Djokovic to begin bid for 25th Grand Slam in Brisbane
Novak Djokovic will play at the Brisbane International this month before he starts his bid for a 25th Grand Slam at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Novak Djokovic will play at the Brisbane International this month before he starts his bid for a 25th Grand Slam at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Mattia Bellucci lights up the court with infectious energy and a fierce competitive drive. The 23-year-old lefty plays with bold intensity, swings for the fences and shows a range of emotions.
The kind-spirited Italian is an entertaining player to watch and this season, he continued his rise by winning his first major main-draw match at the US Open against former champion Stan Wawrinka and reaching his maiden tour-level quarter-final in Atlanta. Bellucci ascended to a career-high No. 100 in the PIF ATP Rankings last month and finished the season at No. 103.
There were highs, like that Court 17 win against Wawrinka in front of a packed New York crowd, and there were obstacles, including when Bellucci let slip two championship points in a nearly three-hour Cary Challenger title match. Through it all, Bellucci is embracing the lessons learned along the way.
“Learning is not a straight line and [I need] to give myself time,” Bellucci told the ATP Challenger Tour media team. “When you put the right energy and you really look for something new during practice and try to copy what you’re going to do in the matches, that’s when the results come. Try to improvise.”
[ATP APP]A three-time ATP Challenger Tour champion, Bellucci advanced through qualifying at three consecutive majors this year: Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open. Bellucci drew a difficult first-round opponent at each tournament. He showed a high level when he pushed Frances Tiafoe to five sets at Roland Garros and did the same at Wimbledon against 14th seed Ben Shelton.
Then, Bellucci’s breakthrough victory came at Flushing Meadows. With the crowd heavily supporting 2016 champion Wawrinka, Bellucci rose to the occasion and earned a memorable win.
“It was definitely the highlight,” Bellucci said. “It was very nice. From the beginning of the match, I felt quite relaxed even though I was playing Stan in a big stadium.
“From playing Tiafoe at Roland Garros to playing Shelton at Wimbledon, I felt like the level was coming and that I was doing the right things during practice. Going on court with the right behavior and fighting for every point was the key.”
What else helped Bellucci post some key wins and improve in 2024? The Italian did not let the win-loss column define his success. He shifted his focus to the process, believing that consistency and effort would lead to growth.
“Focusing on the results is not bringing the results, to me at least,” Bellucci said. “Focus on the performance and what you have to do, not what the result of the match is.”
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Novak Djokovic is set to return to action in the first week of the 2025 season at the Brisbane International presented by Evie.
The former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings and 99-time tour-level titlist will aim to kick-start his season when he lines up in the field at the hard-court tournament for just the second time. Djokovic fell to Ernests Gulbis on his only previous appearance at the ATP 250 in Queensland in 2009.
[ATP APP]Djokovic, whose only title in 2024 came at the Paris Olympics, will chase the 100th tour-level trophy of his career in Brisbane. The 37-year-old is trying to join Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) as the only ATP stars to hit that milestone.
A record 10-time Australian Open champion, Djokovic has not competed since he fell to Jannik Sinner in the Rolex Shanghai Masters championship match on 13 October. Currently the World No. 7, the Serbian will lead a field that also includes his fellow Top 10 star and 2023 Brisbane champion Grigor Dimitrov.
Last year’s finalist Holger Rune and Frances Tiafoe will also compete, while home favourite Nick Kyrgios is set to make his long-awaited return to competitive action. It will be the 29-year-old Kyrgios’ first ATP Tour appearance since June 2023 due to injury.
Defending Champion Rublev Leads Hong Kong Field
World No. 8 Andrey Rublev will defend his title at the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open. Chinese stars Shang Juncheng and Buyunchaokete are also on the entry list in Hong Kong, where home hopes will be lead by Coleman Wong.
Hong Kong played a significant rise in Shang’s 2024 rise up the PIF ATP Rankings: He reached his maiden ATP Tour semi-final at the event, before going onto lift his maiden tour-level title in Chengdu. The 19-year-old finished the year as the World No. 50 and he will compete in the upcoming Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in Jeddah.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]
Before champions are crowned in front of packed stadiums on the ATP Tour, they are made on the practice court under the watchful eye of their coaches. These coaches often work in the background, happy to leave the glory to their players. In the 2024 ATP Awards, our five Coach of the Year nominees step into the spotlight.
