All it can take is one good tournament to launch your career: just ask Thiago Monteiro.

The 21-year-old Brazilian took a wild card this February into the ATP World Tour 500 event in his hometown of Rio de Janeiro. Ranked No. 338, Monteiro recorded the biggest upset of the year so far by upsetting world No. 9 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the opening round.

The Top 10 victory gave Monteiro an extra boost that has translated into solid results on the ATP Challenger Tour, including a semi-final showing last month at the $50,000 event in Santiago and a quarter-final finish at the $100,000 event in Le Gosier. At this week’s $50,000 event in Sao Paulo, he’s breezed through his first two matches without dropping a set.

“It was an amazing victory. The support of the crowd and my team was unbelievable,” said Monteiro of his victory over Tsonga. “It gave me a lot confidence in my game and motivation to keep improving every day with my team and looking for good results.”

Since the start of the year, Monteiro has shot from No. 463 in the Emirates ATP Rankings to his current standing of No. 201. His two wins this week in Sao Paulo have also ensured that he will reach a new career-high ranking next week.

Monteiro also credited his pre-season with taking his game to a new level in 2016. He spent several weeks training with Brazilian No. 1 Thomaz Bellucci, which he said was an eye-opening experience.

“To see how a guy who is ranked No. 35 practises and his level of intensity helped me learn a lot,” said Monteiro. “I was working hard every day and that gave me a lot of confidence. “Now my job is to keep the results of this work and keep improving.”

The Brazilian’s strong results this year have also ensured he will make his Grand Slam debut next month in the qualifying rounds of Roland Garros. Monteiro said he has planned his ATP Challenger Tour schedule for the next few weeks in hopes of peaking on the red clay in Paris, but has even loftier goals for the coming months.

“Qualifying for the main draw of a Grand Slam is one of my dreams, so I’m practising for that moment now,” said Monteiro. “The Olympics (held this year in Rio de Janeiro) would be very difficult to qualify for, but it’s possible and that would also be one of my dreams since I was a kid. The main thing for me is to keep working hard on the court. I want this year to be the best of my career.”

It was a slight scramble to the finish line, but two-time defending champion Kei Nishikori is through to the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open BancSabadell after defeating Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 7-5 on Thursday.

The second seed failed to close out the match when he served at 5-4 in the second set, but broke Chardy again in the 11^th game before sealing victory at the second time of asking, converting his second match point in 84 minutes.

Nishikori has won his past 12 matches at this ATP World Tour 500 clay-court tournament, clinching back-to-back titles in 2014 (d. Giraldo) and 2015 (d. Andujar). The 26 year old has a 17-3 tournament record and goes on to face Alexandr Dolgopolov, who ended the run of qualifier Karen Khachanov with a 6-4, 7-5 victory.

Nishikori is playing his first clay-court tournament of the season and is coming off a runner-up showing at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 in Miami (l. to Djokovic). The right-hander is 21-6 this season, winning his 11^th ATP World Tour title in Memphis (d. Fritz).

Sixth seed Benoit Paire cruised into the last eight with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Pablo Cuevas in just under an hour. The Frenchman set a quarter-final clash with Malek Jaziri, who defeated #NextGen star Alexander Zverev 7-6(5), 6-4. 

Filippo Volandri has plenty on his plate these days. Not only is he working hard to make another push back into the Top 100 of the Emirates ATP Rankings, but the 34-year-old is getting his feet wet as a rookie in the broadcasting booth.

After reaching the quarter-finals earlier this month at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Barletta, Volandri drove 800 kilometres to play in the qualifying of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Monte-Carlo. Once his time on the court was done, Volandri spent the week calling matches for Sky TV in Italy.

“It’s a strange thing because I’m still a professional player,” admitted Volandri. “I still want to play all the tournaments, but I also have the opportunity to commentate for a few tournaments and do a few interviews with the players. I’m turning 35 this year, so I hope this is my future after my playing career.”

It’s back to tennis this week for Volandri, though. He advanced to the quarter-finals on Wednesday at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Turin, where he upset No. 4 seed Stephane Robert in the second round. Now fully recovered from an abdominal strain he suffered in February, Volandri is hoping to play more Challengers close to home as he continues to make a climb up the rankings.

“I’ve been trying to play more on clay because all of my good results have come on this surface,” he said. “And I love to play the tournaments in Italy because people come to watch me play.”

Plenty of people have watched Volandri play over his 19-year career, which has seen him reach a career-high Emirates ATP Ranking of No. 25 back in July 2007. There have been several highlights over the years that include winning two ATP World Tour titles and 12 ATP Challenger Tour titles.

