A LOOK BACK
Oracle Challenger Series Newport Beach (Newport Beach, California, USA): Taylor Fritz couldn’t have dreamt of a better start to the year. Just three weeks after kicking off 2018 with a final run at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Noumea, the #NextGenATP American went one step further on Sunday in Newport Beach. Fritz lifted a trophy for the first time in two years, rallying past countryman Bradley Klahn 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 in one hour and 35 minutes.

The 20-year-old is not only up to No. 76 in the ATP Rankings, his highest position in more than a year, but the California native also moves to third in the ATP Race To Milan. On the rise once again, Fritz is targeting a Top 50 breakthrough in 2018.

“I have a couple goals. My first goal is to be in the Top 50,” Fritz said. “I’ve been trying to do that for a while now and I think everything is starting to come together. It started coming together at the end of last year. Stay healthy and then long term, once I get to that goal, I really want to get seeded at the Australian Open next year. That’s my ultimate goal for this year.

“[Winning this title] just felt so good. Even though it was 5-0 (in the third set), I wanted it so bad. I was super tense. It’s been so long since I’ve won a title, which made it even more special. It’s been two years since I’ve won a tournament. It means so much for my confidence to get me back on track.”

Open de Rennes (Rennes, France): Second seed Vasek Pospisil claimed his sixth ATP Challenger Tour title on Sunday in Rennes, routing Ricardas Berankis 6-1, 6-2 in 72 minutes. The Canadian has won 10 straight matches on the circuit, dating back to his victory in Busan, South Korea in May 2017. His impressive ATP Rankings ascent continues as well, returning to the Top 100 at No. 85. Pospisil, who stunned then-World No. 1 Andy Murray at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells last year, is trending upwards as he seeks a return to top form.

Vasek Pospisil has his first ?of 2018! The ?? celebrates the title in Rennes and a return to the Top 100 of the #ATP Rankings. Congrats @VasekPospisil! pic.twitter.com/cWePMLgEuy

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) January 28, 2018

A LOOK AHEAD
Kei Nishikori continues his comeback at the RBC Tennis Championships of Dallas, where he is joined by #NextGenATP Americans Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul and Reilly Opelka. Former champion Tim Smyczek is also in the field.

Meanwhile, in Burnie, Australia, Marcel Granollers is the top seed and is in search of his third title to open the year. Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka is also on the comeback trail after suffering a torn ACL in 2017. In Quimper, France, Stefanos Tsitsipas is the top seed, with fifth seed Quentin Halys leading home hopes.

The state of California has long been a popular destination for tournaments on both the ATP World Tour and ATP Challenger Tour. Take a look around and you’ll understand why. From the coastline to the mountains, there is no shortage of stunning scenery and pristine sun-drenched weather is a staple of the region. 

Challenger events in Aptos and Tiburon are established fixtures on the calendar, joined recently by tournaments in Fairfield and Stockton. For many years, however, the iconic BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells has been the lone tournament in Southern California. But that has changed in 2018, with the addition of two $150,000 events as part of the Oracle Challenger Series.

On Sunday, the inaugural tournament in Newport Beach crowned its first champion: California’s own Taylor Fritz. Located less than an hour’s drive south of downtown Los Angeles, it has marked the return of the circuit to the greater L.A. area – the first since nearby Carson departed the ATP Challenger Tour in 2010.

“It’s nice playing at home because I live close to here,” Fritz, who lives 50 minutes from the Newport Beach Tennis Club, told ATPWorldTour.com. “It’s a close drive to home and I’m just used to it I guess. I’m used to the weather and it feels like I’m playing with the home-court advantage. 

“My family hasn’t traveled with me much lately, just because it’s tough traveling with our baby, but it’s really nice having a tournament close to home because then everyone can come support me. It also helps me on the court having them there. They’re driving back and forth each day. I hope this tournament is going to get better and better every year.”

