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Magnificent In Miami: The Greatest Champions

Since its beginnings in South Florida in 1985, the Miami Open presented by Itau has been a showcase for the sport’s greatest champions. The tournament’s honour roll reads like a who’s-who guide to the best of men’s tennis, from Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi to Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

Ahead of the 36th edition of the ATP Masters 1000 event, ATPTour.com looks back at the greatest champions in Miami history.

Most Miami Open Singles Titles

Ivan Lendl – Titles (2): 1986, 1989
Two of Ivan Lendl’s haul of 94 ATP Tour titles came at this event. The former World No.1 was the second champion to be crowned in South Florida, winning the 1986 edition held in Boca Raton before the event moved to its long-term home in Key Biscayne.

The Czech-American great won a tightly-contested final against Mats Wilander to claim the 1986 title, winning 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(5), 6-4. Lendl also advanced to the 1989 final without losing a set, but received a walkover in the championship match when his opponent Thomas Muster was injured by a drunk driver after the semi-finals.

Andy Roddick – Titles (2): 2004, 2010
Former World No. 1 Roddick racked up 32 ATP Tour titles across his career, including two in Key Biscayne. The American claimed his first title in 2004 with a victory over Guillermo Coria, who retired in the final. Six years later, Roddick won in Miami again to lift his fifth and final ATP Masters 1000 trophy, and his first since 2006. He fired 13 aces and didn’t face a break point in the final to win 7-5, 6-4 against Tomas Berdych.

Andy Murray – Titles (2): 2009, 2013
It’s no surprise that Andy Murray has always seemed right at home on the courts of Crandon Park. The Brit owned a home in Miami, just 10 minutes away from the stadium, for nearly a decade. He bagged two of his 14 ATP Masters 1000 titles at his home away from home, and reached the final on two more occasions (2012, 2015).

In 2009, Murray established himself as a threat to the new ‘Big Three’ with a 6-2, 7-5 victory against Novak Djokovic in the final. The win earned him revenge too, after suffering a 6-1, 6-0 defeat to the Serbian in Miami two years prior. Two days before this 31st birthday, Murray took down David Ferrer 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(1) to win the 2013 title.

Pete Sampras – Titles (3): 1993-94, 2000
In 1994, defending Miami champion Sampras was sprawled on the floor of the locker room moments before the championship match, suffering due to a stomach illness. In a great gesture of sportsmanship, his opponent Andre Agassi agreed to delay the match by an hour to allow him time to recover. Sampras famously bounced back, finding his form as the match went on to beat Agassi 5-7, 6-3, 6-3. 

‘Pistol Pete’ won his third title at the ATP Masters 1000 event in another memorable moment. His late-career clash-of-styles against baseliner Gustavo Kuerten in 2000 is remembered as one of the best championship clashes ever played at the tournament. The American needed a fourth-set tie-break to defeat Kuerten in an instant classic, 6-1, 6-7(2), 7-6(5), 7-6(8).

Roger Federer – Titles (4): 2005-06, 2017, 2019
The Swiss great triumphed against Rafael Nadal in what is widely considered to be one of the greatest ATP Tour finals of all time to claim his first Miami title in 2005. Federer came back from two sets down to win an epic five-setter 2-6, 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-1 against the rising Spaniard.

He would go on to win in Miami three more times, and became the tournament’s oldest champion with his victory in 2019. That year, he was also the first player to triumph at the Miami Open presented by Itau’s new home in Miami Gardens, the Hard Rock Stadium.

Andre Agassi – Titles (6): 1990, 1995-96, 2001-03
For decades, Andre Agassi reigned as the undisputed king in Key Biscayne. A product of the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida, the Las Vegas-born legend was right at home in Miami where he won six trophies and reached the final another two times. At the height of his rivalry with Pete Sampras, he came away victorious in one of the tournament’s classic finals, winning the 1995 edition with a 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(3) victory.

The former World No. 1 amassed the longest win streak in tournament history: He won 19 consecutive matches from 2001-04, a period during which he lifted the trophy three times. It’s a record that stands to this day.

Novak Djokovic – Titles (6): 2007, 2011-12, 2014-16
He became the youngest champion in Miami history at 19 years old in 2007, and he’s never looked back. The Serbian holds the joint record for most titles in men’s singles (also Agassi) and is only the second player to win the tournament three times in a row (from 2014-16, also Agassi 2001-03).

