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Michelsen's shocker: 'I am going to see that a million times over'

  • Posted: Dec 18, 2024

American Alex Michelsen earned a four-set win against Nishesh Basavareddy at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF on Wednesday but there is one moment he will not want to see again.

Serving for the third set at 3-2, 40/30, the 20-year-old failed to dispatch a routine volley on top of the net after he had worked himself into a dominant position in the point off a forehand smash. The 20-year-old was left with his head in his hands after squandering the simple chance, with Basavareddy going on to break Michelsen’s serve.

“It was a tough moment,” Michelsen said. “I am probably going to see that a million times later when I open Instagram. I thought he wasn’t going to get it back and then I didn’t want to reach over the net and smash it, so I went to drop it but I was a little tight when I saw it come back over and I just missed it.”

Michelsen went on to lose his serve on the deciding deuce point but responded in the third-set tie-break, rallying from 0/2 to claim the third set and then eventually the match in four sets in Red Group play.

“I am really happy with the way I re-grouped,” Michelsen said. “Six months ago I would have for sure lost that breaker 7-2, so I am super happy with the way I re-grouped and found the way.”

Michelsen made his debut in Jeddah last year but lost all three of his round-robin matches. Twelves months on and the American is back as the second seed and at a career-high No. 41 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

Michelsen, who reached ATP Tour finals in Newport and Winston-Salem in 2024, is pleased with his development in the past year.

“I am more of a complete player compared to 12 months ago, both physically and mentally,” Michelsen said. “Last year I arrived off the back of just playing Challenger events and was not established on the Tour. Now I have a whole year’s experience on the Tour and that helped me get the win today.”

The American will take on Frenchman Luca Van Assche in his second round-robin match in Jeddah on Thursday.

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ATP's Baseline programme distributes $1.3 million to players in 2024, guarantees minimum earnings for Top 250 players for first time in tennis history

  • Posted: Dec 18, 2024

The ATP has confirmed a total $1.3 million has been distributed to 26 players in the first year of Baseline. Launched in 2024 on a three-year trial basis, the initiative has guaranteed minimum earnings for Top 250 players for the first time in tennis history.

The total $1.3 million has been distributed to eligible players under Baseline’s three pillars: Minimum Guarantee, Income Protection and Newcomer Investment.

Baseline has introduced guaranteed minimum income levels for the Top 250-ranked singles players, providing a financial safety net irrespective of on-court performance. In 2024, a total of 17 players benefited from Minimum Guarantee, with ATP stepping in to cover the shortfall where prize money earnings finished below minimum thresholds.

ATP will raise the guaranteed minimum thresholds in 2025: to $200,000 (up from $150,000) for singles players ranked 101-175, and $100,000 (up from $75,000) for players ranked 176-250. The threshold for Top 100 will remain at $300,000. The new thresholds mean that all players who finished 2024 in the Top 250 will earn a minimum of $100,000 in 2025, provided they play a minimum of 15 events.

In 2024, the Income Protection pillar supported a total of three players overcoming injury setbacks, financially supporting their recovery and return to the Tour.

Seven players benefited under the final pillar, Newcomer Investment. Targeting players who have broken into the Top 125 for the first time, this support enables rising stars to invest in their careers and break onto the ATP Tour.

[ATP APP]

ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said: “Baseline is a game-changer for the economics of a tennis player. We’re giving players the financial support they need to overcome challenges and build a sustainable career – whether they’re navigating injuries, setbacks in performance, or entering the Tour for the first time. With $1.3 million distributed to players in year one of Baseline, the impact is already clear. And, with expansions set for 2025, this is just the beginning.”

ATP Player Bernabé Zapata Miralles said: “As a professional tennis player, you’re focused on results. Relying on your performance to succeed can be difficult, especially when dealing with setbacks like injuries. With Baseline, we now have the comfort we need to improve, without the pressure of financial uncertainty. It’s a ground-breaking effort by the ATP to improve the support provided to players, and I’m excited to see the programme expand.”

ATP Player Hamad Medjedovic said: “Breaking onto the ATP Tour is an unbelievable accomplishment. You work incredibly hard to reach this level, and the journey is not always straight forward. Baseline provides the extra boost in support you need to fulfil your potential, by investing in the right resources and planning ahead.”

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Shang unchanged ahead of Jeddah bow: 'I'm still the same happy kid'

  • Posted: Dec 18, 2024

Shang Juncheng’s success has helped fuel a tennis boom in China. The first player from his nation to compete at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, the 19-year-old is now eager to be a part of the game’s growth in Saudi Arabia. 

“This event, they’ve had so many great players in the past and a lot of good champions,” he said. “So I think coming here is really special, especially coming into Jeddah. Maybe a couple of years ago there wasn’t too much tennis action going on, but now we have the WTA Finals and the Next Gen Finals here, so I’m really looking forward to it.”

[ATP APP]

Shang enters Jeddah as a member of the Top 50 in the PIF ATP Rankings, having reached a career-high of No. 47 in October after winning his first tour-level title in Chengdu. He lost just one set in that run at the ATP 250 and beat Lorenzo Musetti in the final. Despite his quick rise up the rankings — and his more than $1 million in prize money this season — Shang remains the same person as his game evolves.

“I think I’m still the same happy kid,” he said. “I try to be happy on the court, try to learn every day what I can do better what needs to be improved. I think it’s just a little bit of a challenge each day to make me a better player.”

Shang posted a 5-3 record at the Grand Slams this season (he bowed out in qualifying at Roland Garros) and reached the main-draw second round at all four ATP Masters 1000s at which he competed. Apart from his Chengdu title, he singled out his performance at the majors as a season highlight and took particular pride in completing the year without injury or illness.

Ironically, he had an eye infection early in the offseason, but he still enjoyed some downtime on holiday in Dubai, complete with shopping and beach time. In recent months, Shang has also started a gluten-free diet, part of an overall effort to live a more professional lifestyle.

Shang’s parents are also key influences. His father, Yi, was a professional football player; his mother, Na, was a world champion table tennis player.

“I think the mentality is the same, that you go on court, you try 100 per cent,” he said about taking lessons from their sporting careers. “That’s what they’ve been telling me all the time: You’ve got to be a competitor, but at the same time you’ve got to know your values — that maybe sometimes winning is not the most important thing. More to enjoy the competition and enjoy the people watching you. I think at the end of the day it’s [the people] who are next to you that’s the most important thing.”

While Shang and his fellow Jeddah competitors continue to learn about life as professional tennis players, their experience at the Next Gen ATP Finals provides a rare chance to compete exclusively amongst peers.

“The eight of us here, we know each other inside-out. We grew up all together, we’re all around the same age,” he said. “It’s really special because on Tour you play the older guys, not people your age. So coming here, I think it’s some sort of pressure that I’m playing kids that are like me, my age.”

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