Pierre-Hugues Herbert/Nicolas Mahut won their seventh ATP Masters 1000 team doubles title on Sunday, and it might already be their favourite. The Frenchmen celebrated their first Rolex Paris Masters crown by beating Russians Karen Khachanov/Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-1.

“It was important to win it together because you never know when you can play it again. And being the titleholder in front of the family [is special],” Mahut said.

“After the year that we’ve had together as a duo, it was wonderful. We’ve had a wonderful week on court and off court together. And I think we’ve fulfilled everyone’s expectations.”

The Frenchmen broke in the 10^th game of the opener and rolled in the second set, breaking twice. They fended off all four break points faced for the match to win their 14^th title as a team.

Herbert/Mahut became the eighth doubles team to win all four major championships in January at the Australian Open. They didn’t play a full season of doubles together as Herbert opted to focus on his singles for much of the year. But they started and ended their regular season with Big Titles and will next compete at the Nitto ATP Finals, to be held 10-17 November at The O2 in London.

“We’re very happy to have managed to talk together and to talk honestly to each other, and this is why we’re strong on court, because we have complicity. We’re close to one another, and we’re ready to give everything to the other,” Herbert said. “This is why we managed to be different. In tennis, we tend to be selfish, I would say. And with Nico, I manage to have someone who shares everything, who is very altruistic, and this is very positive for tennis.”

The Frenchmen will receive 1,000 ATP Doubles Rankings points and split €995,720 in prize money. Khachanov/Rublev were playing in their second Masters 1000 doubles final as a team (2018 Miami, l. to Bryan/Bryan). They will receive 600 ATP Doubles Rankings points and split €503,730 in prize money.

A LOOK BACK
Shenzhen Longhua Open (Shenzhen, China): This week, the ATP Challenger Tour descended on the affluent Mission Hills Country Club. Home to 20 hard courts, as well as the largest golf facility in the world, with 12 courses, the venue is a sprawling sports complex.

It is only fitting that the prestigious club would host a historic moment for tennis in China. On Sunday, Zhang Zhizhen claimed the first all-Chinese final in Challenger history, defeating countryman Li Zhe 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 in front of a packed crowd at Mission Hills.

It has been quite the impressive four-year stretch for Chinese tennis, with Wu Di becoming its first champion in 2016, followed by its first teenage winner in 2017, Wu Yibing. And in 2018, Zhang Ze became the first to win multiple titles. Now, Zhang Zhizhen joins his countrymen in securing a slice of history.

“I’m really happy,” said Zhang. “I didn’t think I would get it this week, so it’s very nice for me. It’s never easy to play him and he played really good in second set. Barely made any unforced errors in return games. I managed to get the momentum back in the third set and adjust my mindset in the right place.

“I am very happy with this win and it seems like I always play well in Shenzhen. This city has become my special place. This title also helps me reach my goal for this season (Top 150). So lots of pressure released from my shoulder now. It is never easy to win any Challenger title.”

Zhang Zhizhen is the champion in Shenzhen!

The first ever all-Chinese ?? Challenger championship goes to the Shanghai native 63 46 61 over Li Zhe. pic.twitter.com/WIZemsnqEp

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) November 3, 2019

It was a second title for the Shanghai native nicknamed ‘ZZZ’, having prevailed in Jinan earlier this year. He rises to a career-high No. 141 in the ATP Rankings, sitting one spot off China’s highest-ever ranking, earned by Wu Di three years ago.

The 23-year-old continues to capture the tennis headlines in his homeland, steadily building on a breakthrough quarter-final run at the former ATP Tour stop in Shenzhen in 2017. Just last month he secured two more tour-level victories in Zhuhai and Beijing, including an upset of World No. 34 Kyle Edmund at the China Open.

Li, meanwhile, was competing in his second Challenger final and first since 2017, when he finished runner-up in Bangkok. He will also rise to a career-high in the ATP Rankings, cracking the Top 200 at No. 194.

Chinese Challenger Champions

City of Playford Tennis International (Playford, Australia): One year ago, Jordan Thompson took the ATP Challenger Tour by storm in the final weeks of the season, lifting a pair of trophies on home soil and finishing with a tour-leading 52 match wins. This year, it’s his countryman’s turn.