In fact, only one venue has been more successful for Djokovic than Crandon Park, having lifted nine Australian Open trophies at Melbourne Park. He has dominated in Miami more than at any other ATP Masters 1000 event, including Indian Wells, Rome and Paris (5), as well as the Nitto ATP Tour Finals (5).

Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan – Titles (6): 2007-08, 2014-15, 2018-19
The most decorated doubles teams in tennis history, Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan are also the winningest team in Miami with six titles to their name. The twin brothers won back-to-back Miami trophies on three occasions, and appeared in another six finals. By the time they retired in 2020, the Americans had racked up an Open Era record 119 trophies in 26-season careers, including all four Grand Slams, all nine ATP Masters 1000s, Nitto ATP Finals (four titles) and an Olympic gold medal.

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Toni Nadal, Becker, Ljubicic Among Key Speakers At World Tennis Conference

Some of the world’s leading tennis coaches, including Toni Nadal, Boris Becker, Apostolos Tsitsipas, Ivan Ljubicic, Gilles Cervara, Nicolas Massu and Nick Bollettieri, will take part in the first World Tennis Conference, a virtual online event from 25-28 March.

Organised by the Global Professional Tennis Coaches Association (GPTCA) and the Segal Institute, the conference, which includes 63 speakers, is dedicated to education, training and assisting professional tennis coaches globally — whether they work in a local club or are travelling on the ATP and WTA Tours.

Visit World Tennis Conference Website To Sign Up

“We came up with the idea as a way to share the experience and inspiration of coaches from all over the world,” said Fernando Segal, the Creator and Director of the 2021 GPTCA World Tennis Conference. “Those who subscribe can listen to as many of the 64 presentations in four different languages — English, Spanish, Italian and German — as they wish and plan their own schedule. You can also watch every presentation for up for 30 days after the event ends.

“The World Tennis Conference presentations have been divided into four blocks discussing human transformation of a coach and player; sports science and the importance of data analysis; strategy, tactics and technique; and storytelling. There will be discussions on mental awareness, physical preparation, training methodologies and management keys to becoming a top tennis player.”

Dominic Thiem’s father, Wolfgang Thiem, Janko Tipsarevic, Andres Gomez, Rainer Schuettler, Andrei Medvedev, Louis Cayer, Liam Smith, Tomas Behrend, Victor Pecci, Dirk Hordoff, Frederic Fontag, Robert Davis, Juan Manuel Esparcia, John-Laffnie De Jager, Gonzalo Lopez, Marc Gorriz and Tito Vasquez will also be among the key coach speakers.

ATP Coaches Committee member Claudio Pistolesi, who will talk about the power of storytelling during the conference, said, “The purpose of the conference is to bridge the gap between coaches working on the professional tours and local coaches at clubs and academies. By joining the virtual event, thousands of coaches can utilise the advice given by the likes of Toni Nadal, or the playing and coaching experience of Boris Becker, in order to understand and prioritise the steps that are needed to build a tennis player.”

Alberto Castellani, the GPTCA President, said, “We are very happy in our mutual relationship with ATP to certify tennis coaches, and with this event we want to keep evolving and inspiring coaches all over the world with top quality information.”

The World Tennis Conference can be viewed via the TennisONE app on tablet, phone or desktop browser.

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Del Potro Opts For Fourth Surgery On Right Knee

Juan Martin del Potro will pin hopes of a comeback in time for the Tokyo Olympic Games on a fourth right knee surgery. The former World No. 3 announced the news on his Instagram on Monday, when he revealed he was in Chicago about to proceed with the operation.

It marks the eighth time the 32-year-old will undergo surgery since winning his sole Grand Slam title at the 2009 US Open. The 22-time ATP Tour titlist has not competed since June 2019, when he fractured his kneecap at the Queen’s Club, London.

“I’ve been consulting Dr Jorge Chahla and the news is that tomorrow I’ll undergo another surgery on my knee,” del Potro posted. “We’ve tried conservative therapy but the pain is still there. He knows I want to play tennis again and be able to play the Olympics, so we agreed that surgery should be done as soon as possible.”

 

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The Olympic tennis event, postponed a year due to the pandemic, is scheduled to begin on 24 July, a day after the Opening Ceremony. The Argentine won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Games and a bronze medal at the 2012 London Games.

