Michael McIntyre celebrates 25 years of stand-up comedy
With a special recording of Macnificent, his latest worldwide sold-out show
With a special recording of Macnificent, his latest worldwide sold-out show
On Thursday, the Carlos Alcaraz Foundation officially opened its Los Pies en la Tierra (Ones Feet on the Ground) exhibition, which seeks to highlight the importance of equal opportunities for children.
On an emotional evening on the patio of the Carcel Vieja building, where the exhibition can be visited free of charge from 14 December to 15 February, Los Pies en la Tierra was inaugurated at an event that was attended by Carlos Alcaraz, Beatriz Garfia, the foundation’s director, and Jose Ballesta, the mayor of Murcia.
Los Pies en la Tierra is a call for all citizens to take pause for thought. Through the story of the life of Alcaraz, a boy with a normal childhood which allowed him to follow his path and chase his dreams, the exhibition underlines the fact that very close by there are many boys and girls who are much less fortunate, faced with obstacles that hinder their development and condition the rest of their lives.
[ATP APP]“I was just like any other kid, growing up in El Palmar, in an average family, running around in the park with his friends, who went to the local school, without enjoying any luxuries,” said Alcaraz. “I was passionate about sport and tennis in particular, but it was a very normal childhood. Today we are here, feeling very fortunate and grateful and we would like to do our part by taking action for children.”
“The goal of this exhibition is to show a reality, that of a very challenging childhood. It is a reality that to us may be invisible or distant, but in fact it is very close. This is about raising awareness of that, of the importance of this stage of human life,” said Beatriz Garfia, the foundation’s director. “And because, individually or collectively, we have a lot to say, we have the capacity to influence. Every small gesture counts and can make the difference to children’s lives.”
After Alcaraz officially opened the exhibition by cutting the ribbon, which was symbolically hanging over a tennis net, guests had the opportunity to enjoy a guided tour of the exhibition, led by the tennis player himself and his family.
Los Pies en la Tierra was conceived for visitors of all ages, and it provides an interactive experience through video games, activities, and questions. It includes some of Alcaraz’s most important trophies as well as a few surprise items the tennis player has donated.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]To mark the end of the 2024 season, ATPTour.com highlights five moments to remember from the ATP Challenger Tour season.
Schwaerzler’s historic ‘surprise’
#NextGenATP Joel Schwaerzler entered the record books at the Macedonian Open, where he became just the fourth player to win a title at that level while holding the junior No. 1 ranking. Nick Kyrgios, Taylor Fritz and Wu Yibing also accomplished the feat.
“I was kind of surprised,” Schwaerzler said. “I knew I could win matches there but to actually win the tournament is something different.”
The 18-year-old, who won this year’s Roland Garros boys’ doubles event alongside Norway’s Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, finished the season at No. 330 in the PIF ATP Rankings. Schwaerzler is the fourth-youngest Austrian winner in ATP Challenger Tour history.
Mejia wins Challenger title in memory of late father
Nearly seven years on since his father’s passing, Mejia celebrated a career milestone in April, when he won his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Following his triumph, Mejia was enthusiastic, yet emotional, as he pointed to the sky. “Papá, papá,” he uttered.
“Every single day that goes by, I mention him, I think about him, I dream about him in my sleep because I think about him the whole time,” said the No. 219 player in the PIF ATP Rankings. “It’s been the toughest battle for me to realise and know that he is physically gone forever. I feel that he’s close to me every single day of my life. That’s one thing that will keep me going forever because that strength he gave me is unconditional.
“I think when I lifted the trophy, I was also looking to the sky as a sign of relief… I wanted to look at my dad, obviously pointing the trophy to him.” Read ATPTour.com’s feature: Mejia wins Challenger title in memory of late father: ‘The pain never goes away’.
<img alt=”Nicolas Mejia at age eight alongside his father Gustavo.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/04/03/18/18/mejia-gustavo-1-2024.jpg” />
Nicolas Mejia at age eight alongside his father Gustavo. Credit: Mejia Family
Rwanda Challenger reflects hope & healing of a nation
This year marked 30 years since the Rwanda genocide, an atrocity that claimed an estimated 500,000 to 800,000 lives. As the central African country continues to recover and rebuild, tennis is playing a small but important part of the healing process. The ATP Challenger Tour spent two weeks (26 February-10 March) in the capital city Kigali, making Rwanda the seventh African country to host an event at that level.