This year’s nominees are Xavier Malisse (coach of Alexei Popyrin), Emmanuel Planque (Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard), Michael Russell (Taylor Fritz), Brad Stine (Tommy Paul) and James Trotman (Jack Draper). The nominees and winner in this category are voted on by fellow coaches.
ATP Awards winners will be announced during Awards Week, starting Monday, 9 December.
[ATP APP]Xavier Malisse (Alexei Popyrin)
As part of Popyrin’s coaching team alongside Neville Godwin, Malisse — a former Top 20 player in the PIF ATP Rankings — has helped the Aussie climb to the cusp of that elite group this season. Under the tutelage of Malisse and Godwin, a former Top 100 player himself, Popyrin won the biggest title of his career at the Cincinnati ATP Masters 1000 and entered the Top 25 for the first time.
“Neville and I worked a lot on the backhand. We’ve been working on more variety, slicing a little bit, and then working with the serve,” said Malisse, who also credited fitness coach Evan Jenkins and physiotherapist Valentin Hollier for improving Popyrin’s strength.
Malisse and Godwin also emphasised patience with Popyrin, encouraging him to work the points more and attack at the right moment.
Malisse’s coaching style in his own words: “Neville and I are a little bit different. When we are at the match, Neville might be a bit more intense sometimes, talking to Alexei. I stay more very relaxed, try to keep emotions in check, which is not always easy. But I like to say little things at the right time. I think coaching is knowing when to say something.”
Emmanuel Planque (Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard)
Planque guided the 21-year-old Mpetshi Perricard to a breakout season, with the Frenchman winning his first two ATP Tour titles (Lyon, Basel) and breaking into the Top 30 of the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time.
“Giovanni had an excellent 2024 season, managing to improve his way of playing week after week,” said Planque, pointing to the four tournaments (including three on the ATP Challenger Tour) Perricard won from February to May. “He is starting to become familiar with high-level matches. The end of the season sent us this message by winning in Basel. However, we are aware that we still have a lot of work to do to one day be among the best players.”
Mpetshi Perricard was also nominated for a 2024 ATP Award, in the Most Improved Player category.
Planque’s coaching style in his own words: “It’s never really easy to define your way of working. Certainly, I am demanding and I strongly believe in work values but in fact, I simply hope to be a human, fair, and respectful coach of the athletes with whom I work.”
Coach of the Year 😎 #ATPAwards pic.twitter.com/fElcl0XNFH
— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 25, 2024
Michael Russell (Taylor Fritz)
Russell helped Fritz reach his first Grand Slam final at the US Open as well as his first title match at the Nitto ATP Finals. After posting a 17-4 record at the Grand Slams, more than doubling his previous high for major wins in a year, the American finished the season at a career-high PIF ATP Ranking of No. 4.
Asked where he made the biggest impact on Fritz’s game this season, Russell’s response was indicative of his holistic approach to coaching: “I think there is some impact in all parts of his game to continuing to be physically stronger and more explosive on and off the court, to being more comfortable finishing points at the net as well as having more confidence in pressure situations and stages.”
Russell’s coaching style in his own words: “My coaching style would be a mix of holistic, democratic, and autocratic. You have to have open communication and be empathetic while still creating structure and accountability. Taylor and I have a very good synergistic relationship.”
Brad Stine (Tommy Paul)
Stine helped Paul win three titles this season (Dallas, Queen’s Club, Stockholm) after the American entered 2024 with just one ATP Tour trophy to his name. Those three winning weeks, plus a final run in Delray Beach, led Paul to finish the year at a career-high PIF ATP Ranking of No. 12.
Stine feels his biggest impact on Paul this season was on the mental side of the game, particularly his “commitment to his identity as a player and his mental toughness”.
Stine’s coaching style in his own words: “Collaborative.”
James Trotman (Jack Draper)
Trotman was in Draper’s corner for the Briton’s breakout season, which included his first two tour-level titles in Stuttgart and Vienna. Set to turn 23 on 22 December, Draper will finish the year at a career-high PIF ATP Ranking of No. 15.
“I think the biggest area I helped Jack with his tennis this season was to play more aggressively, especially in the bigger moments in matches,” Trotman said of his season alongside the British No. 1. “A mentality in those situations to play to win.”
