ‘Big Four’ of Djokovic, Murray, Federer and Nadal have won 48 of the past 52 ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, which dates back to Nadal’s triumph at Monte-Carlo in 2010. The only other players to emerge with an ATP Masters 1000 title are Robin Soderling (2010 Paris), David Ferrer (2012 Paris), Stan Wawrinka (2014 Monte-Carlo) and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (2014 Toronto). Here is a breakdown of the ATP Masters 1000 titles won by Djokovic (21), Nadal (12), Federer (8) and Murray (7) during that time: 

Djokovic Eyes Record Fifth Title – Djokovic is seeking a record fifth BNP Paribas Open title. He is also trying to win a third straight title in Indian Wells. The 28-year-old Serb and Roger Federer own the tournament record with four titles each. Federer, who is the last player to win three straight titles from 2004-06, also lifted the trophy in 2012. Last year Djokovic won his fourth title, surpassing Americans Jimmy Connors (1976, ‘81, ‘84) and Michael Chang (1992, ‘96, ‘97).

Top Seed/Reigning Champ – World No. 1 and reigning two-time champion Novak Djokovic comes into Indian Wells with a 16-1 match record on the season. He helped his country to a 3-2 Davis Cup first-round win over Kazakhstan by winning both singles matches. He opened the season by winning the Doha title (d. Nadal) and then followed by capturing his 11^th career Grand Slam crown, a record-tying sixth at the Australian Open (d. Murray). In his last tournament in Dubai, he retired in the quarter-finals (vs. Lopez) due to an eye infection on Feb. 25. It ended a streak of 17 consecutive finals reached going back to last year’s Australian Open. Djokovic has a 42-6 career tournament record and he’s reached the semi-finals or better in seven of his 10 appearances, including the past five. He has won 11 straight matches in Indian Wells since his latest loss to del Potro in the semi-finals in 2013.  This is the fourth time he comes in ranked No. 1 (2012-13, ’15-16). He also won the title in 2008 and 2011 and was runner-up in 2007. This is the 189^th week (as of March 7) ranked No. 1.

Success to No. 1 – In the past six years (and eight of the past 10), the year-end No. 1 player in the Emirates ATP Rankings has won the most ATP Masters 1000 matches during that season. Here’s a look at the year-end No. 1 players and their ATP Masters 1000 win-loss record going back to 2006:

* Note: No. 2 Federer also won 28 ATP Masters 1000 matches

Murray Joins Fatherhood – Andy Murray, who reached the Indian Wells final in 2009 (l. to Nadal), is playing his first tournament since becoming a father on February 7 with the birth of his daughter, Sophia. Murray opened the season with his fifth runner-up at the Australian Open (l. to Djokovic). Over the weekend he lifted Great Britain to a 3-1 Davis Cup victory over Japan by clinching the first-round tie with a five-set win over Kei Nishikori.

Next Generation – There are eight of the 14 Next Generation players in the main draw, including six teenagers.

Wild Cards – Four of the five wild cards in the main draw are Americans: Jared Donaldson, Taylor Fritz, Mackenzie McDonald and Frances Tiafoe. The other wild card is Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, who reached the final in his last Indian Wells appearance three years ago (l. to Nadal).

InfoSys ATP World Tour Wins Leaders – Dominic Thiem leads the ATP World Tour with 20 match wins. Last year the Austrian native won his 20^th match in Umag the week of July 20. He came into Indian Wells last year with a 3-5 record.

DelPo Returns  – Wild card entry Juan Martin del Potro is making his return to Indian Wells for the first time since 2013. This is the 27-year-old Argentine’s sixth appearance in Indian Wells (16-5 record). He’s reached the quarter-finals or better in four of his previous appearances. He reached the quarters in 2009 and 2012, semi-finals in 2011 and final in his last visit in 2013. Last year, the former World No. 4 played in two tournaments – Sydney (QF) and Miami (1R) before undergoing left wrist surgery on Jan. 20 and on June 18. He returned to action last month in Delray Beach where he advanced to the semi-finals (l. to eventual champ Querrey). Afterwards he jumped from No. 1,042 to No. 420.

Strong Doubles Field – Five of the Top 10 teams in the Emirates ATP Doubles Team Rankings are entered in the draw, led by Australian Open champions Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares. The reigning champions are Vasek Pospisil and Jack Sock. The top seeds are Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau. Here is a look at the Top 10 teams entered:

1) Jamie Murray & Bruno Soares

2) Daniel Nestor & Radek Stepanek

3) Juan Sebastian Cabal & Robert Farah

T8) Pablo Cuevas & Marcel Granollers

10) Jean-Julien Rojer & Horia Tecau

Former Champions in Draw – There are two teams on the entry list who are former champions in Indian Wells – Bob and Mike Bryan (2013-14) and Vasek Pospisil and Jack Sock (2015). There are two other players who have won the title playing with different partners:

– Marc Lopez (2010 & 2012)

– Daniel Nestor (1997, 2002, ’05-06): making 21^st tournament appearance

In Case You Missed It

Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic helped Great Britain and Serbia reach the Davis Cup quarter-finals. Read

John Isner and the United States will host Borna Coric and the Croats in the next round of the Davis Cup. Read

Rankings Movers

Guido Pella 40 (+2) – Career high

Tommy Robredo 41 (+2)

Paul-Henri Mathieu 62 (+7)

Birthdays

18 March – Pierre-Hugues Herbert (25)

The year was 1996 and Swedish tennis was at a crossroads. Stalwarts and former World No. 1’s Stefan Edberg and Mats Wilander bade farewell to the game, as a quartet of future stars – Jonas Bjorkman, Thomas Johansson, Magnus Norman and Thomas Enqvist – began their ascent to the Top 10 of the Emirates ATP Rankings.