Rather than trying to erase the dark chapter from history, the tournament adopted an alternative approach: promoting education and honouring the fallen through visits to the Kigali Genocide Memorial. More than 20 players visited the memorial.
“Rwanda took a risk to organise the first big tournament in this part of the world,” tournament director Arzel Mevellec said. “It’s a very important symbol. Rwanda is a small country but with big events now. Soccer, NBA Academy Africa, and now Rwanda is on the world map of tennis and I think that’s the beginning of something huge. Rwanda can be proud about that.”
Rwanda is the seventh African country to host an ATP Challenger Tour event. Credit: Rwanda Tennis Federation
Champions hailing from college ranks
The college pathway continues to be a vital stepping stone for many players to find success on the ATP Challenger Tour and beyond.
A single-season record 27 different players with college tennis experience won titles this year, led by four-time winner Jacob Fearnley, who helped TCU capture the 2024 NCAA D1 men’s tennis championship in May before making quick progress on the Challenger Tour. The four-time ITA All-American finished the season at No. 99 in the PIF ATP Rankings, a vast improvement upon his No. 646 ranking at the start of the year.
The 2023 NCAA singles champion Ethan Quinn captured his maiden Challenger title in Champaign, his final tournament of the year. Tristan Boyer (Stanford), Federico Agustin Gomez (Louisville), Alexander Ritschard (Virginia), Learner Tien (USC) and Valentin Vacherot (Texas A&M) all claimed three Challenger titles.
[ATP APP]
Vacherot’s dominant start to season
Vacherot started the season on one of the hottest Challenger runs in recent memory. The 26-year-old won his first 15 Challenger-level matches of the year, claiming three titles. It was the longest winning streak to start a Challenger season since 2017. Vacherot was crowned champion in back-to-back weeks in Nonthaburi, Thailand and triumphed a month later in Pune, India.
A shoulder injury unfortunately hindered Vacherot’s standout season in which he did not compete in any tournaments after the US Open. Vacherot tallied a 21-3 season record (Challenger level) and held the second-highest winning percentage on the ATP Challenger Tour this year (87.5 per cent), only behind Fearnley (27-3, 90 per cent).
[NEWSLETTER FORM]
Jannik Sinner never loosened his grip on dominating the ATP Tour this season, leading the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index on two of three surfaces.
The Italian claimed a whopping seven of his eight tour-level titles on hard courts this year and tallied a 53-3 (94.6 per cent) record on the surface. Two of those losses came against his rival Carlos Alcaraz, who finished second in match-win percentage on hard courts. Zverev’s 40 hard-court wins were second to Sinner’s season-leading 53.
Hard Court Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index
| Player | Winning % | Titles | Win/Loss |
| Jannik Sinner | 94.6% | 7 | 53-3 |
| Carlos Alcaraz | 78.4% | 2 | 29-8 |
| Novak Djokovic | 76.2% | 0 | 16-5 |
| Alexander Zverev | 75.5% | 1 | 40-13 |
| Grigor Dimitrov | 73.9% | 1 | 34-12 |
Sinner closed his season by triumphing at the Nitto ATP Finals, where he capped a perfect year on indoor hard courts. The 23-year-old went 13-0 on indoor hard, lifting trophies in Rotterdam and Turin.
Karen Khachanov and Tommy Paul also scored titles on indoor hard courts, finishing in the top three in those conditions according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. The 28-year-old Khachanov tallied the most indoor hard wins (14).
Indoor Hard Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, min. 10 matches played
| Player | Index | Titles | Win/Loss |
| Jannik Sinner | 100% | 2 | 13-0 |
| Karen Khachanov | 82.4% | 1 | 14-3 |
| Tommy Paul | 80% | 2 | 8-2 |
| Alexander Zverev | 78.6% | 1 | 11-3 |
| Roberto Bautista Agut | 75% | 1 | 9-3 |
The 18-time tour-level champion Sinner earned a milestone moment at the ATP 500 in Halle this season, capturing his maiden title on grass. The World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings went on a nine-match winning streak on grass before falling to Daniil Medvedev in the Wimbledon quarter-finals.
Sinner earned nine grass-court wins, which was one more than Wimbledon champion Alcaraz (8). Lorenzo Musetti tallied the most grass-court wins (12).
