Tennis News

19-Year-Old Musetti Becomes Youngest Player In Top 100

#NextGenATP Lorenzo Musetti reached a milestone today when he cracked the Top 100 in the FedEx ATP Rankings for the first time at World No. 94.

Two years ago, the Italian was unranked. Now, the 19-year-old is the youngest player in the Top 100. Musetti climbed 26 spots from World No. 120 after a tremendous run to the semi-finals of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC as a qualifier.

“It’s a dream come true. Since I was a kid, I hoped and I dreamed to be one day Top 100 and to enter on the Tour,” Musetti said. “Finally, I got this. It is incredible.”

There are now two teenagers in the Top 100: Musetti and 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals champion Jannik Sinner, another 19-year-old Italian. Sinner, who is nearly seven months older than Musetti, has great respect for his countryman.

“Musetti is a big, big talent,” Sinner said in Dubai last week. “He can do everything with the ball already, so he’s already physically strong. I think he’s a great player.”

Musetti has been one of the ATP Tour’s breakthrough stars since tennis resumed last August following a five-month COVID-19 suspension. Former World No. 33 Paolo Lorenzi, an Italian veteran who trains with younger countrymen, believes Musetti made his biggest improvement last year.

“He made a really big step during the lockdown. I saw him playing before and after,” Lorenzi said. “I was practising with him before qualifying in Rome and he was playing really unbelievable. It was really impressive. I think he made a big step during lockdown with his coach. They told me they were working really hard and I think that was the key of his new game.

“Before he had good hands, but he was not so strong physically. Of course, he can do everything he was doing before, but the lockdown helped him a lot.”

As the World No. 249 at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, Musetti qualified and upset Stan Wawrinka and Kei Nishikori en route to the third round. The teen has not looked back since. He claimed his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title the following week in Forli and reached his first ATP Tour semi-final in Sardinia.

But Musetti’s performance last week in Acapulco was most impressive of all. The 19-year-old qualified, earned his first Top 10 win against Diego Schwartzman, outlasted American Frances Tiafoe in a final-set tie-break and eliminated 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov to make his first ATP 500 semi-final. After Musetti’s second-round win, his longtime coach, Simone Tartarini, said, “My heart is dead!”

“This week was a dream week. Now Lorenzo is in the Top 100. It’s amazing,” Tartarini said. “Now it’s very important because we changed the schedule for next month. It’s the first time Lorenzo has the possibility to enter the main draw of a Slam. It’s amazing. I’ve worked with Lorenzo for 10 years. Lorenzo is a son to me. I have two sons in Italy, and Lorenzo is another son. Me, I’m another father to him. For me, Lorenzo is family.”

Musetti has proven himself a tough competitor on court who enjoys performing on big stages. Throughout the week in Acapulco, he motioned to fans in attendance to get loud after he hit a great shot or grinded out a long point. The Italian showed great variety, especially with his crafty one-handed backhand.

After each of his main draw victories in Mexico, Musetti fell to the court in celebration. That should be no surprise given a month and a half ago, the teen got a tattoo on his left tricep of a heartbeat with a tennis racquet in the middle.

“I really like winning,” Musetti said. “And I don’t like losing.”

Musetti will now prepare to compete in the main draw of the Miami Open presented by Itau. But the Italian will never forget the Acapulco run that propelled him into the Top 100.

“This is the best week of my life.”

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Serena Williams withdraws from Miami Open

Serena Williams pulls out of this week’s Miami Open after having oral surgery.

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Zverev Targets More Success After Acapulco Triumph

Shortly after capturing his first title of the season with a thrilling 6-4, 7-6(3) final victory against Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev set his sights on adding more silverware to his impressive trophy collection.

Zverev, born in April 1997, owns the most titles of any player born since 1994. The 14-time tour-level titlist’s nearest rival in this category is 25-year-old Daniil Medvedev, who owns 10 ATP Tour trophies. The 23-year-old shared pride in leading that category and believes that his run to the title in Acapulco could help him achieve greater success in the future.

“It’s great achievement for me. You come to play tournaments to win tournaments,” Zverev said. “I have done that this week. I am extremely happy with that. The main goal is still the biggest titles in the world. The Grand Slams are the most difficult ones to win and I haven’t achieved that yet, but I am looking forward to it. I think this is a big stepping stone for me.”