Draper was also nominated for a 2024 ATP Award, in the Most Improved Player category.
Trotman’s coaching style in his own words: “My coaching style would be very much around sticking to a plan and not being too reactive, given the nature of the Tour with its ups and downs. Try to identify those areas of development and be consistent with the work to make those improvements over time.”
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Neale Fraser, an estimable Australian left-hander who owned one of the craftiest serves in tennis during his prime years in the late 1950’s and early sixties, securing no fewer than 19 major championships altogether in singles, doubles and mixed doubles between 1956 and 1962 despite frequently living in the shadows of countrymen including Lew Hoad, Ken Rosewall, Ashley Cooper and Mal Anderson, and establishing himself as an outstanding Davis Cup player and captain—died on 2 December, 2024. He was 91.
Exploiting his versatile serve to the hilt and turning it into the cornerstone of his game, Fraser was a formidable player who thrived in an era when three of the four majors were held on grass. Fraser’s southpaw mastery of spins on serve set him apart in his time and made him especially formidable on grass courts. His serve was deceptive and often unstoppable. He could release it flat into the corners, carve it with slice out wide or stifle right-handed opponents with his devilish deuce court kick serve to the forehand.
Fraser was a tried and true serve-and-volleyer, backing up his excellent delivery with soundness on the volley, attacking relentlessly, smothering opponents with his capacity to come forward at all the right times. He was a product of his era on fast courts, unrelentingly aggressive as a match player, weighing the percentages assiduously to give himself the best possible chance to succeed.
The ITHF remembers Hall of Famer Neale Fraser, one of Australia’s legends.
A 19-time major champion and stalwart in Davis Cup as a player and captain, Fraser reached the game’s peak and mentored a generation of Aussies.
Our thoughts are with his family and friends today.
— International Tennis Hall of Fame (@TennisHalloFame) December 3, 2024
Neale Andrew Fraser was born on 3 October, 1933 in Melbourne where he grew up and lived as an adult, starting to play tennis at the age of eleven on a neighbour’s court with his brother John, a physician later in life and a decent player in his own right who once made the semi-finals of Wimbledon in doubles alongside Rod Laver. The son of a lawyer who became a judge, Neale Fraser won his first tournament — a 13-and-under event — at 12. At 17 he won the Australian National Junior Championships. By 1954, when he turned 21, Fraser was included on the Australian overseas team, touring with the likes of Hoad and Rosewall under the tutelage of the revered coach and Davis Cup captain Harry Hopman, making crucial strides in that period.
Ranked among the Top 10 in the world every year from 1956-62 by most leading authorities, rising to No. 1 twice at the start of the sixties, Fraser was prominent in an era when all of the top players were expected to enter the singles, doubles and mixed doubles events at the sport’s showcase tournaments.
Hence his achievement in sweeping all three events at the 1959 and 1960 U.S. Championships was among his highest honors. In 1959, he defeated the charismatic Peruvian Alex Olmedo in the singles final, joined Emerson to topple Olmedo and the American Butch Buchholz in the doubles final, and secured the mixed doubles crown with Margaret Osborne duPont of the U.S. over the American Janet Hopps and the Australian Bob Mark.
A year later, he replicated that feat, claiming the singles title in straight sets over Laver, and defending his men’s and mixed doubles titles with Emerson and Osborne duPont. That was no mean feat against staunch opposition. Fraser demonstrated that he was the tennis player’s tennis player by virtue of those successes, putting forth the same inexhaustible effort into his doubles pursuits as he did on his own in singles.
He reaffirmed that fact by excelling in Davis Cup competition for his country, winning 18 of 21 matches in singles and doubles combined, losing only once in singles, playing a central role in leading Australia to four consecutive Davis Cup triumphs from 1959-62. The first of those triumphs featured Fraser in full flight. In the Challenge Round against the United States at Forest Hills, Fraser stopped Alex Olmedo in four sets on opening day, teamed with Roy Emerson to win the doubles over Olmedo and Butch Buchholz, and sealed victory for his nation in the fifth and final match by ousting Barry MacKay in four sets. That was an extraordinary three-day feat and a singular achievement for the industrious Fraser.