James Duckworth claimed a tour-leading 44th match victory on Sunday, streaking to the title on home soil in Playford. He did not drop a set all week in securing his third trophy of the year, capped by a 7-6(2), 6-4 triumph over Yasutaka Uchiyama. Also the champion in Bangkok and Baotou, the Aussie rises 20 spots to No. 110 in the ATP Rankings. Like Thompson did in 2018, he is hoping to conclude his campaign inside the Top 100. Duckworth enters Kobe, Japan, next week as the fourth seed.

He owns the most match wins this year (44) and now @JamesDuck21 has his third ? of 2019.

Champion in Playford without dropping a set. ? pic.twitter.com/axY7VSGu3d

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) November 3, 2019

Charlottesville Men’s Pro Challenger (Charlottesville, Virginia, USA): Later on Sunday, it will be the first all-Canadian final outside of Canada in 20 years. Brayden Schnur battles Vasek Pospisil for the title in Charlottesville.

Challenger Eckental (Eckental, Germany): In Eckental, Steve Darcis plays his final match on the ATP Challenger Tour. The Belgian veteran, who announced he will retire from pro tennis in January, is a two-time ATP Tour champion and 10-time winner on the Challenger circuit. He will face Jiri Vesely for the title later on Sunday.

Challenger Ciudad de Guayaquil (Guayaquil, Ecuador): In South America, top seed Hugo Dellien carries a 5-2 record in Challenger finals to the Guayaquil championship. He faces 19-year-old Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild, who is competing in his first final.

A LOOK AHEAD
Four tournaments on four continents highlight this week’s slate. The Slovak Open in Bratislava welcomes a loaded field for the tournament’s 20th edition. Seven players are inside the Top 100 of the ATP Rankings, including top seed Mikhail Kukushkin.

On the indoor hard courts of Kobe, Japan, defending champion Tatsuma Ito returns and is joined by fellow seeded countrymen Yasutaka Uchiyama, Yuichi Sugita, Go Soeda and Hiroki Moriya. James Duckworth and Zhang Zhizhen look to go back-to-back after lifting trophies this week.

In Knoxville, a red-hot Tommy Paul leads the field, with Brayden Schnur and Bradley Klahn. And on the clay of Montevideo, home hope Pablo Cuevas targets a fourth tournament title.

Don’t let his age fool you. Eighteen-year-old Jannik Sinner, the youngest player inside the Top 100 of the ATP Rankings, already carries himself with the maturity of a seasoned veteran on Tour.

He’ll conclude his breakout season on home soil as the Italian wild card recipient for the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan. Sinner’s maturity comes in part from largely eschewing junior tournaments to focus on pro events, often facing opponents who are much older than him. Unlike the rest of the field competing at the Allianz Cloud, playing multiple matches against players close to his age will be a unique experience.

“I’m still the youngest here,” Sinner joked. “Most of the time, the pressure is a bit lower because I’m playing against much older players. [The pressure] is going to be higher here, but that’s our job. You just have to try and do your best.

“It’s exciting to be here. It’s a bit of a different format, different rules, so anything can happen. Sometimes the pressure of playing in Italy is not easy, but I think I can handle it.”

Read More: Jannik Sinner: From Focussing On Skiing To #NextGenATP Sensation

It’s the latest in a series of first-time moments for Sinner. He became the youngest Italian to win an ATP Challenger Tour title when he captured his maiden crown at home this February in Bergamo. His first ATP Tour main draw win came two months later in Budapest, followed by his first ATP Masters 1000 victory in Rome. Last month, Sinner reached his first tour-level semi-final in Antwerp.

The modest teenager is quick to point out that he’s not alone, though. All of the players competing in Milan have enjoyed the best seasons of their burgeoning careers.

“Something changed in Bergamo. I played good there, gained confidence and have kept going,” Sinner said. “But I think the young generation is growing and that’s important for tennis. We have players who are very aggressive like Denis Shapovalov, but also players who are very solid. We have new players like Humbert, Ymer. I think it’s very interesting.”

But Sinner’s progress over the past 12 months is the most pronounced of his #NextGenATP peers in Milan. Last year, he lost in the first round of the Red Bull Next Gen Open, which runs alongside the tournament. Liam Caruana, the champion of that event, received a wild card into the 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals for his accomplishment. Sinner stayed for a few days after to see, “how the players like Shapovalov and Frances Tiafoe are playing, especially in the important points”. Two weeks ago, he defeated Tiafoe in Antwerp.

“Last year, I was watching from the stands,” Sinner smiled. “This year, I can play in front of the stands.”