Over the past six months, Zverev has been one of the leading players on the ATP Tour. The 2018 Nitto ATP Finals champion has reached five finals on hard courts during that period, with further title runs at back-to-back indoor events in Cologne last October. Zverev also finished as a runner up at the US Open (l. to Thiem) and the Rolex Paris Masters (l. to Medvedev).

Zverev believes one of the major factors in his consistent hard-court success in recent months has been his experience.

“I got older [and] maybe a few things changed for me,” said Zverev. “I know how to handle a few things maybe a little bit better and, as a tennis player, you always try to evolve.”

During the trophy ceremony, Zverev took a moment to thank the Acapulco crowd for their support. The Hamburg-born star described his visit to the ATP 500 as “the most fun I had on a tennis court in months, a few years maybe.” Zverev, who won the Acapulco doubles title in 2019 (w/M. Zverev), wore a Mexican national football shirt during his speech.

“Winning is nice, it is awesome, but the atmosphere, the people, playing in front of a crowd, we miss that a lot,” said Zverev. “The Mexican crowd always welcomes me very well.”

After falling in the 2019 final to Nick Kyrgios, Zverev achieved a career goal with his run to the trophy this week at the three-time ATP 500 Tournament of the Year (2007, ’17, ’19). The 6’6” right-hander owns a 12-3 record across four tournament appearances in Acapulco.

“I’ve always said that this is definitely a tournament that I wanted to win in my career,” Zverev said. “I have a very strong relationship with Mexico and with this tournament. I came here with a goal and I achieved it, and I’m very happy with that.”

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Mexican Open: Ken and Neal Skupski win doubles title

British pair Ken and Neal Skupski beat top seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos to win the Mexican Open, while Alexander Zverev wins the singles title

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Zverev Clinches Acapulco Title In Tsitsipas Classic

Second seed Alexander Zverev was tested from the first point against Stefanos Tsitsipas on Saturday, but he fought through in a thrilling final to claim his 14th ATP Tour title at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC.

Zverev turned around an early break in the first set and had to save a set point at 5-6 in the second set, but he stayed cool to move past Tsitsipas 6-4, 7-6(3) after two hours and 19 minutes.

“I’ve always said that this is definitely a tournament that I wanted to win in my career,” Zverev said in his post-match press conference. “I have a very strong relationship with Mexico and with this tournament. I came here with a goal and I achieved it, and I’m very happy with that.”

Tsitsipas and Zverev were contesting Acapulco’s first final between the top two seeds since 2015, when No. 2 David Ferrer defeated No. 1 Kei Nishikori 6-3, 7-5. Second seed Zverev repeated the pattern for No. 2 seeds to improve to 2-5 in his ATP Head2Head record against Tsitsipas. 

The German hadn’t dropped a set all week, but he looked uncharacteristically flat at the start of the first set, and Tsitsipas took full advantage as he surged to a 4-1 lead. Zverev faced three break points that would have made it 5-1, with Tsitsipas painting the lines with highlight-reel worthy winners. Zverev found his rhythm with searing backhands, and he reeled off the last five games of the set.

Zverev and Tsitsipas were deadlocked in a tight second set, with only two break points on offer throughout the opening eight games. The second seed broke through first and took a 5-4 lead, but couldn’t serve out the match. Tsitsipas saved match point, helped along by a Zverev double fault, to break straight back. 

Tsitsipas put in a mammoth effort to save six break points at 5-5 and held a set point in the following game, but he couldn’t hold back Zverev. The German converted his third match point to seal his first Acapulco singles title.

“In the beginning I started off extremely bad, I thought I didn’t play well at all,” Zverev said. “I had to fight my way into the match, and I did well to win the first set. In the second set, when I have a chance I need to close it out against these top players because normally they won’t give you a second chance. I thought I played extremely well in the tie-break, I’m happy with how it went.”

After the match, Zverev donned a Mexican national team shirt and the winner’s traditional blue sombrero, as he lifted Acapulco’s signature silver gourd trophy.

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Skupski Brothers Best Granollers/Zeballos For Acapulco Trophy

Ken Skupski and Neal Skupski stormed to their first title of the year with a victory over top seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos on Saturday at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC.