[ATP APP]Only three of his 19 majors were secured in singles, but they represented his proudest moments as a player. The groundbreaking singles triumph was in 1959 at Forest Hills when he was 26. But perhaps his victory at Wimbledon the following year was even more psychically rewarding.
On that occasion in 1960, he took on Laver, a dazzling shotmaker who would win two Grand Slams over the course of that decade. Never before had two left-handers clashed in a title round meeting on those hallowed grounds. Fraser, who reached match point at the start of that season before losing a classic Australian Championships final with Laver in five sets, overcame his gifted countryman and rival by playing a better brand of sustained percentage tennis when they dueled again in Great Britain, succeeding 6-4, 3-6, 9-7, 7-5. In many ways, it was his finest hour in a storied career.
But Fraser was somewhat fortunate to even be in the final. Confronting Buchholz in the quarter-finals, Fraser saved five match points and barely survived. Buchholz retired with cramps when Fraser trailed two sets to one and the game score was locked at 15-15 in the fourth set. Thus Fraser established himself as one of only nine men in Wimbledon history to take the singles title after being down at least one match point during the course of the tournament. He returned to Forest Hills later in that summer of 1960 and retained his title commandingly, coming through without losing a set in seven matches, moving past Laver with sweeping efficiency 6-4, 6-4, 9-7 in the final.
That was a defining moment for Fraser, who was inducted at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1984. It was arguably the best tennis he ever played on an auspicious occasion. He retired in 1963 but remained in the forefront of tennis for decades to come. Always a cagey student of the game and an outstanding teacher as well, he took over from Hopman as Davis Cup captain in 1970 and remained in that post for 23 years. Four times in that span, the Australians were victorious, taking the coveted Cup in 1973, 1977, 1983 and 1986. Fraser provided valuable council to Laver and John Newcombe in the first of those triumphs and advised Pat Cash in the latter. His 1983 squad was strikingly inexperienced, but Fraser brought out the best in his contingent. Never was there a generation gap when Neale Fraser was interacting with those players. He commanded respect as a strict disciplinarian who proved his equanimity and empathy with a wide range of players.
Fraser is survived by his wife Thea, brother John, children, grandchildren and many family members.
Story reproduced with permission from International Tennis Hall of Fame.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]
When you have the opportunity to chat with Serena Williams, you don’t pass up on it. Just ask Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The Greek No. 11 in the PIF ATP Rankings couldn’t resist making a surprise appearance on Williams’ Instagram Live on Monday, when the two shared a heartfelt exchange. Tsitsipas asked the 23-time Grand Slam titlist: “If you had to pick one, what would be your favourite moment from your entire career?”
“I think winning Australia pregnant,” responded Williams. “I was nine weeks pregnant when it was done! I was almost done with the first trimester…”
[ATP APP]Williams, one of the most iconic figures in the sport of tennis, is no stranger to Tsitsipas. Over the course of the American’s 10-year collaboration with coach Patrick Mouratoglou, during which she won 10 majors and an Olympic gold medal, Tsitsipas established himself as a regular at Mouratoglou’s academy.
They would occasionally practise together with coach Mouratoglou and even battled it out in a Hopman Cup match in 2018.
“You aced me! I will never forget that,” Tsitsipas said.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Ousting a top player is one thing, but doing it in a five-set match is something else.
There were plenty of surprise results at Grand Slam events in 2024, when a host of players notched statement wins on some of the biggest stages in tennis.
As part of our annual season-in-review series, ATPTour.com counts down the five most unexpected upsets of the year at the majors. Check out our biggest ATP Tour upsets of 2024 here.
[ATP APP] 5) Wimbledon R1: Mpetshi Perricard d. Korda 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 7-6(6), 6-3
Sebastian Korda’s red-hot mid-year form suffered a surprise blip when faced with a big-serving barrage from Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
The 20th-seeded Korda arrived at Wimbledon fresh from a final run in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and a semi-final appearance at Queen’s Club, but a powerful display from SW19 debutant Mpetshi Perricard ended the American’s grass-court season. The 20-year-old lucky loser, who began 2024 outside the Top 200 but was competing against Korda as the World No. 58, fired 51 aces on Court 16 to notch a statement triumph.
The quality of Mpetshi Perricard’s first main-draw win at a major was only underlined further when Korda lifted his maiden ATP 500 title at his very next event, the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, before reaching his second ATP Masters 1000 semi-final in Montreal.