But for Volandri, his proudest moment was his upset victory in 2007 over Roger Federer at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome. Having needed a wild card just to enter the main draw, Volandri played one of the best matches of his career to secure the straight-sets win. Afterwards, he did a victory lap around Centre Court and high-fived spectators in the audience.

“He was No. 1 in the world at the time and I was playing at home, so it was amazing for me,” said Volandri. “That was probably the best week of my career.”

Volandri will head back to Rome next month as both a player and commentator. He wants to get his ranking high enough to compete in the main draw of the Grand Slams again, but said he’s also happy competing on the ATP Challenger Tour for now and having the chance to still do something he loves.

“Tennis is now a passion for me instead of work. I don’t have to keep doing this. I do it because I love to play,” said Volandri. “There’s no pressure for me because I’ve had a good career, so I just want to go on court and enjoy it.”

Lucas Pouille upset second seed Ivo Karlovic 6-3, 6-4 in the second round of the BRD Nastase Tiriac Trophy on Thursday. The 22-year-old Frenchman had never previously faced the 6’11” Karlovic at tour-level, but read the Croat’s serve well and prevailed in one hour.

“I’m happy with this second round,” Pouille said. “It was a good match, in line with how I played on Tuesday. I tried to be solid, to do simple things, and it worked well.

“I was able to return well and to put the ball back in the court, which against Ivo is key. I think I can serve better. There are a few details I need to work on. Also, as it is the beginning of the season on clay, I feel I can improve many aspects of my game.”

Third seed Federico Delbonis landed 70 per cent of first serves and overcame unseeded Illya Marchenko 7-5, 6-2 in the second round. The Argentine dropped serve twice but broke the Ukrainian five times in the pair’s first FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting.

Guillermo Garcia-Lopez downed Next Generation player Kyle Edmund 6-3, 6-3 to advance to the quarter-finals. The 32 year old, seeded fourth, did not face a break point and broke Edmund three times (3/12) to advance in 81 minutes.

“He didn’t have chances to break because I served very well. It is the kind of match you always want to have,” Garcia-Lopez said. “I didn’t let him find his rhythm, I was mixing the game with slices and high balls, being aggressive at times. This made him feel uncomfortable.”

The Spaniard will face Guido Pella, a 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 winner over Daniel Gimeno-Traver, in the next round.

“Against Pella, it will be difficult mentally and physically. He’s left-handed, which is tricky for a right-handed player with a one-handed backhand. He plays very well. Whoever is stronger mentally will win this match,” noted Garcia-Lopez.

Paolo Lorenzi was another veteran firing on all cylinders in the second round, dismissing youngster Taro Daniel 6-2, 6-0 in 75 minutes. The Italian dictated with his return, winning 30 of 54 points on Daniel’s serve.

#NextGen star Alexander ‘Sascha’ Zverev chats to ATPWorldTour.com in Barcelona to reminisce about an epic journey Down Under, meeting one of the most famous footballers in the world and his shortcomings in the kitchen…

I had a travel drama?
Australia this year. I was on a flight that was overbooked, so they put me on another airline. I had been booked in business class so they gave me another business class ticket, everything was fine. But that other airline was delayed by four hours, so I arrived in Dubai late and missed my connection. Then I had to wait 24 hours for another flight. Then went to Paris and missed my connection again. Then I had to buy myself a new ticket to get to my destination!

I lost something important?
I lose my phone all the time, but luckily someone else always finds it. I just leave it somewhere, on the court, and somebody always picks it up.

I strung a tennis racquet?
Never! I know how to, but I can’t remember the last time I did it.

I cooked for myself and others?
That has never happened either! I do not know how to cook.

I met a childhood idol?
I met David Beckham in London in November. Obviously he had no clue who I was, but luckily I was at the ATP Star of Tomorrow presentation at The O2, so I took a quick picture with him.

I shared a hotel room with another player?
That was actually at the ATP University in London in November. I shared a hotel room with Elias Ymer. It was all right! We didn’t spend much time in the hotel room.

I cried at a movie?
I don’t do that… And if I do, I won’t admit it, ever!

Donald Young doesn’t have to be here at the Savannah Challenger, playing in front of a couple dozen people on an island outside Savannah. The 26 year old is ranked No. 84 in the Emirates ATP Rankings and could be in Europe preparing for qualifying at ATP World Tour tournaments, including the Mutua Madrid Open and the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome.

But Young, like most players, has gone through ups and downs during his career, and he’s in Savannah to start what he hopes is another positive stretch. “I just wanted to play to get some matches on clay before leaving for Europe,” Young said. “I thought I’d come here and build some confidence.”