Grass Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index
| Player | Index | Titles | Win/Loss |
| Jannik Sinner | 90% | 1 | 9-1 |
| Carlos Alcaraz | 88.9% | 1 | 8-1 |
| Alex de Minaur | 87.5% | 1 | 7-1 |
| Taylor Fritz | 83.3% | 1 | 10-2 |
| Tommy Paul | 83.3% | 1 | 10-2 |
Sinner’s countryman Matteo Berrettini led the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index on clay with a 93.8 winning percentage (15-1). Berrettini won three tour-level titles on clay, lifting trophies in Marrakech, Gstaad and Kitzbühel.
Argentine Sebastian Baez claimed the most clay-court wins (26) with Casper Ruud (24) and Alexander Zverev (23) not far behind.
Clay Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index
| Player | Index | Titles | Win/Loss |
| Matteo Berrettini | 93.8% | 3 | 15-1 |
| Jannik Sinner | 84.6% | 0 | 11-2 |
| Novak Djokovic | 84.2% | 1 | 16-3 |
| Carlos Alcaraz | 81% | 1 | 17-4 |
| Alexander Zverev | 79.3% | 1 | 23-6 |
British number one Jack Draper talks to BBC Sport’s Laura Scott on a Memory Walk to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease.
Draper’s grandmother has Alzheimer’s, a condition that causes dementia and the gradual decline of cognitive functioning in the brain.
Carlos Alcaraz is back to the grind, working hard to prepare for another big season.
The 21-year-old is continuing his preseason training, practising under the guidance of coach Juan Carlos Ferrero and the rest of his team in Murcia, Spain.
[ATP APP]The Spaniard finished in the top three of the year-end PIF ATP Rankings for a third consecutive year, and registered a 54-13 record according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.
Clive Brunskill of Getty Images joined Alcaraz and his team for the past couple of days at Real Sociedad Club de Campo Murcia in Murcia, Spain, to capture behind-the-scenes photos of the four-time major champion and his team in action.
Alcaraz works out in style in the Club De Campo gymnasium at Real Sociedad Club de Campo Murcia.
The Spaniard with Coach Ferrero and team after a practice session.
Alcaraz and Ferrero confer during the practice session on Thursday.
Artwork of Alcaraz on the wall of the Spaniard’s old school in El Palmar, Murcia, Spain.
Alcaraz works with his physical trainer in the Club De Campo gymnasium.
Alcaraz and Ferrero during a training session.
Jannik Sinner won Fans’ Favourite for the second straight year, while also earning ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours in the 2024 ATP Awards.
It was a fitting way to cap a historic season that saw the 23-year-old claim a Tour-best eight singles titles (including his first two Grand Slams, three ATP Masters 1000s, and the Nitto ATP Finals), help his countrymen successfully defend their Davis Cup title, and become the first Italian No. 1 in the annals of the PIF ATP Rankings.
Visit the official ATP Awards section
Runners-up at both the Australian Open and Roland Garros, first-time partners Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori of Italy took home the Fans’ Favourite Award in the doubles category.
The 2024 ATP Awards also honoured the tandem of Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic, who received their trophy in Turin as the Year-End ATP Doubles No. 1 presented by PIF. The first-year pairing accounted for four doubles titles, their biggest coming on clay at Roland Garros.
Matteo Berrettini was named Comeback Player of the Year after overcoming a series of injuries to collect three titles and climb back into the Top 40, while 19-year-old Jakub Mensik, the youngest member of the year-end Top 50, won Newcomer of the Year.
Proving he belongs at the elite level, Most Improved Player of the Year winner Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard earned five Top 30 wins across title runs in Lyon and Basel, rising 175 spots in the PIF ATP Rankings to a career-high No. 30.
[ATP APP]After putting an end to a seven-year title drought and returning to the Top 10 in the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time since 2018, Grigor Dimitrov was selected by his fellow players as the winner of the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award, recognising fair play, professionalism and integrity on and off the court.
Michael Russell took Coach of the Year honours in a vote of his contemporaries after guiding Taylor Fritz to a 53-23 season and a career-best No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings. Fritz won two titles this year and also reached the championship match at the Nitto ATP Finals and US Open.
Dominic Thiem received the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award in recognition of his commitment to sustainability and environmental issues, with a particular focus on ocean conservation. The 2020 US Open titlist and former World No. 3, who headed into retirement after playing his final match at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, has long supported such non-profit organisations as 4Ocean, SeaLegacy and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
The BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells (ATP Masters 1000), the cinch Championships at The Queen’s Club in London (ATP 500) and the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha (ATP 250) were voted by players as Tournament of the Year in their respective categories. The cinch Championships was also awarded special recognition for their Standards of Excellence, along with the Rolex Shanghai Masters and the Nordea Open in Bastad.