The British pair converted both break points they created against Granollers and Zeballos, edging to a 7-6(3), 6-4 victory in an hour and 34 minutes. The win sealed their third title together, and their first since 2019 in Budapest.

The brothers, who hail from Liverpool, parted ways in 2019 after a long partnership, with 31-year-old Neal going on to partner countryman Jamie Murray and 37-year-old Ken pairing with Santiago Gonzalez. They reunited to start this season, and celebrated their fourth trophy as a team on Saturday.

“I’d like to thank Neal, actually,” Ken acknowledged in the on-court ceremony. “It’s been a long road since we sort of broke up and got back together. This is a magic moment for both of us.”

The pair lifted Acapulco’s signature silver gourd trophy after going through both of the tournament’s top two seeds. They also upset second seeds Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares in the quarter-finals.

Ken, a father of three, dedicated the trophy to his son Taylor.

“It’s my son’s eighth birthday today, so I’d like to mention him…” Ken said. “We don’t have anybody here with us this week, but we have a lot of people at home watching us and a lot of great support from the internet as well.”

The Skupski brothers had to recover from a break down against top seeds Granollers and Zeballos, who were competing in just their second tournament together in 2021. The pair applied the pressure on the Spanish-Argentine team, and found the cracks. A missed smash from Granollers and Zeballos after a scrambling point handed the Brits the opening set.

The top seeds looked rattled for the next few games, misfiring again at crucial moments to hand over an early break. By the time the Spanish-Argentine team righted the ship, Skupski and Skupski were ahead 3-1. They served out the victory to claim their first ATP Tour trophy of the year.

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First-Time Winner Spotlight: Aslan Karatsev

Aslan Karatsev arrived in Dubai unseeded, but by no means under the radar after his head-turning performances at the start of the year. 

The Russian reached the Australian Open semi-finals from qualifying in his Grand Slam main draw debut, and was a part of Russia’s ATP Cup winning squad. The success just kept coming for the hard-working 27-year-old, who lifted his first doubles trophy last week in Doha with Andrey Rublev. Karatsev then defeated Rublev in the semi-final this week on the way to his maiden ATP Tour singles title at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. 

ATPTour.com caught up with Karatsev after his victory to talk about his week, and the path that has taken him from Israel and Russia all the way to glory in Dubai.

What does it mean to you to win your first ATP Tour title?
It means a lot. It was a long journey from 18 years old, when I stopped playing the juniors and turned pro. It’s almost 10 years, or even more. So it’s a long journey, and I put in a lot of hard work. [There were] a lot of ups and downs. I also was injured during this time, so I’m really happy that I recovered and was ready to compete again on that level.

You had to win four matches in three sets and defeat four seeded players to get this trophy. At what point in the week did you start to believe that you could win this title?
I was preparing myself just for every single match, because every match here is really tough. Especially on this surface, where everyone is serving well. A small mistake, and you can lose easily. So you have to focus on every match. 

I think the difficult one, mentally, was the semi-final against Rublev. I tried to dictate more with my game, and I prepared a lot mentally for that match. 

You mentioned winning your second Top 10 match against Rublev, who you teamed up with last week to win the doubles title in Doha. Did beating Andrey give you even more confidence?
Yeah, we played together one week in Doha and we won the trophy. But once you are playing each other, you step on the court and you’re opponents. It’s your job. And [a win like this] gives you a lot of confidence because you see the level that these Top 10 players are competing with. It gives me confidence that I really can be there and play at that level. 

You had an incredible start to the season on Russia’s ATP Cup squad and then reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open. Now that you’ve had time to process it, how has life changed for you after Melbourne?
Of course, the big change is that I went up in the Rankings. But I tried to stay more focused, to play hard whenever I step out on the court. I’m enjoying the moment. I mean, I’m 27. I’m not old, but still, 27… [laughs]

It was a great week in the ATP Cup, we won the trophy. And playing a great two weeks in Australia gave me a lot of confidence. So I arrived in Dubai with full energy after winning a title in doubles in Doha.

There are now four Russian players inside the Top 50. What is your relationship like with players like Daniil Medvedev, Karen Khachanov and Rublev? Have they given you any useful tips or advice?
Yeah, we all have a good relationship. Whenever we see each other, we are talking. Especially at the ATP Cup, we shared so many emotions and we talked a lot. And of course, I try to get some outside tips from each player. I can ask them, and they have a really open mind [and want] to help. 