Your Men’s Singles Champion, @Taylor_Fritz97. He defeated Bradley Klahn 36 75 60 to win the first ever Oracle Challenger Series singles title. pic.twitter.com/ARdgOYRmzH

— Oracle Challenger Series (@OracleChallngrs) January 28, 2018

Fritz has taken the lead in the Oracle Challenger Series standings, with the two top combined performers at the ATP Challenger Tour events in Newport Beach and Indian Wells earning main draw wild cards into the BNP Paribas Open, an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event. 

“We’re very excited,” said Indian Wells tournament director and former World No. 2 Tommy Haas. “When you have an opportunity to play at an event where the weather is ideal and you can play close to home as an American, it’s perfect. From a professional point of view, you come here to try to get points and raise your ATP Ranking. That is, so you can then play the 250s, 500s and Masters 1000s and then the Grand Slams. Being here for the first time myself, with this great facility, it is something very special for the players.”

Tournament director Christian Coleman admits they toured 20 different tennis facilities in the area and eventually decided on the Newport Beach Tennis Club, established in 1966.

“It’s a great facility and close to the entertainment for the players here in Orange County,” added Coleman. “A lot of boxes were checked when we came out here. Look at how close the fans are to the players. They’re basically courtside for a world-class tennis event. It’s just like Indian Wells in that sense.”

“You also want a tournament atmosphere, which this has,” said Haas. “Venues that don’t have a clubhouse and the courts are too crammed, doesn’t make it as exciting. But this is just incredible here. You look around here and it’s a packed house all week. It makes for a great atmosphere and from a players’ point of view, that’s what you want.”

? @TommyHaas13!

Tommy is taking in the #ATPChallenger action in Newport Beach with tournament director Christian Coleman. pic.twitter.com/uBWLbWKFqj

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) January 23, 2018

The 20-year-old Fritz was joined by a strong crop of young Americans in the draw, alongside Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, Stefan Kozlov, Reilly Opelka, Michael Mmoh and fellow Southern California native Ernesto Escobedo. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Escobedo relished the opportunity to play in front of the home crowd.

“I feel like there should be more tournaments here because it’s so nice here,” said the 21-year-old. “It never gets super, super hot or super cold. It’s perfect conditions. This tournament is very nice. It’s awesome that it’s very close to my house, so I have my family and friends come watch me. It’s always good to have them see me play.

“One of my favourite places to go is Newport Beach. At the beach I just chill there with my friends and my family. It’s only 35 minutes from my house. It’s a great area. Very quiet, close to the beach, so many places to eat around here, so it makes your tennis week very comfortable.”

“SoCal is great,” added Opelka. “If someone’s complaining about SoCal, you’ve got some issues. The weather is perfect. There’s so much to do and so much to see. It’s a complete different culture out here as well. My best friends live in (nearby) San Clemente. They don’t play tennis – they pretty much just surf and skate – so that’s the difference between a Cali boy and someone growing up in Florida. I played tennis and they surfed and skated.

“It’s the first time they had a Challenger here and it’s as good as it gets. The hotel is great, city is nice, good fan turnout and it has a lot of energy.”

With former World No. 4 Kei Nishikori joining the American stars in the field, fans flooded the Newport Beach Tennis Club throughout the week. Hoards of Japanese media mingled with the California press to provide the Challenger with plenty of exposure on both sides of the world. Nishikori’s lone match of the week – a first-round defeat to Dennis Novikov – was televised in Japan on Wowow.

Just steps from the Pacific Ocean, Fritz surfed to his fourth Challenger title, dropping one set all week. Off to a 9-1 start to the season, also finishing runner-up in Noumea, the #NextGenATP American is back in the Top 80 and climbing the ATP Rankings once again. He is also up to third in the ATP Race To Milan.

“My main goal now is to be in the Top 50. I’ve been trying to do that for a while now and I think everything is starting to come together.”

(1) Federer Cements Grand Slam Legacy
For many years, winning 20 major titles seemed like an impossible feat. The longevity needed in a player’s career and the consistency at such a high level would be nothing short of astonishing. Enter Roger Federer. 