The American was beaming with assurance at times during 2015. He started the year with a quarter-finals showing at the ASB Classic in Auckland. In February, he reached his second ATP World Tour final at the Delray Beach Open. Later that month, Young beat two Top 50 players on his way to the semi-finals at the Memphis Open. The Atlanta resident started the year 13-7.

“The beginning of last year was awesome,” Young said.

But in 2016, the Chicago native failed to replicate that strong start. He reached the second round in Auckland, fell in the quarter-finals in Memphis and lost in the second round in Delray Beach. As a result, since the beginning of the year, his ranking has slipped 38 spots.

Young has come to the $50,000 ATP Challenger for the sixth time to gain more self-belief. The left-hander has used ATP Challengers to propel his career in the past.

In 2007, he won the Aptos Challenger and made the final in Tulsa, Calabasas, Louisville and Champaign. That same year he cracked the Top 100 for the first time. In 2011, Young won the Tallahassee Challenger and made the Savannah Challenger final. During that four-week stretch, he also improved his ranking 28 spots.

“(Challengers are) a great springboard to get on to the (ATP World) Tour,” Young said. “It’s very important to come back down, win some matches, and winning begets winning. You win at any level, you start feeling good.”

He won on Monday night in straight sets against his 20-year-old compatriot Noah Rubin 7-5, 7-6(3). Last week, at the Sarasota Challenger, Rubin upset the No. 1 seed Denis Kudla. On Wednesday, Young, the No. 2 seed in Savannah, will look to reach the quarter-finals against Russian Daniil Medvedev.

“Tennis is weird… You need to win to get confidence but you can’t have confidence without winning,” Young said. “I’m here to get confidence.”

Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares are into the doubles quarter-finals at the Barcelona Open BancSabadell after saving a match point in a 6-4, 4-6, 14-12 win over Henri Kontinen and John Peers. The third seeds were a point from losing at 11-10 in the Match Tie-break, but recovered to claim victory in 85 minutes. The British/Brazilian duo advanced despite winning five fewer points than their opponents (64-69) and will face Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez.

Moving into the semi-finals are second seeds Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan, who eased past Poles Lukasz Kubot and Marcin Matkowski. The Americans only lost two first-serve points (27/29), did not face a break point and prevailed in just 50 minutes.

“We played a very sharp match and we’re especially happy with the way we served today,” Mike Bryan said. “To lose only four points on serve against two great returners speaks volumes to our great serving performance. I think we’re both in a really good place physically, mentally, and game wise and we’re very optimistic for our upcoming matches.”

Fourth seeds Rohan Bopanna and Jean-Julien Rojer are into the quarter-finals after dismissing Spanish wild cards Pablo Carreno Busta and David Marrero 7-5, 6-3. Bopanna/Rojer fired eight aces and saved all four break points faced.

In his free time he likes playing chess and reading classic Roman novels. He’s studying long-distance for a degree in Physical Education at the University of Moscow. And on Tuesday he recorded his first Top 20 win over Roberto Bautista Agut in the second round of the Barcelona Open BancSabadell. Did we mention he also played basketball at a national level when he was in high school? 

Meet 19-year-old #NextGen star Karen Khachanov.

Having picked up a racquet for the first time aged three, the Russian grew up watching and idolising Marat Safin. And at 6’6’’, with booming groundstrokes of his own, and a mature head on his shoulders, Khachanov could well emulate two-time Grand Slam champion Safin one day. 

“It’s strange feelings right now,” Khachanov told ATPWorldTour.com in Barcelona. “I’m happy to be here (on the ATP World Tour). In my first few matches I was a little bit nervous, playing in big events. But I want to be here as much as I can and to play these kind of tournaments. It’s a big pleasure for me.

“I have a big serve and my style of game is to play more aggressive. The backhand down the line is my favourite shot and also running around my forehand. In general, it’s aggressive.”

Now 19, Khachanov first left home when he was 15 years old to go and train in Croatia with Goran Ivanisevic’s former coach, Vedran Martic. Aged 17, he announced his arrival on the ATP World Tour on home soil when he reached the quarter-finals in Moscow, beating Albert Ramos-Vinolas and Janko Tipsarevic before losing to Ivo Karlovic.

Since he was 18, Khachanov has been based in Barcelona, where he now trains with Galo Blanco – former coach of Milos Raonic. Already fluent in English, Khachanov is now learning Spanish, and already understands almost everything, even if he lacks confidence in speaking it. 

Fellow Russian Next Generation player Andrey Rublev, whom Khachanov has known since he was eight, is a regular training partner in Barcelona.

Currently at No. 138 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, Khachanov is working hard to improve his game this season with the hopes of cracking the Top 100 soon. If his performance against Bautista Agut, one of the toughest competitors on tour, is anything to go by, that landmark won’t be far off.