Since the injury, del Potro has had operations on the right knee in June 2019, and in January and August last year. It comes in a difficult year in which he lost his father, Daniel, in January, following a heart operation in December. 

“Of course, these last few weeks weren’t easy for me,” he said. “Everything’s so hard since my father’s passing. But also, I feel the strength he sends me from above. I had this day in which I woke up and called the doctor. I knew I had to try again.

“I hope I can overcome this painful situation. I won’t stop trying. Of course, your messages and best wishes are always welcomed. Thanks for the love. Take care.”

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Quiz: Do You Know Your Miami Tennis History?

Who’s ready for the first ATP Masters 1000 of the 2021 ATP Tour season? Main draw action at the Miami Open presented by Itau gets underway on Wednesday. But first, let’s see how much you remember from Miami tournament history!

You may recall that Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal began their storied rivalry here many, many years ago, but do you know who won that first meeting? Were you watching in 2017 when an iguana ran on court and interrupted a match? Which legendary American – Michael Chang, Jim Courier or Pete Sampras – was the first male player to complete the Indian Wells/Miami double?  

Take the quiz, share your results and challenge your tennis friends to see who does best!

Need to brush up on your Miami knowledge? Check out these resource pages:
Tournament Profile  |  All You Need To Know 

Click here to stay informed all year with tennis news from the ATP Tour.

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Third Time Lucky For Medvedev? Russian Faces Tricky Path In Miami

If Daniil Medvedev is to make it third time lucky and lift the Miami Open presented by Itau title he will may need to work his way past the likes of Alexander Zverev, Roberto Bautista Agut and Felix Auger-Aliassime for a place in his fifth ATP Masters 1000 final.

The World No. 2, who is hoping to improve upon a 2018 second-round exit to Zverev and 2019 fourth-round loss to Roger Federer at the Masters 1000 event, has been drawn to meet Sam Querrey or Yen-Hsun Lu in the second round. The Russian has gotten off to a 14-2 start on the season, which includes the ATP Cup title, an Australian Open final appearance (l. to Djokovic) and the Open 13 Provence crown (d. Herbert). Medvedev could meet No. 11 seed Auger-Aliassime or 2018 champion and No. 18 seed John Isner in the quarter-finals, with a potential 10th ATP Head2Head meeting against Zverev in the semi-finals.

Medvedev has won his past three matches against Zverev, including wins at the Rolex Paris Masters, where he captured his third Masters 1000 crown, and at the Nitto ATP Finals in November 2020. Six weeks ago, Medvedev also recorded a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over the German at the ATP Cup in Melbourne. 

Former World No. 1 Andy Murray, the 2009 and 2013 titlist, is also a dangerous contender in Medvedev’s quarter and the British wild card begins his quest against Lloyd Harris, last week’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships finalist. Murray, who is competing at his first event since last month’s ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, could then meet seventh-seeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut in the second round.

Third seed Zverev, a winner of three Masters 1000 crowns from seven finals, may face 17-year-old #NextGenATP Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz for the second week running, or Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland in the second round. Zverev, who captured his 14th ATP Tour title on Saturday at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC (d. Tsitsipas), beat Alcaraz 6-3, 6-1 in Acapulco and afterward predicted that the teenager would be in the Top 10 of the FedEx ATP Rankings by 2024. Nikoloz Basilashvili, the No. 27 seed and recent Qatar ExxonMobil Open winner in Doha, could face Zverev in the third round.

Second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas may need to overcome the likes of Andrey Rublev, Diego Schwartzman, Denis Shapovalov or last week’s Dubai titlist Aslan Karatsev in the bottom half of the draw if he is to appear in his third Masters 1000 final (after 2018 Rogers Cup and 2019 Mutua Madrid Open). Tsitsipas opens his campaign against South Africa’s Kevin Anderson or Thiago Monteiro of Brazil, prior to a potential third-round clash against Kei Nishikori of Japan.

Fourth seed Rublev, who saw his 23-match ATP 500-level winning streak end at the hands of Karatsev in the Dubai semi-finals, could meet his compatriot in Miami quarter-finals. Karatsev, the No. 17 seed, who beat Rublev 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in Dubai on Friday last week, is set to make his Masters 1000 debut against Kazahstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin or British wild card Jack Draper, and may meet No. 10 seed Fabio Fognini in the third round. Rublev, meanwhile, will be attempting to better his Miami-best third-round exit in 2019.