On Sunday, the Swiss secured an unprecedented 20th Grand Slam trophy with a five-set victory over Marin Cilic, tying Ken Rosewall’s record of three major titles won at the age of 35 and over. Moreover, Federer’s sixth Australian Open victory pulls him level with Novak Djokovic and Roy Emerson atop the all-time titles list Down Under.

Now four major titles clear of Rafael Nadal and six ahead of third-placed Pete Sampras, Federer continues to separate himself from the rest of the pack. After concluding his 2017 campaign at No. 2 in the ATP Rankings, could a return to the top spot be on the horizon? It will be one of the must-see storylines on the ATP World Tour in 2018.

“I’m so happy, it’s unbelievable,” said an emotional Federer following the final. “I’m happy it’s over now. It’s a dream come true and the fairy-tale continues. After the year I had last year, it’s incredible.”

(2) Unseeded Stars Steal The Spotlight
For the first time since 1999, two unseeded players featured in the Australian Open semi-finals. Rising talents Hyeon Chung and Kyle Edmund proved themselves on one of the game’s biggest stages, as the 21-year-old Korean and the 23-year-old Brit battled into the last four in Melbourne.

Chung, the champion at the inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan, carried the momentum to 2018 with back-to-back upsets of fourth seed Alexander Zverev and six-time champion Novak Djokovic. Edmund also scored his first Top 10 victory, following up a pair of five-set wins with a stunning triumph over World No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-finals. Both are up to career-highs in the Top 30 and are ones to watch on the ATP World Tour in 2018.

World No. 97 Tennys Sandgren and 80th-ranked Marton Fucsovics also sent shockwaves throughout Melbourne Park in reaching the quarter-finals and Round of 16, respectively. It was their deepest runs at a Grand Slam tournament. Sandgren stunned fifth-seed Dominic Thiem in five thrilling sets, having entered the fortnight with just two tour-level wins in his career. One of the biggest performers on the ATP Challenger Tour in 2017, the American is projected to rise to a career-high of No. 55 after sitting at No. 198 a year ago.

Notable Upsets – 2018 Australian Open

(3) Cilic Continues Clutch Play On The Big Stages
On Monday, there will be a signficant shift among the Top 5 in the ATP Rankings. Rafael Nadal remains at No. 1, Roger Federer stays at No. 2, but the new World No. 3 will be Marin Cilic. Rising three spots to a new career-high, Croatia’s longtime stalwart is peaking at the age of 29.

Cilic has now appeared in a Grand Slam final or lifted an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophy in four of the past five years. Champion at the 2014 US Open and 2016 Western & Southern Open and the runner-up at Wimbledon last year, he has cemented himself as a threat to contend for any title.

Cilic dropped just one set in reaching the second week in Melbourne, where he stopped 10th seed Pablo Carreno Busta in four, outlasted top seed Rafael Nadal and dismissed a surging Kyle Edmund. He came up just short of capturing his second major crown, but, having now appeared in two of the past three Grand Slam finals, the big-hitting Croatian has put the rest of the ATP World Tour on notice.

(4) Kyrgios Continues His Climb
For the first time since 2015, top Aussie Nick Kyrgios advanced to the second week of his home Grand Slam. But this was much different. Now, at the age of 22, the Canberra native is greatly maturing with every tournament and he would battle into the Round of 16 behind an impressive and poised performance against former finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. 

Kyrgios dropped a gripping four-set encounter against third-seed Grigor Dimitrov under the lights on Rod Laver Arena. The margins were razor thin, as Dimitrov claimed a trio of tie-breaks in the three-hour and 26-minute affair. 

“I lost tonight to one of the best players in the world,” said Kyrgios. “I went down swinging. Obviously, I feel a lot better this time around. Last year I really didn’t know what I was going to do after the Australian Open last year. I feel like I have more of a vision and goal for this year. I think I’m in a good headspace.”

The Aussie faithful weren’t the only fans attending his matches at Melbourne Park. Actor Will Smith came out to enjoy his meeting with Tsonga, sitting courtside to see tennis’ Fresh Prince battle to victory.