Read More: Sinner’s Rapid Rise From Watching To Playing In Milan

It’s a change of scenery that he embraces. Sinner can appear shy off the court, but he lights up during a match and soaks in the energy of a raucous atmosphere. The vocal support of a home crowd is something he’ll thrive off as he looks to wrap up his season with the biggest title of his career.

“I enjoy the spotlight. I think it’s something new. [The fans are] just trying to cheer for me,” Sinner said. “Sometimes guys the same age as me are coming up to me and asking for photos or autographs. It’s strange, but it feels good.”

A mouth-watering draw was set on Saturday for this year’s Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan, with the eight competitors ready to battle at the Allianz Cloud. Top-seeded Aussie Alex de Minaur headlines Group A and second-seeded American Frances Tiafoe leads Group B, with the action to begin on Tuesday.

This year’s Milan contenders were split into two groups during the draw ceremony at the Lavazza Flagship Store. Players in each group will contest three round-robin matches, with two competitors advancing from each group into the knockout elimination semi-finals.

Group A
Alex de Minaur
Casper Ruud
Miomir Kecmanovic
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

Group B
Frances Tiafoe
Ugo Humbert
Mikael Ymer
Jannik Sinner

With three ATP Tour titles this season accompanying a runner-up finish last week in Basel, De Minaur is the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 18 in the ATP Rankings. But he’s never faced anyone in his group in an ATP Tour main draw before, meaning this year’s event will mark the beginning of long-lasting FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalries. De Minaur, Casper Ruud and Miomir Kecmanovic have all reached tour-level finals this year.

“It’s a tough draw. Both groups are equally good,” Kecmanovic said. “Everybody is playing well and have had the best years of their careers, so it’s going to be tough.”

Group B is equally intriguing as all four players arrive in strong form. Sinner and Humbert both reached the semi-finals last month in Antwerp, with Sinner defeating Tiafoe in a three-set quarter-final. Ymer has won four ATP Challenger Tour titles this year, including back-to-back crowns in September.

“The draw speaks for itself,” said Ymer. “It’s all of the best players our age, so it’s going to be a big challenge.”

Tuesday’s schedule has also been released. Ruud and Kecmanovic kick off the day session, followed by De Minaur facing Davidovich Fokina. The night session opens with Humbert taking on Ymer, followed by Tiafoe squaring off against Sinner.

The winner of this year’s event will receive $250,000, with an undefeated champion taking home $429,000.

Novak Djokovic and Denis Shapovalov have played the first three matches in their budding FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry this year. But when they clash on Sunday, the stakes will be higher than ever.

Djokovic and Shapovalov will compete for the Rolex Paris Masters title. For the Serbian, a four-time champion in Bercy, this is an opportunity to claw closer to Rafael Nadal in the battle for the year-end No. 1 ATP Ranking. Shapovalov is not just trying to spoil that opportunity for the top seed, but he is trying to claim his maiden ATP Masters 1000 crown in his first final at this level.

“It’s awesome to be in my first [Masters 1000] final,” Shapovalov said. “I’m just going to go for it, see what I can do and just enjoy my time out there.”

Shapovalov has won just one of eight sets he has played against Djokovic, and that came in a four-set defeat at the Australian Open. But Djokovic knows that the big-hitting Canadian has the ability to challenge him with his powerful game.

“Denis is very dangerous player. If he has time, if he’s feeling the ball well, it can be a tough match,” Djokovic said after a 6-3, 6-3 victory against Shapovalov less than a month ago in Shanghai. “He was serving really well, [making a] high percentage of first serves, and [it was] just really difficult to return in the first set, so it took me a little bit of time to really adjust [and] start reading his serve a little bit better.”

Djokovic is not just in a battle for year-end No. 1 with Nadal, who withdrew from Paris on Saturday before his semi-final due to an abdominal injury. But Djokovic can also win his 34th Masters 1000 title — in his 50th final at this level — which would put him within one of Nadal’s 35 trophies. It would also be the ninth time he has earned at least five tour-level crowns in a season.

“It is very satisfying honestly, because I haven’t really been feeling my best throughout the week. But I’ve been playing really well the past couple of matches,” Djokovic said. “[I am] looking forward to the final tomorrow.”

Although the pair’s second clash was on the Roman clay of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, which doesn’t match up with this meeting’s surface, Djokovic made note of the length of the Canadian’s swing. And on Paris’ quicker indoor courts, where the Serbian will have more opportunities to take time away from his opponent, he will likely try to take advantage of that.