The Russian, who joined Medvedev and 27-year-old Karatsev to win the ATP Cup last month, will start his campaign against Spain’s Pedro Martinez or Tennys Sandgren of the United States. Incredibly, Rublev may then face Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics for the third time in four weeks. Rublev beat Fucsovics in the Rotterdam final, received a walkover against the Hungarian in the Doha quarter-finals and also won their Dubai quarter-final last week. Fifth seed Schwartzman, Fognini or No. 17 seed Karatsev could be a potential quarter-final opponent for Rublev.

Jannik Sinner, the 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals champion and No. 21 seed, will first face French wild card Hugo Gaston or Germany’s Dominik Koepfer, who rose 17 places to a career-high No. 54 in the latest FedEx ATP Rankings. From there, Sinner could meet No. 14 seed Karen Khachanov of Russia. #NextGenATP Italian Lorenzo Musetti, who broke into the Top 100 for the first time on Monday after his Acapulco semi-final run, will make his Miami debut against American wild card Michael Mmoh.

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Scouting Report: 10 Things To Watch In Miami

Newly-minted World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev will lead the way at the Miami Open presented by Itau, where the Russian star will try to claim his fourth ATP Masters 1000 title. The top seed, who is 14-2 so far in 2021, is on a tear after winning at the Open 13 Provence in Marseille to bring his ATP Tour trophy haul to double digits.

But there is a hungry field that will try to get in Medvedev’s way, including Acapulco titlist Alexander Zverev, runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas and Russian Andrey Rublev.

The draw for the first ATP Masters 1000 of the 2021 season will be made on Monday afternoon, and main draw action will begin Wednesday. ATPTour.com looks at 10 things you should know ahead of the tournament. 

1) Medvedev In The Magic City: Top seed Medvedev leads the field in Miami, and he brings with him plenty of momentum. The Russian led his country to glory at the ATP Cup, reached his second Grand Slam final at the Australian Open and arrived in Florida after winning at the Open 13 Provence in Marseille. Medvedev will be going for his fourth ATP Masters 1000 title. This will be his third appearance in the Miami tournament. In his previous two showings, Medvedev lost against the World No. 5 (l. to Zverev in 2018, l to Federer in 2019, ).

2) Breaking Up The Big Four: Medvedev also arrived in Miami with a new number next to his name. The 25-year-old will be making his debut as the World No. 2 in the FedEx ATP Rankings. His rise marked the first time a player outside the Big Four — Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray — held a top two spot since Lleyton Hewitt was World No. 2 in July 2005.

3) Zverev Arrives In Good Form: Zverev brings confidence to Florida following an impressive run to the title at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC, where the German defeated Tsitsipas in the final. The 23-year-old is going for his fourth ATP Masters 1000 title, and his first since the 2018 Mutua Madrid Open. That year, Zverev reached the final in Miami with a run that included wins against Medvedev, David Ferrer, Nick Kyrgios, Borna Coric and Pablo Carreno Busta. The World No. 7 has been hot on hard courts, reaching his first Grand Slam final at last year’s US Open.

4) Rublev Revving Up: Rublev has been the king of ATP 500 events. He won four titles in a row at that level and racked up a streak of 23 consecutive wins that only came to an end last week in Acapulco. But at ATP Masters 1000s, it has been a different story. The Russian player has only advanced past the fourth round once, when he made the quarter-finals at the 2019 Western & Southern Open, thanks to a victory against Roger Federer. Rublev showed comfort in Miami two years ago, where as a qualifier he advanced to the third round.

5) Russians In Action: Medvedev and Rublev lead a red-hot Russian contingent in Miami. All four Russians inside the Top 50 will be in action, with 2018 Rolex Paris Masters champion Karen Khachanov and Dubai winner Aslan Karatsev also flying the flag in South Florida. Karatsev has been the breakthrough star of 2021, reaching the Australian Open semi-finals and claiming his maiden ATP Tour title just days ago at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, an ATP 500 event. This will be Karatsev’s first Masters 1000 main draw.