Other Aussies finding success at their home Grand Slam included John Millman and Matthew Ebden, who scored first-round upsets in their comebacks from injury. Millman stopped Borna Coric, while Ebden stunned John Isner in a rematch of the 2017 Newport final. Also, teenager Alex de Minaur took a set off eventual quarter-finalist Tomas Berdych, capping a stellar Aussie swing that also included a semi-final finish in Brisbane and runner-up result in Sydney.

Learn About Kyrgios’ Charity Work

(5) Marach/Pavic Complete History-Making Month
Two months after enjoying a taste of the Nitto ATP Finals as alternates, Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic are well on their way to qualifying for the season finale for the first time.

The Austrian-Croatian partners celebrated their maiden Grand Slam championship on Saturday in Melbourne, capping a fortnight which saw them claw to the title. Their quarter-final and semi-final victories came in deciding tie-breaks, before ousting 11th seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah 6-4, 6-4 in the title match.

Marach and Pavic made history with their triumph Down Under, becoming the first team to win three titles in the month of January in the Open Era. They kicked off their 2018 campaign with victories at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha and the ASB Classic in Auckland, before lifting the trophy in Melbourne.

In addition, Marach became the first player from Austria to win the Australian Open title – singles or doubles – while Pavic achieved the same feat for his native Croatia. 

Roger Federer’s chapter in the annals of tennis history has earned yet another entry with his triumph Down Under: a sixth Australian Open title and his 20th Grand Slam overall. Fellow players, athletes, celebrities and even the president of Switzerland took to social media to congratulate the superstar on his extraordinary five-set win over Marin Cilic in Sunday’s final. 

#RF20 ???

— Juan M. del Potro (@delpotrojuan) January 28, 2018

And that my friends is why Roger is my hero and a LEGEND!!! 100% the GOAT!!! No question about it!!! 20x grand slam titles 6x Ausi Opens! #lifeinspiration @rogerfederer ????????????????????

— lindsey vonn (@lindseyvonn) January 28, 2018

Always a joy to watch you play, @rogerfederer. 20 Grand slams.. What an achievement! #AusOpen #Federer pic.twitter.com/ThN1AbgQT0

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 28, 2018

Fellow countryman and former Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka joined in congratulating Federer.

Incroyable papy !!!!!! ?2️⃣0️⃣??@rogerfederer !!!!! pic.twitter.com/irc4wTCaUT

— Stanislas Wawrinka (@stanwawrinka) January 28, 2018

Well done @rogerfederer #impresive #20 #? pic.twitter.com/8T5PbLRtYy

— Tomáš Berdych (@tomasberdych) January 28, 2018

Great day to be sporting this t-shirt! Well done@rogerfederer on #20Slams – unbelievable! Watch… https://t.co/jvlQFQYHYN

— Bear Grylls (@BearGrylls) January 28, 2018

Congratulations to @rogerfederer and @CaroWozniacki ?Great champions #AusOpen

— Hyeon Chung (@HyeonChung) January 28, 2018

#NextGenATP Denis Shapovalov, who grew up watching Federer, added to the applause.

#RF20 just incredible ?

— Denis Shapovalov (@denis_shapo) January 28, 2018

Bravo @rogerfederer ?x20 ? !!!!!! #Goat #AUSChamp #Legend

— Lucas Pouille (@la_pouille) January 28, 2018

Congratulations @rogerfederer . World class effort, Truly inspirational @AustralianOpen @ATPWorldTour #20 pic.twitter.com/BajoLKvk4n

— Rohan Bopanna (@rohanbopanna) January 28, 2018

Nobody makes me cry like Roger Federer…no one… there is no one like him…

— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) January 28, 2018

Also quick to send out his congratulations was Alain Berset, the president of Switzerland.