“He has a big swing. He can play really with a lot of spin and also a lot of speed and power from the back of the court,” Djokovic said in Rome. “I took away that time from him.”

Djokovic On Rome Win Vs. Shapovalov

Shapovalov has far more momentum this week than he did during the clay-court season, though. The lefty not only won his first ATP Tour title indoors last month in Stockholm, but he has showed a balance of both shotmaking and patience this week in Paris. On Friday, Shapovalov conceded just four games against Gael Monfils in a match that had a spot at the Nitto ATP Finals on the line for the Frenchman.

“It’s going to be a different match. But of course I feel like the way I played against Gael was unbelievable. It was kind of one of those days where everything was going in for me. So I hope I can bring the same kind of level that I did against him,” Shapovalov said. “But at the same time, Novak is a different player. So it’s going to be a different kind of game and it’s going to be different tennis.”

One area to watch will be where Djokovic targets his second serves. In his semi-final win against Grigor Dimitrov, he went to Dimitrov’s forehand with 72 per cent of his second serves in the deuce court — compared to just 25 per cent in his quarter-final against Stefanos Tsitsipas. Shapovalov this week said that with his coach, Mikhail Youzhny, they have been working on blocking his backhand return.

“[On my backhand return, Youzhny and I] worked on blocking it a lot more to start the point and it’s a tricky shot for the opponents,” Shapovalov said. “I feel like it’s a really big improvement in my game.”

Shapovalov was unequivocal in stating that he will go for his shots against Djokovic, believing he has nothing to lose. But a victory would mean national history, too, as he can become the first Canadian to lift a Masters 1000 trophy.

Even though he knows playing Djokovic is a tall order, Shapovalov feels he has learnt from his losses against the Serbian this season.

“I feel like every time I get a little more and more input on how he plays. I think when he played me in Shanghai, he played absolutely amazing. I don’t think I played bad at all, but he was coming up with amazing shots,” Shapovalov said. “Hopefully he’s missing a little bit more tomorrow, a little bit tighter. But hopefully I can also step up my game and play the way I’ve been playing all week.”

Did You Know?
Shapovalov as a 3-13 record against Top 10 opposition (2-6 this year). Djokovic has the same number of Masters 1000 titles as the Canadian has match wins at this level (33).

Denis Shapovalov continued his impressive run of results in recent months by reaching his first ATP Masters 1000 final at the Rolex Paris Masters.

But less than three months ago at the Winston-Salem Open in August, the 20-year-old was searching for form with just four victories from his past 16 matches.

Ranked No. 38 in the ATP Rankings at the time, Shapovalov started a trial period with Mikhail Youzhny at the ATP 250 tournament. Youzhny’s impact on the Canadian was immediate, with Shapovalov reaching his first ATP Tour semi-final in five months.

The partnership has since proven to be a consistent success. Since joining forces with the former World No. 8, Shapovalov has won 18 of 25 encounters, lifted his maiden ATP Tour trophy in Stockholm and reached his first ATP Masters 1000 final in Paris.

Aside from his playing experience and great knowledge of many of the current stars on the ATP Tour, what else has Youzhny brought to the young Canadian’s game? Shapovalov highlighted one area in his game that they have brought to new heights.

“[On my backhand return, Youzhny and I] worked on blocking it a lot more to start the point and it’s a tricky shot for the opponents,” said Shapovalov. “I feel like it was working for me in Chengdu in one of my matches, and then from then I just stayed with it. I feel like it’s a really big improvement in my game.” 

Shapovalov’s improved return was on show throughout his week at the Intrum Stockholm Open — his first tournament of the European indoor swing — last month. On a fast indoor surface in the Swedish capital, the 6’1” left-hander won each of the eight sets he contested and was only taken to one tie-break en route to the trophy.

That title run has lifted the pressure off Shapovalov — who entered Stockholm with an 0-6 record in ATP Tour semi-finals — and provided the Canadian with the opportunity to relax and enjoy his tennis in the final weeks of the 2019 season.

“I’m just enjoying myself in the last couple weeks of the year,” said Shapovalov. “I feel like with that title in Stockholm, it gave me a sense of calmness, relief. And I’ve just been able to enjoy the last couple weeks of the season and, because of that, I feel like I’ve been able to play really well.”

But despite his relief, Shapovalov has still been working hard to add to his trophy collection. The Stockholm champion has defeated three Top 15 seeds in a row this week to reach his first Masters 1000 final at the Rolex Paris Masters.

