Roger Federer’s announcement that next week’s Laver Cup will be his final ATP event caught the tennis and sports world by surprise Thursday. Many of tennis’ biggest stars quickly reacted to the news.

Former World No. 1 Andy Roddick, new World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and Rod Laver were among the first to post tributes on social media.

Cheers Roger. Thanks for the shared memories my friend. It was an honor to share time/experiences on the most hallowed grounds in our sport. Don’t be a stranger ….

— andyroddick (@andyroddick) September 15, 2022

Roger… 💔

— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) September 15, 2022

Roger has been one of my idols and a source of inspiration! 🥲 Thank you for everything you have done for our sport! ❤️ I still want to play with you! 🥹 Wish you all the luck in the world for what comes next! 💪🏻 @rogerfederer pic.twitter.com/k4xjyN3AAB

— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) September 15, 2022

Thank you for everything Roger. See you soon. Rocket https://t.co/wjjk1lvd2H

— Rod Laver (@rodlaver) September 15, 2022

😢😢❤️❤️🐐🐐 https://t.co/Je74AYtfuj

— Stanislas Wawrinka (@stanwawrinka) September 15, 2022

He was the epitome of a champion; class, grace, humility, beloved by everyone…and he elegantly mastered the sport like no other…Good luck to you, @rogerfederer don’t go too far!😉🙏

— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) September 15, 2022

💔😢. I LOVE YOU, Roger. Thank you for everything you’ve done in tennis and with myself. Tennis world will never be the same without you. https://t.co/Wm0IjNqjjx

— Juan M. del Potro (@delpotrojuan) September 15, 2022

(1/2) Roger Federer is a champion’s champion. He has the most complete game of his generation & captured the hearts of sports fans around the world with an amazing quickness on the court & a powerful tennis mind. He has had a historic career w/memories that will live on and on. pic.twitter.com/zxGq4izh1v

— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) September 15, 2022

What a heartfelt message , full of love, life, hope, passion and gratitude. Which is exactly how Roger played the game we love so much. Thank you thank you thank you, for all the magic!!!
Xoxoxo https://t.co/2s1Aw5SpJ5

— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) September 15, 2022

I just want to thank you for everything you’ve done and everything you are for our sport. It’s been a privilege to witness your career. I wish you all the best. 🐐🤗 https://t.co/gJSV5PZO2Y

— Iga Świątek (@iga_swiatek) September 15, 2022

 

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Thank you @rogerfederer. You’re an inspiration for us all. Good luck for everything ahead! pic.twitter.com/vseP0rnFV4

— Jannik Sinner (@janniksin) September 15, 2022

.@rogerfederer thank you for doing more for tennis than any single individual. Thanks to you competitors and fans across the world get to experience and enjoy it all over the world. Congratulations on your achievements and the people you continue to impact in and away from tennis

— Milos Raonic (@milosraonic) September 15, 2022

Thanks legend!!! 🥹😞😢 https://t.co/F2Rq8K1LsS

— David Ferrer (@DavidFerrer87) September 15, 2022

Roger – you have always been such a huge inspiration to me. Your elegance, your grace, your beautiful game. I have always held you in the highest regard and want to congratulate you for an amazing career. Tennis won’t be the same without you! Thank you ❤️@rogerfederer pic.twitter.com/tAGirtB5m4

— Petra Kvitova (@Petra_Kvitova) September 15, 2022

Roger, there was and never will be anyone like you. You crushed me on the court, but were so nice and genuine that I couldn’t hate you for it. You made the game better on and off the court and you will be missed. Good luck, you have earned all the success and joy in the world https://t.co/DwROmZXeJm

— James Blake (@JRBlake) September 15, 2022

R O G E R! ♥️ 😢#Federer#RogerFederer pic.twitter.com/zjLaWRem9Z

— Garbiñe Muguruza (@GarbiMuguruza) September 15, 2022

It was an honor and a privilege to play in the same era of you 🐐❤️ @rogerfederer pic.twitter.com/6dKm3f8pfq

— Gael Monfils (@Gael_Monfils) September 15, 2022

A role model for me and so many others!! Thanks for everything Roger 🙏🏼 It’s been a privilege to share the court with you!! https://t.co/lMF1zHp8vv

— Denis Shapovalov (@denis_shapo) September 15, 2022

It was an honor to experience your game for all these years and to share the court with you @rogerfederer. You’ve been an inspiration to me and many many others. Congratulations on a legendary career and good luck for the future 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/N7nZ1TAh6S