6) The Singles Field: Acapulco finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas and Buenos Aires champion Diego Schwartzman join Medvedev, Rublev and Zverev as the top seeds in Miami. Other players to watch include 2019 semi-finalist Denis Shapovalov, 2018 champion John Isner, 2017 Nitto ATP Finals titlist Grigor Dimitrov, as well as #NextGenATP players Felix Auger-Aliassime and Jannik Sinner. Auger-Aliassime, like his countryman Shapovalov, made the last four here two years ago. 

7) Murray Leads Wild Cards: The tournament awarded five wild cards, headlined by former World No. 1 Andy Murray. The Scot is a two-time titlist in Miami (2009, 2013), where he owns a 28-9 record. Rising talents were also rewarded, with #NextGenATP Carlos Alcaraz, Michael Mmoh, Hugo Gaston and Jack Draper also getting a spot in the main draw. Alcaraz, who is the 17-year-old charge of former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, will make his Masters 1000 debut less than two months after reaching the second round of the Australian Open.

 

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8) The Doubles Field: Six players who have won the Miami doubles title will compete this year, but the only tandem that triumphed at this event was Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut, who were victorious in 2016. The top seeds will be Colombians Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah, who in Dubai claimed their first title since the 2019 US Open. The team they beat in that ATP 500 final, Croatians Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic, will be the second seeds. Other standout duos to watch include Acapulco finalists Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos as well as Australian Open champions Ivan Dodig and Filip Polasek. 

9) Double Duty: The Miami event also features a host of top singles players who will be in the mix in doubles. Recent Doha doubles titlist Rublev (w/Karatsev) will reprise his partnership with Khachanov, with whom he has made two Masters 1000 finals. Dimitrov will team up with Kei Nishikori, Isner with Taylor Fritz, and Zverev with Tim Puetz. Auger-Aliassime and Hubert Hurkacz, who won last year’s Rolex Paris Masters, will also be in the field.

10) Eyes On Grandstand: The Hard Rock Stadium is once again the venue for the Miami Open presented by Itau, which is into its 36th edition. The tournament was held the past 32 years in Key Biscayne, after one year in Delray Beach (1985) and in Boca Raton (1986). The event moved to the home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins in 2019, and featured a stunning centre court that sat inside the stadium. Due to reduced fan capacity, the Grandstand Court will serve as the main court for the 2021 tournament. 

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In Miami, Murray Returns With Interest

You play good where you feel good.

Andy Murray has reached the final of the Miami Open presented by Itau four times, twice walking away with first place silverware. He has been coming to the cosmopolitan city for 15 years to train in the off-season to elevate his fitness in the oppressive Miami heat and humidity. He has not played the tournament since 2016, but has received a wild card this year and is pumped to continue rising up the FedEx ATP Rankings in a city that feels good under his skin.

An Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers analysis of Murray’s overall performance in Miami uncovers a player who has completely dominated the returning side of the equation in South Florida.

In Murray’s career, he has won 41.8 per cent (28,964/69,299) of his return points, which currently has him sitting 14th best on the ATP Tour. But when you focus solely on Miami, Murray ascends all the way to first place from 37 matches played, winning almost 45 per cent of his return points.

Andy Murray: Miami Open Return Points Won
All-return points won: No. 1 (44.7%)
First-serve-return points won: No. 1 (36.4%)
Second-serve-return points won: No. 4 (56.1%)

The leading 10 players with the highest percentage of return points won in Miami (Minimum 15 matches) are:

Murray also sits atop the first-serve return points won list. He is renowned for attacking the serve with a big step and split-step forward, keeping the swing short and rebounding the power of the serve right back at his opponent. Murray sits in fourth place overall in Miami with second-serve return points won.

2013 Miami Open presented by Itau Final
Murray’s prowess returning in the hot and heavy Miami weather make him a formidable opponent to defeat at this event. The last time Murray won the Miami title was in 2013, when he saved a match point and wore down David Ferrer in a gut-wrenching final, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(1). Murray won a staggering 51 per cent (50/98) of his return points in the final, which was identical to the 51 per cent (56/110) of service points he won.

It was one of the most brutal hard-court matches in memory, as Murray achieved the unthinkable in getting Ferrer to cramp in the third-set tie-break. Two-time Miami champion Andy Roddick tweeted post-match “I’ve seen everything now… David Ferrer cramping. I thought they would find Hoffa first.”