The year was also significant in that it was the last time the Scandinavian nation hosted a tournament on the ATP Challenger Tour. Belgium’s Johan van Herck would defeat home hope Jan Apell for the title in Bromma.

Twenty years later, the Challenger circuit has returned with the RC Hotel Open this week in Jonkoping and the surging Ymer brothers – Elias and Mikael – are on the rise. Bjorkman is happy to see it back, as a platform to continue to grow the game.

“To finally have Challengers in Sweden again this year is a huge step forward for Swedish tennis and this will help the process to produce future tennis stars,” the former singles World No. 4 and doubles No. 1 told ATPWorldTour.com. “The Challengers will help our current players since the gap between our Futures and ATP World Tour events is too big. So now they can cut the costs with tournaments at home and also learn a lot by playing at that level, which will be easier to learn and take advantage of.”

“I love having the crowd supporting you and playing so close to home,” added Elias Ymer, one of 11 teenagers in the Top 200 of the Emirates ATP Rankings at No. 151. “I am from Skara, which is 100 kilometres from Jönköping, and I believe many of my friends will come and watch me play. Sweden hasn’t had a Challenger in a very long time. It’s really nice that we get a chance to play at home. The arena is completely transformed since we played Davis Cup here two years ago.”

Sweden will also welcome a Challenger tournament in Bastad in early July, the week prior to the ATP World Tour 250 event in the coastal city. Former World No. 5 Anders Jarryd, a resident of Bastad, weighed in.

“It’s so important to have that level of tournament in Sweden,” said Jarryd. “We have had the ATP World Tour events and the Futures for some years. But frankly, we haven’t really had players for the tour level. That’s why the Challengers are perfect in this phase for some of our players. Hopefully some of the Swedes can raise their game and produce upsets. It also means that Sweden is on the map again, both domestically and internationally. Tennis is still very popular and that generates publicity in the media in Sweden. What’s hard for Swedish youngsters is that it was such a long time since we had many players in the Top 100. So they have no one really to look up to. I think if you have great players in your environment, you become better yourself.”

The €42,500 event in Jonkoping is being held at the RC Arena, which has recently undergone a major transformation with a newly-built four-star hotel in the heart off the action. 58 brand new hotel rooms accommodate all players during the tournament.

“It´s very exciting hosting Sweden´s first Challenger in 20 years,” said tournament director Martin Claesson. “Now Sweden has a group of young players on their way to the top. We all keep an extra eye on Elias Ymer, now at No. 152 on Emirates ATP Rankings. After playing ITF Futures, it´s now time to play the next level. We are very pleased having the Swedish Davis Cup team in the tournament, with doubles top seed Johan Brunström.”

Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic is the top seed in Jonkoping, with Dustin Brown seeded second. Teens Ymer and Karen Khachanov are also present.

POLAND 2, ARGENTINA 3
Venue: Ergo Arena, Gdansk, POL (hard – indoor)

Leonardo Mayer handed Argentina an unassailable 3-1 advantage in their first-round tie against Poland, rallying past Michal Przysiezny 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-3 in Sunday’s reverse singles. The World No. 41 extended his Davis Cup win streak to 11 straight matches.

Poland was bidding to become the first nation to reach the quarter-finals in their World Group debut since 2011, but Argentina had other ideas, as Mayer fired 26 aces and turned aside both break points faced for the win after two hours and 33 minutes. The Argentines will look to return to the semis for the second straight year when the South American nation travels to Italy for their quarter-final tie.

In the fifth “dead” rubber, Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz saved five match points to defeat Renzo Olivo 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-4.

SERBIA 2, KAZAKHSTAN 2
Venue: Pionir Hall, Belgrade, SRB (hard – indoor)

Novak Djokovic brought Serbia back from the brink, leveling the tie at 2-2 after rallying past Mikhail Kukushkin 6-7(6), 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Djokovic fought through apparent injury to prevail despite hitting 94 unforced errors.

The World No. 1 extended his win streak in completed Davis Cup singles matches to 17 straight, improving to 3-1 in five-setters in the competition. His lone five-set defeat came 11 years ago to Olivier Rochus of Belgium.

The match finished in just under five hours and featured 19 aces from Djokovic, who converted on seven of 16 break chances. He struck 19 backhand winners.

Serbia, champion in 2010, will look to return to the quarter-finals for the second straight year as Viktor Troicki battles Aleksandr Nedovyesov in a live fifth rubber. 

ITALY 5, SWITZERLAND 0
Venue: Adriatic Arena, Pesaro, ITA (clay – indoor)

Italy completed a whitewash of Switzerland behind reverse singles wins for Marco Cecchinato and Paolo Lorenzi on Sunday. Cecchinato defeated Adrien Bossel 6-3, 7-5 and Lorenzi downed Antoine Bellier 6-3, 6-2. Italy will host Argentina in the quarter-finals.