In contrast, Mpetshi Perricard struggled to immediately back up his run at Wimbledon, where he went on to reach the fourth round. The Frenchman won just two matches across eight tournaments after the grass-court major, but he then bounced back spectacularly by charging to an ATP 500 crown of his own in Basel. Mpetshi Perricard finished the 2024 season at No. 30 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
4) US Open R3: Popyrin d Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
Alexei Popyrin had three attempts at upsetting record-24-time major champion Novak Djokovic on the Grand Slam stage in 2024. After falling to the Serbian in four sets at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon, Popyrin unleashed his brand of ‘big-man tennis’ to spectacular effect to sink Djokovic in the third round at the US Open.
Popyrin, playing with confidence after winning his maiden Masters 1000 title in Montreal earlier in August, hit 50 winners past the World No. 2 Djokovic. With plenty of power in his game on serve and off the ground, Popyrin causing his illustrious opponent problems may not have come as a huge surprise. Yet the key to the biggest win of his career by PIF ATP Ranking was the consistency he found across the three sets he won.
“Third time lucky [this year] I guess,” said Popyrin, who went on to push eventual finalist Taylor Fritz to four sets in the fourth round. “Honestly, we had some battles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. I had my chances in those matches, but didn’t take them. This match was a little different. I was able to take my chances when I had them and played some good tennis.”
<img alt=”Alexei Popyrin” style=”width: 100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/08/31/03/40/popyrin-us-open-2024-friday-roar.jpg” />
Alexei Popyrin celebrates after upsetting Novak Djokovic in the third round at the US Open. Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images
3) Wimbledon R1: Comesana d Rublev 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 7-6(5)
Francisco Comesana gave a lesson in getting to grips quickly with grass in July at Wimbledon.
The Argentine arrived in the United Kingdom in June having never played a match on the surface at any level, neither as a professional nor as a junior. He lost his first outing on the lawns of Eastbourne in an ATP 250 qualifying match, before being presented with the task of taking on Andrey Rublev, the World No. 6 and 2023 Wimbledon quarter-finalist, in his opening round at SW19.
Despite his almost complete lack of grass-court experience, the World No. 122 Comesana rose to the occasion in style to stun Rublev with memorable four-set victory. It was the first tour-level win of the 23-year-old’s career, one he backed up by beating Adam Walton in the second round before falling to eventual semi-finalist Lorenzo Musetti.
“My family is in Argentina now and I have spoken with them and my girlfriend, who is very excited,” Comesana told ATPTour.com after defeating Rublev. “My phone will break with all the messages I am receiving! It is amazing. I just enjoyed every moment of the match. I tried to enjoy the occasion, the crowd. It was my first time playing on a court that big. I am enjoying this moment, and I am enjoying playing on grass. I am very happy.”
<img alt=”Francisco Comesana” style=”width: 100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/07/03/11/36/comesana-wimbledon-2024-feature.jpg” />
Francisco Comesana celebrates his win against Andrey Rublev. Photo Credit: Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images
2) Australian Open R2: Cazaux d Rune 7-6(4), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
Sometimes the journey is more significant than the end result.
Arthur Cazaux’s upset of eighth seed Holger Rune in the Australian Open second round was certainly a shock: The 21-year-old Frenchman, competing as a wild card, was chasing just his third tour-level win. Yet it was the way that Cazaux dismantled Rune inside Margaret Court Arena that particularly caught the eye.
The World No. 122 combined clean baseline hitting and crafty slice play with some scintillating court coverage to overwhelm Rune and complete the biggest win of his career. After sealing victory with a classy backhand pass, it didn’t take long for the enraptured crowd to learn just how highly Cazaux valued his role as an entertainer.
“It’s a show. The tennis is a show,” said Cazaux when asked about his game style in his on-court interview, before turning to the crowd. “I gave all I have in me, and I hope you enjoyed the show. We have the best crowd in France, but the Aussie crowd is crazy.”
Giant slayer ⚔️
On his @AustralianOpen debut, Arthur Cazaux knocks out No. 8 seed Holger Rune to advance to the third round.#AusOpenpic.twitter.com/2Osj5q17ID
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 18, 2024
1) US Open R2: Van de Zandschulp d Alcaraz 6-1, 7-5, 6-4
A tough 2024 for Botic van de Zandschulp sparked into life in spectacular fashion on a memorable Thursday night at the US Open.