Exactly half of the 30 games played featured a break of serve, almost unheard of in a big final. What’s even more peculiar is that Murray won the match being broken eight times to Ferrer’s seven. The final started as a tactical arm-wrestle of court position and return prowess, and morphed into a physical side-to-side battle with constant breaks of serve. In the end, it was all about survival.

Maybe Murray can recapture some of that Miami magic as he looks to reignite his career after hip surgery. Murray played 87 matches in 2016, as he won nine titles and reached No. 1 in the FedEx ATP Rankings. In the four-plus years since, the Scot has only played 75 matches. Each one is worth its weight in gold at the moment, as he rebuilds confidence, precision and stamina with his game.

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#NextGenATP Baez Pays Tribute To Late Coach With Santiago Crown

This was not a typical week on the ATP Challenger Tour for Sebastian Baez, as the 20-year-old competed on the clay courts of Santiago, Chile. And as he lifted the trophy at the Club Manquehue on Sunday, his victory became even more extraordinary.

Baez completed a stunning run on Chilean soil with the title at the Challenger Santiago, adding a second consecutive crown to open his 2021 campaign. Also the champion in Concepcion one month ago, he would extend his perfect record on the circuit this year to 10-0 with yet another triumph on Sunday. The budding #NextGenATP star did not drop a set all week.

With his play on the court and his touching words during an emotional trophy ceremony, it was a fitting tribute all around. In January, Baez’s former coach and mentor, Jorge ‘Chino’ Gerosi, passed away at the age of 63. A renowned coach throughout the region, Baez trained with Gerosi at GEBA (Club Gimnasia y Esgrima de Buenos Aires), where they developed a strong bond and would remain very close over the years. Gerosi would later move to Santiago, where he lived until his passing, coaching a local junior at the same club where Baez triumphed on Sunday. In an ironic twist of fate, it all came full circle for the #NextGenATP Argentine.

“This trophy and this great tribute is dedicated to Chino, who is watching us from above,” Baez said during the trophy ceremony. “These are my first two titles and both came in Chile, where he was coaching until his final moments. Chino, I hope that you are happy and that you are proud of this player from GEBA, which is an amazing place where I was lucky to train with you and play club tennis more than two years ago. Wherever you are, I just hope that you are happy and that I can continue making you proud.”

Since the 1980s, Gerosi coached many Argentine juniors during his time at GEBA in Buenos Aires. The club is one of the more famous tennis facilities in the region and Gerosi’s legend grew during his time there. He would go on to coach eventual Top 10 talents Gaston Gaudio, Guillermo Canas, Nicolas Massu and Mariano Puerta as well.

In what became the perfect tribute for Gerosi, Santiago tournament director Benjamín Benzaquén, a close friend of the renowned coach, had the trophy engraved in his honour. As an emotional Baez raised the piece of silverware over his head and stepped to the microphone to address the crowd, the moment took on added significance.

“This title is very important for my career and also because this is the last place that Chino Gerosi visited,” Baez added. “I love him and so do my team and all the people from GEBA and Argentina too. I hope that he was happy for this week and all this hard work.”

Baez, who defeated Marcelo Tomas Barrios Vera 6-3, 7-6(4) in Sunday’s championship, is the first player to claim multiple Challenger titles in 2021. He is also the youngest Argentine to lift his second trophy since a 19-year-old Federico Delbonis nearly 11 years ago (Rome 2010).

Baez is an integral part of a strong contingent of emerging Argentine players. Along with fellow #NextGenATP star and recent Cordoba Open champion Juan Manuel Cerundolo and his brother, Argentina Open finalist Francisco Cerundolo, the trio are surging up the FedEx ATP Rankings in 2021. Baez’s consecutive Challenger crowns has him sitting at a career-high No. 216 on Monday. In addition, the Buenos Aires native joined Cerundolo in the Top 7 of the ATP Race To Milan, as both players look to punch their ticket to the Next Gen ATP Finals in November.

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Karatsev Breaks Into Top 30, Mover Of Week

No. 27 Aslan Karatsev, +17 (Career High)
The Russian has risen 15 spots to a career-high No. 27 in the FedEx ATP Rankings after capturing his first ATP Tour title at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (d. Harris). The 27-year-old beat Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals and ended the 23-match ATP 500-level winning streak of World No. 8 Andrey Rublev in the semi-finals. Having started the year at No. 112, Karatsev qualified for the Australian Open and reached the semi-finals (l. to Djokovic) in Melbourne.