Roger first and alone – herzliche #Gratulation zum 20. Grand Slam-Titel, Maestro! ? Magnifique!@rogerfederer @AustralianOpen #AusOpen #BundespräsidentCH #swisspresident?? pic.twitter.com/yGGwWqdpkk

— Alain Berset (@alain_berset) January 28, 2018

His journey to history continues…@rogerfederer @AustralianOpen @Eurosport pic.twitter.com/0KuxRq1Tg6

— Boris Becker (@TheBorisBecker) January 28, 2018

Very inspiring from both winners!@rogerfederer I was lucky to be a very small part of it. ?✌?? #AusOpen

— Stefanos Tsitsipas (@StefTsitsipas) January 28, 2018

Incredible!!! peRFect #RF20 #AusOpen https://t.co/BacKpwcr0d

— Leander Paes (@Leander) January 28, 2018

Ivan Ljubicic is one proud coach. Since joining Federer’s team at the start of 2017, the Swiss has one three of the last five Grand Slams.

Undescribable RF#20 pic.twitter.com/xScha1jBiE

— Ivan Ljubicic (@theljubicic) January 28, 2018

Congrats on number 20 @rogerfederer! ? It’s truly an honour to play the same sport as you. #legend

— Kevin Anderson (@KAndersonATP) January 28, 2018

Emerson. Djokovic. Federer. 6 x Australian Open crowns apiece. Astonishing then, incredible now.

— Rod Laver (@rodlaver) January 28, 2018

It was 2003 Wimbledon when a talented 21-year-old named Roger Federer — who had not advanced past the quarter-finals at the Grand Slams in 14 tries — finally broke through to win his first major title. The Swiss sobbed with joy.

“To lift the trophy is something you don’t expect. But when it happens, it’s, for me, very tough with the emotions,” Federer told the media 15 years ago. “I’m just happy to be on the board. It’s so nice, if I look at all the players who have won here, a lot have been idols to me. Just to be on the board with [Bjorn] Borg and these people, it’s just nice, to be a part of history at Wimbledon and in Grand Slams in general.”

Little did Federer know that he was just getting started. And nearly 15 years later, on Sunday evening, the inimitable Swiss raised his sixth Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after beating sixth seed Marin Cilic to win the 2018 Australian Open, extending his Grand Slam championship titles record to 20.

“Winning is just an absolute dream come true. The fairytale continues for us, for me,” Federer told the crowd on Rod Laver Arena on Sunday night. “After the great year I had last year, it’s incredible.”

Once again, Federer choked back tears. Some things never change. Tears and more importantly, triumph, for the greatest player of all time.

The emotions show that Federer — however hard it is to believe sometimes given his accomplishments — is human. He even admitted battling nerves ahead of his record 30th Grand Slam championship final.

“I was so bloody nervous all day. It was eating me up inside,” Federer said in his post-final press conference. “That’s why, when it was all over, I was just so relieved.”

Federer did show some nerves in the fourth set, uncharacteristically losing his break advantage as the trophy loomed in the distance. But he showed his champions’ guile by completely changing the momentum in the fifth set against a dangerous opponent in Cilic who had found his range.

The 36-year-old even left the namesake of the court he won on, Rod Laver, scrambling to capture the moment when Federer lifted the trophy.

“I didn’t see that through my thick tears, that he was taking a picture of me crying,” Federer said. “When I start thinking about what I was going to say, every subject I touch actually is very meaningful and very emotional… I hoped over time in the speech I would start to relax a little bit, but I couldn’t.”

It is fitting that for a player who has provided the tennis world some of its greatest thrills, all Federer wants to do is keep giving it more.

“You guys. You fill the stadiums. You make me nervous. You make me go out and practice,” Federer told the crowd during the trophy ceremony. “Thank you for everything.”

Nobody could criticise the Swiss if he never wins a major title again — he has broken countless records and by virtue of Sunday’s victory became the second-oldest Grand Slam championship winner in the Open Era (Ken Rosewall, 1972 Australian Open).

But at 36, Federer is still going strong and having won three of the past five majors, does not appear to be slowing down. The victory against Cilic moves the father of four to within 155 points of Rafael Nadal for the top spot in the ATP Rankings — which Federer has not occupied since 4 November 2012 — and also ties him with Roy Emerson and Novak Djokovic atop the Australian Open titles list at six apiece.