I think it’s great, four players in the Top 50 from Russia. I think in that way we can push each other. And Daniil Medvedev is No. 2 in the world right now, it’s an incredible achievement.  

Could you take a moment to acknowledge some of the key figures in your life and career who have helped you to reach this milestone?
My family. My father was supporting me from when I started to play. My mom, my sister, all my family. The people around me and my friends. Definitely my coach right now [Yahor Yatsyk], who is helping me a lot mentally. It’s one of the most important things in our sport, to be ready mentally. 

Talk a bit about how you got into tennis. What made you want to become a professional player? 
My family moved from Russia to Israel when I was around three years old. One day we were walking from the beach back to our home and we just saw the tennis centre. And my parents said okay, my older sister would try tennis. And she started to practise there for like two years. By the time I turned four, I was trying to take the racquet away from her and start to play on the wall. 

And then step by step, I started to play. My sister quit after two years, and then I started. All the attention went from my father to me. [laughs] I started to practise seriously when I was six or seven, I already had a morning session, fitness session and I became No. 1 in Israel. That’s how it started.

Who was your biggest tennis idol growing up? Which players do you admire now?
I wouldn’t say idol, but I always liked to watch Roger Federer, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. At that time when I was growing up there were fantastic matches between Agassi and Sampras. And Roger, when I was seven he had already started winning [laughs]. It’s unbelievable to watch what he does on the court. 

What do you consider to be your biggest passion outside of tennis and can you tell us a little bit about that interest?
I think if I wasn’t a tennis player, I would be a football player. I have liked to play football since I was a kid, so I would say football.

This is a milestone moment in your career. How will you celebrate this victory?
Celebrate? Maybe dinner and some day off. I try to not get out of my rhythm. Of course, I will take some rest for a few days, but then there is travelling and playing another week.

Every week it starts from the beginning. You have to compete. You have to prepare your body. You have to be ready mentally and physically. 

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With An Eye To Giving Back, Dimitrov Looks To The Future

In an extract from Eurosport’s Players’ Voice series, Grigor Dimitrov shares his excitement for the future, both on and off the court. The 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion, who will celebrate his 30th birthday in May, reflects on the short career span of an athlete and reveals his plans for his new foundation.

Soon I’ll be turning 30 and I can’t say I have put too much thought into that, but the one thing I can say for sure, though, is that I’m excited. It’s not young, it’s not old but it feels like you’re entering a new phase of life where you start looking at yourself differently, you understand yourself a little bit more and you can start to cut the unnecessary things that surround you; you don’t want to waste time on things that really don’t add to your life.

Physically I’m feeling good, mentally I don’t feel 30, which is a good thing, but I still feel like I’m maturing a lot in my head. So who knows what’s going to happen? Only time will tell. I would love to keep on playing for as long as my body allows me to compete at the highest level. However, tennis is just a temporary thing, it’s not going to be forever. We’re athletes and every athlete has an expiration date, that’s just how it is. Right now we’re just living our dream but after that, the real life begins.

So aside from tennis, having family in the future is hopefully on the cards as well as working on other things that I’ve always wanted to do. Then one day, when it’s time to say goodbye to one thing, I’ll be ready for the other one with open arms and excited for the next chapter in my life.

I recently set up my own foundation which I hope will play a big part in that. It’s something that has always been at the back of my mind, I just wanted to wait to find the right time. When I was a kid growing up in Bulgaria, my mum used to pick me up from school and we would pass kids who basically had no chance of help around. I remember asking her if anyone was going to help them and she was very honest with me and said, “I’m not going to lie to you, son, they’re in a very difficult position but if you want to do something one day, why don’t you keep on playing tennis?”

That stuck with me ever since and I’ve actually appointed my mum as the foundation’s director. We both definitely remember that conversation so it symbolises a lot. She thinks differently from anyone I’ve ever met in my whole life, and I think it’s because of her that I’ve always thought outside the box. She has this infinite positivity and an aura about her that really speaks a language that isn’t foreign to me. It pushes me to want to find that next step and purpose so I couldn’t have thought of a better person, and I believe she will do a great job, I do not even doubt her for a second.