With wins against Fabio Fognini, Alexander Zverev and Gael Monfils in the French capital, Shapovalov has guaranteed himself a spot alongside those names in the Top 15 when the latest ATP Rankings are released on Monday.

“I think my level is there [in the Top 15]. I’ve beaten most of these guys here or there, or a guy like Goffin, I have gotten really close with him,” said Shapovalov. “I think my level is there and I knew [it was] just a question of time… It’s just taken me a little bit of time to improve my game and just grow as a player.”

Shapovalov advanced to his first Masters 1000 championship match in unfortunate circumstances, following Rafael Nadal’s late withdrawal from their semi-final encounter on Court Central. The Canadian took a moment to reflect on the situation ahead of his final meeting against Novak Djokovic.

“It’s not the way I wanted to reach my first [ATP Masters 1000] final,” said Shapovalov. “Nonetheless, it’s a great opportunity for me to be in the final of a Masters 1000.”

With the opportunity to finish his final ATP Tour event of the season with the biggest victory of his career, Shapovalov was clear in his strategy ahead of his meeting against the World No. 1.

“I’m not one to cut down risk, so I’m going to go for it [against Novak]. It’s a match where I have nothing to lose,” said Shapovalov. “It’s awesome to be in my first Masters 1000 final and it’s just a bonus for me. Honestly, I’m just going to go for it, see what I can do and just enjoy my time out there.” 

If Shapovalov is looking for inspiration or words of advice on how to beat Djokovic indoors, the 20-year-old only has to turn to his side and ask his coach. Youzhny ended his career with a 3-0 FedEx ATP Head2Head record against the World No. 1 on indoor hard courts.

And while there is no way of knowing if the Canadian will be able to follow in the footsteps of his coach on Sunday, he’s done an impressive job so far in Paris.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic defeated 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov 7-6(5), 6-4 in Saturday’s Rolex Paris Masters semi-finals. But despite the Serbian triumphing in straight sets, the match came down to just a few points, with Djokovic winning only four more points overall.

What proved key in the four-time champion’s victory? Hawkeye’s stats and graphics give key insight into Djokovic’s second-serve direction and backhand patterns.

“You don’t think of Novak Djokovic as a big server, but it’s been a very effective weapon today,” said Tennis Channel analyst and former World No. 5 Jimmy Arias during his broadcast of the match.

Djokovic’s won a healthy 64 per cent of his second-serve points. But notably 29 per cent of Djokovic’s second serves were unreturned compared to 10 per cent of Dimitrov’s.

Djokovic interestingly went to Dimitrov’s forehand with 72 per cent of his second serves in the deuce court — compared to just 25 per cent in his quarter-final against Stefanos Tsitsipas — while the Bulgarian served out wide in the deuce court just once on his second delivery. 

This proved crucial at 3/5 in the pivotal first-set tie-break. Djokovic had just double faulted to give Dimitrov the edge, and he missed his first serve in the deuce court. But the Serbian went out wide with his second serve to pull Dimitrov off the court, using the space he opened up to take a strong aggressive posture in the point, which he ultimately won to stay within striking distance and avoid giving the Bulgarian three set points.

The 33-time ATP Masters 1000 champion also struck a majority of his second serves down the ‘T’ in the ad court, doing so 60 per cent of the time to Dimitrov’s 50 per cent. Djokovic did not face a break point in his win.

Djokovic Second-Serve Placement

Dimitrov Second-Serve Placement

In looking at contact points on the backhand side, Djokovic was often pinned deep behind the baseline. The Serbian hit 33 per cent of his backhands from more than two metres behind the baseline, nearly double Dimitrov’s 17 per cent rate from that far back.

Overall, Djokovic hit his backhands at 111 km/h on average compared to Dimitrov, who was at 104 km/h.

Djokovic Backhand Contact Points

Dimitrov Backhand Contact Points
Djokovic notably kept his backhands cross-court 67 per cent of the time, showing a willingness to engage in backhand-to-backhand rallies. Dimitrov on the other hand only struck his backhand cross-court at a rate of 49 per cent.

Djokovic Backhand Placement

Dimitrov Backhand Placement
Overall, Dimitrov went down the middle of the court more often on both wings, especially on the forehand side. The former World No. 3 hit 19 per cent of his forehands down the middle, while Djokovic did so at a rate of just five per cent, amounting to only six forehands in the match. Taking all shots into consideration, Dimitrov went down the middle 23 per cent of the time to just 11 per cent for Djokovic.