Roger Federer’s Australian Open Titles

But equalling another record is not what stands out to the 96-time tour-level titlist.

“It’s about living the emotions that I went through tonight again at the trophy ceremony, going through a tough rollercoaster match, five-setter against Cilic, who is a great player, and then getting No. 6 here, No. 20 overall. It’s just a very special moment,” Federer said. “Defending my title from last year, sort of the fairytale continues. That’s what stands out for me, maybe not equalling Emerson or Novak. They had their own unbelievable careers. I admire what they’re doing and have done with ‘Emmo’. Yeah, it’s definitely a very special moment in my life again.”

It isn’t that long ago that for perhaps the first time since winning that 2003 Wimbledon title, Federer’s status appeared uncertain. A year ago, the Swiss arrived at Melbourne Park after a six-month injury layoff, seeded 17th. His last major victory? 2012 Wimbledon.

If that was the beginning of the end, Federer would have still been considered one of if not the greatest ever, his awards cabinet filled with 17 major trophies. But one year and three Grand Slam championship victories later, and the World No. 2 may be playing his best tennis yet at the tender age of 36.

How long can this Federer Renaissance last?

“No idea. Honest, I don’t know. I have no idea,” Federer said. “I can’t believe it myself.”

Here is to hoping it continues, because the day Roger Federer hangs up his racquets, it won’t be the Swiss in tears — it will be the entire tennis world.

Marin Cilic was close, just not close enough.

Playing with great focus and pin-point accuracy on his world class groundstrokes, the 29 year old Croatian battled back from a break down in the fourth set and found himself with break points of his own to start the decisive set in the Australian Open final, which would see Roger Federer emerge victorious after three tense hours. 

One return into the net. One wide. 

And that was it. 

Federer would run away with the fifth set, claiming his record-equaling sixth Australian Open crown (alongside Roy Emerson, Novak Djokovic) and an unprecedented 20^th Grand Slam title in the Swiss’ storied career. Cilic had come so close to achieving a second Grand Slam success following his triumph at the US Open in 2014, yet came up short once more. 

Nevertheless, Cilic remained optimistic about his showing in the final, becoming the only player over the fortnight to take a set – two, in fact – off of the defending champion, who had hitherto maneuvered his way through the draw with relative ease. 

“I was hitting the ball great. I was just playing phenomenal,” said the Croatian. “Then first game of the fifth set was more or less crucial at the end with having those… break points that I didn’t convert. [It was] just a little bit tougher game, my [next] service game… [It] just ran away from me. 

“But looking overall, I’m really pleased with the performance,” he added, assessing his efforts, which included 45 winners and 16 aces. “[I] played great tennis over these two weeks. I had tough matches, tough opponents, beating Rafa [Nadal], reaching [the] final, which is definitely amazing. Looking at my own game, I think I improved a lot. I’m playing great tennis. That’s really exciting for me for this 2018.”

Cilic will rise to No. 3 in the ATP Rankings next week, eclipsing his career-best of No. 4 achieved in the fall of last year. Citing multiple improvements in his game, the 29-year-old has his eyes on the top prizes – and the top ranking – in the coming season. 

“My ultimate goal is to reach No. 1,” said Cilic. “That’s what I’m working for. Even in these last one or two years, the progress that I did is big. Last year, I improved a lot in different areas. Now in these last couple months, I improved even more. So that gives me big confidence.”

As the ATP World Tour picks up pace again in February, Cilic is slated to play a series of clay court events in South America before he tries for his second ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown (Cincinnati 2016) at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and the Miami Open presented by Itau. With “World No. 3” as his titular heading into the next swing of the 2018 season, Cilic is taking nothing for granted.

“No. 3 feels and looks amazing, especially behind [Federer and Nadal] as well. But I know how difficult it is, knowing as well Novak and Andy [Murray] and many other guys had a tough last season. For me it’s a great time that I improved and that I am continuing to improve. Big times ahead for me.”