We are still structuring those final pieces and it’s taking a little bit of time because I want us to cover a broad spectrum and not just focus on one certain thing. We are trying to find a way to support as many areas as possible, whether it’s families, kids or adults, essentially whoever needs the necessary help to progress in life, so I’m excited about it, but it’s challenging because I’m having to go really deep within myself.

I feel like I was one of the few lucky ones who was able to have a family like the one I had. Each member has contributed in a very different and significant way in my life. I learned a lot from each of them and I just want to give something back, so I see this as a way to make up for my absence from my family and country.

Read Dimitrov’s Full Eurosport Players’ Voice Column

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Karatsev Completes Stunning Run, Lifts Maiden Title In Dubai

Aslan Karatsev reached another milestone in his fairytale start to the 2021 ATP Tour season on Saturday, when he beat Lloyd Harris 6-3, 6-2 to claim his maiden ATP Tour title at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

The 27-year-old ripped 27 winners and saved the two break points he faced to become the third Russian champion on the ATP Tour this season. Karatsev joins Daniil Medvedev (Marseille) and Andrey Rublev (Rotterdam) on that list. All three players were a part of the title-winning Russian team at last month’s ATP Cup.

“I am super happy. It was a tight match. [I was] really nervous,” Karatsev said in an on-court interview. “I want to congratulate my opponent for the final [run]. He did a great week… I am happy that I won.”

Karatsev started this season with a 3-10 record at tour-level. The 6’1” right-hander, who reached the Australian Open semi-finals as a qualifier last month, has compiled a 12-2 record this year. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic (Australian Open) and World No. 4 Dominic Thiem (Doha) are the only two players to have defeated the Russian in 2021.

“You never know when [success] is coming,” said Karatsev. “I did a good job with my team, with my coach and it has happened now.”

Karatsev has solidified his place in fifth position in the FedEx ATP Race To Turin. Medvedev (second) and Rublev (third) also feature in the Top 5 qualification positions for the Nitto ATP Finals.

The World No. 42 is the third wild card to win this ATP 500 event. Karatsev, who beat four seeded players en route to the final, joins Wayne Ferreira (1995) and Thomas Muster (1997) in the exclusive club.

Karatsev made the perfect start to his first ATP Tour final, as he ripped groundstrokes into Harris’ forehand corner to break serve in his first return game. The Russian opened the court well and struck 12 winners in the first set. Karatsev dominated behind his second serve return throughout the match (10/12) and clinched the trophy with an overhead winner.

Harris was also aiming to lift his first ATP Tour trophy. The South African won seven matches in as many days from qualifying to reach his second tour-level championship match (0-2). En route to the final, Harris earned the two biggest wins of his career against World No. 4 Dominic Thiem and World No. 12 Denis Shapovalov.

Did You Know?
Karatsev and Harris’ encounter marked the first meeting between a qualifier and a wild card on the ATP Tour since [WC] Fabio Fognini beat [Q] Yannick Hanfmann in the 2017 Swiss Open Gstaad championship match.

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Cabal/Farah Capture Dubai Trophy

Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah clinched their first title in 18 months on Saturday, when they defeated Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic 7-6(0), 7-6(4) to win the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

Cabal and Farah saved a set point at 5-6 the second set and dominated both tie-breaks to lift their first trophy since the 2019 US Open. The Colombians improved their team record in tour-level finals to 17-20.

“It feels great… We have been playing good this year,” said Farah. “We struggled a little bit in Australia and got the level back to where we needed to be to win this title. We are very happy for that.”

Across the two tie-breaks, Cabal and Farah won the opening 12 points. The top seeds found their best level in high-pressure moments throughout their week at The Aviation Club. En route to the championship match, Cabal and Farah survived two Match Tie-breaks and saved a match point in their quarter-final clash against Lorenzo Sonego and Andrea Vavassori.

“That is what practice does,” said Cabal. “You keep [putting in] the hours on court and off court and that’s what gives you the confidence to play like that in those moments.”

Mektic and Pavic were attempting to lift their fourth title of the season. The Croatian pair, which owns a 20-3 record this year, has already captured trophies at the Antalya Open, the Murray River Open and the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in 2021.

“Those guys are dragging so much confidence with them after winning that many tournaments and winning that many matches,” said Farah. “Clearly they have been playing really well and we just wanted to go out there, enjoy, [play] our game and bring the energy.”

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