The Dutchman entered the hard-court major with an 11-18 tour-level record for the season. After defeating Denis Shapovalov in the first round in New York, Van de Zandschulp stepped on court for his second-round clash with World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz aiming to win back-to-back tour-level matches for the first time in over nine months.
Yet Van de Zandschulp appeared to have little trouble putting his struggles for wins behind him inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, where he produced a rock-solid display full of expertly controlled aggression from the baseline. Alcaraz had not lost a set in his two previous Lexus ATP Head2Head clashes with Van de Zandschulp, but the Spaniard had no answer to the way his opponent disrupted his rhythm throughout the encounter.
“I’m a little bit lost for words. It’s been an incredible evening, the first night session for me on Arthur Ashe. The crowd was amazing,” said Van de Zandschulp, whose straight-sets win was the biggest of his career by PIF ATP Ranking. “I got a lot of confidence from my last match [against Shapovalov]. I played really solid and from point one tonight, I believed I could have a chance, and you see how it sometimes turns out.”
<img alt=”Carlos Alcaraz/Botic van de Zandschulp” style=”width: 100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/12/03/01/08/alcaraz-van-de-zandschulp-us-open-2024-handshake.jpg” />
Carlos Alcaraz congratulates Botic van de Zandschulp at the US Open. Photo Credit: Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images
[NEWSLETTER FORM]
Nishesh Basavarredy finished the 2024 season on fire, winning two ATP Challenger Tour titles and reaching a further three finals since October. The American’s reward is a qualification spot at this month’s Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, to be held from 18-22 December.
Ahead of the 20-and-under event in Jeddah, the 19-year-old opened the lid on those who have inspired him in his journey to this landmark moment. Basavareddy shares his admiration for Carlos Alcaraz, Brandon Nakashima and Juan Martin del Potro and delves into his relationship with Rajeev Ram.
Learn more about Basavarredy in the latest feature for our Next Gen ‘My Influences’ series.
[ATP APP]Which former Next Gen champion do you most identify with?
I would say I looked up to Alcaraz in the past couple of years. He has done it at such a young age it has been incredible. It is incredible how quickly he shot up the rankings. That is something that other guys can’t do but it has been inspiring to see how quickly he has moved up and all the success he has.
Can you recall the first time watching Alcaraz?
I remember the first time watching him play was against Jannik Sinner in a Challenger. I remember a lot of people talking about it. He beat Tsitsipas at the US Open later that year and he was only 18 years old. That was a pretty crazy match from a teenager and he has now been a mainstay in the Top 3. I remember the Wimbledon final in 2023 against Djokovic. That was a crazy match and sticks out to me.
Read more from our Influences series
Do you have a good relationship with any of the other former Next Gen champions?
I know Brandon Nakashima a little bit and he worked with a coach who helped out in Stanford a bit. I was able to hit with him in Stanford a bit last year and he is a really nice, humble guy. He had an unbelievable year this year, improved a lot and finished the year in the Top 40 [in the PIF ATP Rankings], so that is really cool to see. I like his game a lot and the way he is an all-court player.
Which former Next Gen champ do you most identify with regarding your game?
Maybe Chung. I don’t move as well as him but he has a slightly better backhand than forehand. A bit of a counter-puncher and he can come into the net and he played a bit like Djokovic with his backhand, so that is something I admire.
Alex Michelsen and Learner Tien will both be in Jeddah too. How close are you to those guys?
I grew up with Learner. We played together for the first time when I was six years old, so he is a good friend. Same with Alex, I played with him since I was 10. I used to live in Southern California, so we were all there. We grew up in juniors together and were pretty close. Even Mensik and Jerry, I have known since 14 and have played juniors against them. It is cool seeing all their success and it will be fun to share a court with them on the big stage in Jeddah.
How motivating is to see the success previous players who have played Next Gen have had?
It is super motivating. It is a jump start for a lot of these guys. Seeing basically all the guys at the ATP Finals this year play at Next Gen Finals before is motivating. It shows something about the quality of the event.
Who were your other influences when growing up?