The Mexico City Open at Club Deportivo Chapultepec was named Tournament of the Year on the ATP Challenger Tour. Meanwhile, Joan Solsona of MARCA was the recipient of the Ron Bookman Media Excellence Award.
2024 ATP Awards Winners
ATP No. 1 presented by PIF
(determined by PIF ATP Rankings)
Fans’ Favourite Award (Singles)
(voted by fans)
Jannik Sinner: The first Italian No. 1 in the history of the PIF ATP Rankings, Jannik Sinner posted a remarkable 73-6 campaign during which he never lost a match in straight sets (Of those with a minimum of 20 matches played, only Roger Federer has matched that feat in the Open Era.). Sinner opened 2024 on a 16-match winning streak, a perfect stretch that included his maiden major trophy in Melbourne, where he became the first Italian in the Open Era to win the Australian Open singles title. In all, he would claim a Tour-best eight titles on the year, including his second major singles triumph at the US Open, three ATP Masters 1000s (Miami, Cincinnati, Shanghai) and the Nitto ATP Finals. He capped the year by leading a successful Davis Cup title defence for Italy.
ATP Doubles No. 1 presented by PIF
(determined by PIF ATP Rankings)
Marcelo Arevalo/Mate Pavic: The first-year pairing of Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic got out of the blocks in a hurry in 2024, winning its debut at the ATP 250 stop in Hong Kong. The banner result proved a foreshadowing of things to come, as the Salvadoran-Croatian duo went on to claim three more big-stage trophies, including Roland Garros and the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati. Arevalo/Pavic also reached the title match at the year-end Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.
Comeback Player of the Year
(voted by ATP players)
Matteo Berrettini: After reaching a career-high No. 6 in the PIF ATP Rankings in 2022, Matteo Berrettini experienced a series of injury setbacks. Falling as low as No. 154, he stepped back on the court in March at an ATP Challenger Tour event in Phoenix, where he reached the final. After dropping a three-setter to Andy Murray in Miami, Berrettini re-announced himself by winning Marrakech. That proved to be the first of three ATP 250 titles for the Italian on the year, with the 28-year-old backing it up with triumphs in Gstaad and Kitzbuhel to bring his tour-level singles trophy count up to 10. Berrettini closed out his 2024 campaign by helping Italy retain its Davis Cup title, notching crucial singles wins in the final two rounds. Two other former Top 10 players, Marin Cilic and Kei Nishikori, were nominated in the Comeback category.
Most Improved Player of the Year
(voted by ATP players)
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard: The 6-foot-8 Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard opened the year outside the Top 200 in the PIF ATP Rankings, but climbed to a career-high No. 30 by November. He broke into the Top 100 in May after saving a championship point to capture his first ATP Tour title in his hometown of Lyon. At Wimbledon, he became the first lucky loser to reach the Round of 16 since 1995. The Frenchman continued his climb by clinching the ATP 500 crown at the Swiss Indoors Basel. Mpetshi Perricard remained unbroken all week and fired 109 aces in five matches. Jack Draper, Tomas Machac and Alejandro Tabilo were also nominated in this category.
Newcomer of the Year
(voted by ATP players)
Jakub Mensik: En route to his first ATP Tour final in Doha, Jakub Mensik dispatched Andy Murray, Andrey Rublev and Gael Monfils in succession. The 19-year-old Czech’s victory against Rublev made him the youngest player to earn a Top 5 win since Carlos Alcaraz beat Stefanos Tsitsipas at the 2021 US Open. The run earned him his Top 100 breakthrough in the PIF ATP Rankings, and he continued his steady rise to finish the year inside the Top 50. Mensik achieved his best major result of the season by reaching the third round at the US Open. Shang Juncheng was also nominated in this category as a #NextGenATP player who entered the Top 100 for the first time in 2024.
Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award
(voted by ATP players)
Grigor Dimitrov: Grigor Dimitrov has been recognised by his fellow players for his fair play, professionalism and integrity both on and off the court. After opening his 2024 campaign with triumph in Brisbane to end a seven-year title drought, the former World No. 3 returned to the Top 10 in the PIF ATP Rankings in April for the first time since 2018. The Bulgarian becomes only the third player not named Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal to earn the distinction in two decades, joining Carlos Alcaraz (2023) and Casper Ruud (2022). Dominic Thiem and former Alcaraz and Ruud were also nominated in this category.
Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award
(awarded by ATP)
Dominic Thiem: With his career-long commitment to sustainability and environmental issues — clean ocean initiatives at the forefront — Dominic Thiem has been named the 2024 Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award recipient. He has long supported such non-profit organisations as 4Ocean, SeaLegacy and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Thiem joins the likes of John McEnroe, Andre Agassi and Roger Federer as winners of this award. The 31-year-old Austrian retired from professional tennis this past October, after 348 match wins, 17 singles titles (including the 2020 US Open) and a career-high No. 3 ranking.
Fans’ Favourite Award (Doubles)
(voted by fans)
Simone Bolelli/Andrea Vavassori: The first-year pairing of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori claimed three titles (Buenos Aires, Halle, Beijing), reached Grand Slam finals at the Australian Open and Roland Garros, and qualified for their maiden team appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. Bolelli/Vavassori also accounted for the clincher in a 2-1 edging of Belgium during Italy’s run to a second straight Davis Cup title.
Coach of the Year
(voted by ATP coaches)
Michael Russell (Taylor Fritz): Former World No. 60 Michael Russell helped guide Taylor Fritz to his first Grand Slam final at the US Open, the championship match at the Nitto ATP Finals, and a pair of ATP 250 titles in Delray Beach and Eastbourne. After posting a 17-4 record at the Grand Slams, more than doubling his previous high for major wins in a year, Fritz finished the season at a career-high No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings – the highest year-end finish by an American since James Blake also finished No. 4 in 2006. Russell, who began working with Fritz in late 2021, was nominated in this category alongside Xavier Malisse (Alexei Popyrin), Emmanuel Planque (Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard), Brad Stine (Tommy Paul) and James Trotman (Jack Draper).
ATP Masters 1000 Tournament of the Year
(voted by ATP players)
BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells): The BNP Paribas Open won in the ATP Masters 1000 category for a record-extending 10th year in a row. Held amidst the natural beauty and backdrop of the desert landscape, the Indian Wells Tennis Garden offers top-notch player facilities and amenities; plentiful practice courts that allow fans to watch players up close; and unparalleled dining options. In 2024, the tournament welcomed a record-breaking 493,440 fans across two weeks and awarded more than $19 million in total prize money, the largest purse in BNP Paribas Open history.
ATP 500 Tournament of the Year
(voted by ATP players)
cinch Championships (London): The cinch Championships at The Queen’s Club claimed honours at the ATP 500 level, winning for the sixth time. Also recognised in this category in 2015-16, 2018 and 2022-23, the tournament has thrived in its prestigious setting in West Kensington by consistently attracting some of the best singles and doubles players on the ATP Tour.
ATP 250 Tournament of the Year
(voted by ATP players)
Qatar ExxonMobil Open (Doha): The Qatar ExxonMobil Open at the Khalifa International Tennis Complex, one of two ATP Tour events held in the Middle East, has been selected by the players as the ATP 250 Tournament of the Year for the sixth time (2015, 2017, 2019, 2021-22, 2024). Doha has set high standards since its inception in 1993 and under the guidance of former player Karim Alami, the tournament continues to build its reputation for its superb facility, world-class hospitality and welcoming fans.
ATP Challenger Tournament of the Year
(selected by ATP players)
Mexico City Open (Mexico City): Held at the Club Deportivo Chapultepec, often called Mexico’s ‘Cathedral of Tennis’, the Mexico City Open has become a beloved event for players to start the spring clay-court season. This year’s champion was Argentine Thiago Agustin Tirante.
Ron Bookman Media Excellence Award
(awarded by ATP)
Joan Solsona: A longtime journalist with Spain’s daily sports newspaper MARCA, Joan Solsona has more than two decades’ worth of Grand Slams, ATP Masters 1000s, Nitto ATP Finals and Davis Cup ties to his credit. Solsona has also covered football, basketball, handball, swimming and water polo.
Grigor Dimitrov has been selected by fellow players as the winner of the 2024 Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award. Part of the ATP Awards, the honour recognises the Bulgarian’s fair play, professionalism and integrity on and off the court.
“I’m just very grateful, very thankful to all my fans, to all my colleagues, to everyone that has been such a support throughout all this time. I feel very fortunate,” Dimitrov said. “Thank you all for this amazing appreciation, and I’ll make sure to keep on going and to keep on striving to be the best.”