Dimitrov also used a lot more of his slice — coming under the ball 28 per cent of the time — compared to Djokovic, who almost strictly utilised topspin, hitting over hits shots at a 96 per cent clip.

Djokovic and Dimitrov put forth a thrilling battle in Bercy for one hour and 38 minutes. And while on paper they were within four points of one another, they used two significantly different strategies to get there.

– Hawkeye data and visuals courtesy ATP Media

In 2016, Wu Di lifted China’s first ATP Challenger Tour trophy. One year later, Wu Yibing became its first teenage titlist. And on Sunday, the country will celebrate yet another milestone on the circuit.

For the first time in Challenger history, an all-Chinese final will take centre stage. Zhang Zhizhen is set to face Li Zhe for the title at the Shenzhen Longhua Open, in what will be a historic moment for the emerging tennis nation.

Zhang, the 23-year-old Shanghai native, is making a splash on the scene in 2019, having lifted his first trophy in Jinan and earning a pair of ATP Tour match wins last month in Zhuhai and Beijing. Li, meanwhile, is appearing in his second final and first in nearly three years. The 33-year-old from Tianjin previously reached the championship match in Bangkok to open the 2017 season.

Now, much will be at stake at the Mission Hills Country Club. With China continuing to emerge on the professional scene, both players understand the impact this moment can have.

“This is a great feeling for a Chinese player,” said Li. “It’s the first time ever it’s happened in a Challenger final. And it’s a big Challenger as well. It’s a big moment for Chinese tennis and special for men’s tennis as a whole, because we’ve never had this before. It’s a great feeling.”

“It shows that we are improving,” added Zhang. “It’s never happened before where two Chinese players reach a final. It’s very good news for us.”

This week in Shenzhen, the Challenger 110 event is held at one of the more renowned country clubs in the world. Also accredited as the world’s largest golf facility in 2004, it is home to 12 courses, each designed by a different golfing legend.

Players stay at the adjacent Hard Rock Hotel, within walking distance to the courts. The venue is also home to an amusement park, with families encouraged to spend the day at the tennis while enjoying the rides and activities.

Zhang, nicknamed ‘ZZZ’, owns a 3-2 FedEx ATP Head2Head lead over the man they call ‘Tiger’. All five meetings have come at the Challenger level, including two this year. Most recently, Zhang prevailed in straight sets in Columbus in June.

This week, ZZZ is doing his best to build off a breakthrough victory over World No. 34 Kyle Edmund at the China Open. He has not dropped a set en route to the final and is already projected to rise to a career-high ATP Ranking in the Top 160.

“This week my coach is not here, so I’ve been pretty relaxed,” Zhang said, laughing. “I’m just focusing on every single point in the matches and it’s going well.”

Li is also projected to reach a career-high in the ATP Rankings on Monday. He will crack the Top 200 for the first time.

“I’ve just been trying my best and fighting in every match,” said Li. “I pushed as hard as I could and gave everything on the court. It’s been a very good result so far this week and I wish to keep going tomorrow.”

The numbers don’t lie. The depth at this year’s Next Gen ATP Finals, which starts Tuesday at the Allianz Cloud in Milan, is better than ever.

There are 13 #NextGenATP stars currently inside the Top 100 of the ATP Rankings, compared to 10 in 2017 and 2018. Three of them (Tsitsipas, De Minaur, Auger-Aliassime) are inside the Top 20, compared to two last year and one in 2017.

Top 100 #NextGenATP Players

But it’s not just the quantity of players that is making it difficult to qualify. The ATP Race to Milan, which determines who qualifies for Milan, shows that the number of ATP Rankings points required to make the cut is higher than ever.

South Korean Hyeon Chung (2017) and Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic (2019) were both seventh in the Race for their respective years competing in Milan. But Chung, who finished seventh in the 2017 Race with 805 points, would have been tenth in this year’s Race. Meanwhile, Kecmanovic’s current tally of 975 points would have put him at fourth in the 2017 Race.

Seventh In ATP Race to Milan

The difference still holds further down in the standings. Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, 11th in the Race (653), is the last direct entrant into this year’s event. He also holds more points than the players in his position for the previous two years.

11th In ATP Race to Milan

After weathering the toughest cut yet with their outstanding results, this year’s competitors will be in prime form as they to look to finish the season with a title in Milan.