Rajeev has been a big influence. I have known him for 10 years. He has been really supportive in my jump from juniors to college to pro. He made that jump as well a while back. He gave me a lot of advice on what to expect on the Tour and how to improve my game. He has had so much success.
And then my family. My dad, my brother. They both got me into tennis. And Djokovic as he is my favourite player. Del Potro is also inspiring. I had a couple of injuries when growing up, a couple of knee surgeries, so it is inspiring to see him come back strong so many times.
What have you learned on the ATP Challenger Tour this year?
Everyone can play at this level, so it is important to be 100 per cent prepared for every match. I think mental preparation is super important because every match is going to be a fight. Playing week in, week out is also tough physically and a lot of these guys can last, so I need to improve in that area in the next year.
Australian 19-time Grand Slam winner Neale Fraser dies aged 91.
Japan’s Rei Sakamoto finished the 2024 season in perfect fashion Sunday when he made history in front of his home fans.
The 18-year-old won his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title and became the second-youngest Japanese winner at that level. Only Kei Nishikori, former World No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings, won a Challenger title at a younger age in 2008.
Sakamoto was competing as a wild card in just his sixth Challenger outing. The #NextGenATP teen downed German qualifier Christoph Negritu 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the final. Sakamoto, who won this year’s Australian Open boys’ singles title, is the third-youngest Challenger champion this season. Only Joao Fonseca and Joel Schwaerzler were younger when they lifted trophies.
Youngest Japanese Challenger Champions
| Kei Nishikori | 18 years, three months | 2008 Bermuda |
| Rei Sakamoto | 18 years, five months | 2024 Yokkaichi |
Sakamoto’s triumph also caps a historic season for Japanese players on the Challenger Tour. Eight Japanese players combined for 10 Challenger titles this year, marking a record for the Asian country. Following Sakamoto’s title, he is up to a career-high No. 412 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
Sakamoto was not the only Challenger titlist to make history this past week. Hady Habib became the first Lebanese champion in Challenger history, with his victory at the
Challenger Dove Men+Care Temuco. Lebanon is the 85th different country or territory with a Challenger title.
<img alt=”Hady Habib is crowned champion at the Temuco Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/12/02/16/46/habib-temucoch-2024.jpg?h=1080&w=1920″ />
Hady Habib is crowned champion at the Temuco Challenger. Credit: Challenger Dove Men+Care Temuco
Habib, 26, survived Argentine Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-4, 6-7(3), 7-6(2) in a thrilling two-hour, 34-minute final. The former Texas A&M University standout held his nerve despite failing to serve out the championship match at 6-4, 5-4.
“Right now I think I have the biggest dopamine rush that I think I’ve had the entire year. Finishing the year like this is incredible, making history for my country,” Habib said. “I’m at a loss for words.”
Damir Dzumhur won a season-leading sixth Challenger title at the Maia Open, where he raced past Italian Francesco Passaro 6-3, 6-4 in the final. Dzumhur dropped the opening set of his campaign and rarely looked back to collect his 14th Challenger crown.
“It was the best possible finish to the year for me,” Dzumhur said. “I’m so happy. It means a lot to me. Probably one of the results that I can say means the most for me in my career. Winning ATP tournaments is a great feeling, playing Grand Slams with the big players, winning against some great players is a great feeling, but once you are coming back, you appreciate everything more. This is why I appreciate this result even more.”
<img alt=”Damir Dzumhur in action at the Maia Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/12/02/16/44/dzumhur-maiach-2024.jpg” />
Damir Dzumhur in action at the Maia Challenger. Credit: FPT/Maia Open
The 32-year-old Dzumhur will finish the season inside the Top 100 of the PIF ATP Rankings, which he returned to in August for the first time in four years.
German Mats Rosenkranz triumphed at the Manzanillo Open in Mexico to claim his first Challenger title. The 26-year-old was competing in just his third tournament at that level this season. Rosenkranz defeated Gonzalo Oliveira 6-3, 6-4 in the title match and rose 109 spots in the PIF ATP Rankings, climbing to World No. 373.
<img alt=”Mats Rosenkranz celebrates winning the Manzanillo Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/12/02/16/40/rozenkranz-manzanilloch-2024.jpg” />
Mats Rosenkranz celebrates winning the Manzanillo Challenger. Credit: Toño Torres Téllez