A special message from your 2024 Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award winner! 👏 @GrigorDimitrov | #ATPAwards pic.twitter.com/enFspzli9S
— ATP Tour (@atptour) December 13, 2024
Dimitrov is the third consecutive first-time winner of the Sportsmanship Award, following Casper Ruud (2022) and Carlos Alcaraz (2023). From 2004-21, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were the only winners, with Federer honoured 13 times and Nadal tabbed on five occasions. Edberg won the award five times between 1988 and 1995, with the honour named after the Swede from 1996.
During the 2024 season, Dimitrov posted a 46-18 record according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index and won his ninth tour-level title in Brisbane. The 33-year-old reached three additional finals, at the Miami ATP Masters 1000 and in Marseille and Stockholm. He also advanced to the quarter-finals at Roland Garros, the US Open and the Rolex Paris Masters.
Dimitrov finished the year at No. 10 in the PIF ATP Rankings, his best year-end ranking since he closed the 2017 season at a career high of World No. 3.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]A number of ATP stars have dedicated time to charitable causes in 2024, combining their on-court success with efforts to give back. Players including Andrey Rublev, Carlos Alcaraz, and Casper Ruud have not only focused on winning matches but also on raising funds for a variety of charitable organisations.
In March, Rublev launched the Andrey Rublev Foundation, aimed at supporting children with critical illnesses. The foundation’s mission is to fundraise and provide resources that help these children overcome challenges, empowering them to reach their full potential. Rublev’s clothing line, Play for the Kids, which he launched in December 2023, raised over $150,000 in its first months, serving as the foundation’s initial funding.
In April, Alcaraz followed suit, establishing the Carlos Alcaraz Garfia Foundation. Similar to Rublev’s foundation, Alcaraz’s initiative is focused on improving the lives of children in need. Based in El Palmar, the foundation is working to develop strong programs that offer support to children, while fostering networking opportunities and innovative solutions. One of the foundation’s early successes includes social sports initiatives that have already reached over 120 children, promoting equal opportunities for disadvantaged youth.
“I believe athletes are in a privileged position, and we have a responsibility to help those in need, especially by improving their childhoods,” Alcaraz said upon the foundation’s launch. “We are starting with small but meaningful steps to make a lasting difference in the lives of those who need it most.”
[ATP APP]Ruud, currently ranked No. 6 in the PIF ATP rankings, has been involved with the W Initiative, a humanitarian organisation dedicated to improving the quality of life for children and young people from diverse backgrounds. As Global Ambassador since 2022, Ruud participated in the initiative’s annual tennis event in September, held in Oslo. The event raised a donation of 1 million NOK ($95,000 USD) for Furuset IF Tennis, an organisation whose work aligns with W Initiative’s mission of increasing opportunities for young people.
“I was already aware of the excellent sporting results here, but after today, I truly understand why,” Ruud said at the event. “The work they’re doing with children and youth is incredible.”
<img alt=”Casper Ruud” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/09/25/14/48/ruud-charity-september-2024.jpg” style=”width: 100%;” />
Photo Credit: Stian Engh
Hurkacz also donated €100 for each ace he hit between September and November to support victims of the devastating floods in Poland, while doubles specialist Marcus Daniell pledged 50 per cent of his 2024 prize money to charity. Daniell, the founder of High Impact Athletes, is committed to guiding athletes toward the most effective charitable causes.
This week, Dominic Thiem won the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award, reward for his ongoing climate and animal work.
For more on ATP players’ charitable work in 2024, featuring Ben Shelton and Brandon Nakashima, click here.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Three-time major champion Stan Wawrinka has received a wild card into the Australian Open, the tournament announced Thursday.
The 39-year-old is set to make his 19th appearance in Melbourne, where he won his first major title in 2014. Wawrinka boasts a 43-17 tournament record.
“I’m incredibly grateful to receive a wild card into the Australian Open in 2025,” said the former World No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings. “Melbourne holds such a special place in my heart — it’s where I won my first Grand Slam, one of the greatest milestones of my career.
“The city, the people, the loud fans and the electric atmosphere make the Australian Open so special to me and I’m really looking forward to getting back on the court in Melbourne.”
[ATP APP]Home hopes Tristan Schoolkate, Li Tu and James McCabe also received main draw wild cards. The 23-year-old Schoolkate reached the second round of this year’s US Open as a wild card. Tu advanced through Flushing Meadows qualifying and pushed Carlos Alcaraz to four sets in the opening round.
Tu and McCabe will make their second Australian Open main-draw appearance. Schoolkate will compete in the main draw for the first time.
The Australian Open runs from 12-26 January.
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