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No. 52 Lloyd Harris, +29 (Career High)
The South African, who has jumped 38 places since the start of 2021, reached his first ATP 500 final in Dubai, following victories over World No. 4 Dominic Thiem in the first round and No. 12-ranked Denis Shapovalov in the semi-finals. The 24-year-old Harris is currently at a career-high No. 52 after his second ATP Tour final appearance (also 2020 Adelaide).

No. 54 Dominik Koepfer, +17 (Career High)
The German rose 17 places to a career-high No. 54 after reaching the Acapulco semi-finals (l. to Zverev). Koepfer, 24, also beat Gerardo Lopez Villasenor, Milos Raonic and Cameron Norrie.

No. 94 Lorenzo Musetti, +26 (Career High)
The #NextGenATP Italian qualified for the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC and reached the semi-finals, where he lost to top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas. The 19-year-old beat Diego Schwartzman in the first round, Frances Tiafoe in the second round and Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-finals, which guaranteed his place in the Top 100 for the first time.

Other Notable Top 100 Movers
No. 11 Denis Shapovalov, +1
No. 34 Lorenzo Sonego, +3
No. 40 Marton Fucsovics, +4
No. 49 Jeremy Chardy, +4
No. 56 Cameron Norrie, +5
No. 83 Emil Ruusuvuori, +4 (Career High)
No. 87 Sebastian Korda, +5 (Career High)

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My Masters 1000: Kei Nishikori

Kei Nishikori made his ATP Masters 1000 debut at the 2008 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, just one month after his maiden ATP Tour title run as an 18-year-old at the Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com. The Japanese, who owns a 102-61 record at the level, has reached Masters 1000 finals in Miami (2016), Monte Carlo (2018), Madrid (2014) and Toronto (2016).

Ahead of his return to Miami this week, Nishikori spoke to ATPTour.com about his favourite Masters 1000 matches, memories and venues.

Which ATP Masters 1000 host city is your favourite and why?
I would say Madrid because I did well [there]. I also like Monte-Carlo, but I would say Madrid is first.

Which Masters 1000 would you most like to win?
I would say Miami, because I live close. I used to play junior tournaments there a long time ago and I have some good memories there.

What do you consider to be your best Masters 1000 win?
I would say Monte-Carlo in 2018. I beat quite good players there. I was struggling with my injury and in my first match against Tomas Berdych, I came back from a set down and maybe a break [in the second set]. After that, I felt a lot of confidence and I kept winning and winning. I lost in the final, but that tournament gave me a lot of confidence. After coming back from injury, I was struggling a lot. A lot of things changed after that tournament. Every match was tough. Against Zverev [in the semi-finals], every game was very intense. We both could have won the match. It was a great match.

What is your favourite off-court memory or activity at a Masters 1000?
In Cincinnati, we rent a house. A huge house. I have never experienced that before. It was so much fun. They have a small movie theatre underground and a pool table. It is like a dream house for me. That [is something] I really enjoyed. It wasn’t too expensive, so that was fun.

What is the toughest match you’ve played at a Masters 1000?
I would say the 2014 Madrid final against Rafa. It was good and bad. I played [some of] my best tennis. It was a great match and a great start. I was closing my eyes, hitting everything and it was going in. After the second set, I started feeling my leg. I couldn’t move. Unfortunately, I had to retire. It was a good memory, but also sad because I had a little chance to win against Rafa.

What is your dream match at a Masters 1000?
I would play Roger, because he is my idol. If we can play a couple more times, it would be great because it is just fun to play against him. You get many experiences from [playing] him. I am sure he is going to play a couple more years. Before he retires, I want to play him a couple more times. A final would be great.

What is the greatest match you’ve ever seen at a Masters 1000 event?
I didn’t see it live, but Rafa and Coria in Rome [in 2005] in five sets. I really remember it and I still watch it sometimes, even now. That was a great, great match.

What is your favourite court at any of the Masters 1000 events?
I have to say Indian Wells, because they have great facilities. One of the best in the world. Not just Centre Court. Court 1 is big, Court 2 is also quite big. I would say Indian Wells. I like Court 1 actually, I played a lot of matches there.

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