— Hubert Hurkacz (@HubertHurkacz) September 15, 2022

Gracias @rogerfederer por todo lo que le brindaste al mundo del tenis! Soy un agradecido por haber compartido este deporte desde la etapa en juniors hasta el circuito profesional! 🙏

Te deseo lo mejor en lo que se viene; espero que sea teniéndote cerca del tenis! 🎾🇨🇭 pic.twitter.com/iqZV3ZKl8K

— David Nalbandian (@nalbandiandavid) September 15, 2022

ROGER FOR EVER ❤️

— Alex Corretja (@alexcorretja74) September 15, 2022

Tearing up just listening to this. We love you Roger 😢 https://t.co/n2YsJJkIfC

— Jessie Pegula (@JLPegula) September 15, 2022

@rogerfederer not one week passes without watching your tennis on YouTube 🙌🏽 your footwork, net game, serve, elegance, forehand , chip returns I find inspiration in it all🙏🏽 your tennis will forever be loved 🫶🏽 #rogerforever #RogerFederer pic.twitter.com/XGvEffb3aw

— Holger Rune (@holgerrune2003) September 15, 2022

Words can’t begin to describe the inspiration you have been to me. Thank you for sharing your talent with the world and for everything you have done for tennis. Wishing you the best 🤍 pic.twitter.com/a9e0x5O7sL

— leylahfernandez (@leylahfernandez) September 15, 2022

Roger Federer, who today announced his intention to retire at the Laver Cup this month, is the benchmark to which every tennis champion — past or present — is measured, and a true global ambassador who transcended the sport.

In a career of jaw-dropping achievement, the Swiss was not only exciting to watch in the efficiency and beauty of his execution, but at the height of his powers in his quest for historic records, Federer was a perfectionist. His own game not only evolved in 25 seasons as a professional, but he also forced his rivals — many of whom had a Federer poster on their bedroom walls — to improve, too.

Federer’s longevity was centred on the fact that not only could he play superbly on every surface, but he combined great fitness with strategy and anticipation. Tennis fans will today reflect upon his legacy and periods of dominance, notably his record 237 consecutive weeks at No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings from 2 February 2004 to 17 August 2008 and how he also reached a record 23 consecutive Grand Slam semi-finals from 2004 Wimbledon to the 2010 Roland Garros semi-finals (winning 20 of them).

But there was also his dedication, commitment, and desire to not only stay ahead of his fellow professionals, but to evolve every aspect of his game. Throughout his illustrious career, Federer brought in the likes of specialist coaches, such as Tony Roche, Stefan Edberg, and Ivan Ljubicic, to join his established and trusted team. Federer went on to develop his serve strategy, the way he volleyed and how his single-handed backhand improved to combat his greatest rivals, notably Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

Roger Federer with Tiger Woods at the 2006 US Open

Federer led a golden age for men’s professional tennis. Every match against Nadal (16-24) or Djokovic (23-27) popularised and attracted new fans to the sport for must-see and several never-to-be-forgotten encounters on the sport’s grandest stages. Yet it was Federer’s relentless hunger, in the face of all-time competition, that remained undimmed and helped him memorably lift 10 trophies on home soil in Basel and Halle’s grass, and eight at The Championships, Wimbledon. His example became the hallmark of modern professionalism.

Consistency enabled Federer to reach the summit for the final time aged 36 in June 2018, thus increasing his weeks at No. 1 to 310 (only surpassed by Djokovic last year), and also helped the Swiss add to his Grand Slam tally to a then-record 20 singles titles, among 103 tour-level trophies. His longevity, highlighted by 968 weeks in the Top 10 between 20 May 2002 and 11 October 2021, also enabled him to hit 1,151 match wins (to date) – just shy of Jimmy Connors records of 109 crowns and 1,274 match wins.

As big a champion Federer was on the court, he had just a big an impact off it, using his global appeal positively. When he started his six-year tenure as President of the ATP Player Council (2008-2014), he highlighted the need for tennis to keep pace with other sports. With his legacy already assured, he was able to promote the causes of every player on the professional ladder and helped usher in a new era of financial success and restructuring for the ATP Tour.

Roger Federer clinches his 1000th match win Brisbane in 2015.

Federer’s demeanour and gracious nature, saw him become what Pele is to football and Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods are to golf. Federer won the ATPTour.com Fans’ Favourite Award every year from 2003 to 2021 and the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award on 13 occasions. Able to converse in multiple languages, he also used his reach to make a huge impact as a philanthropist and a fundraiser of millions for charities and his own foundation, which supports community-driven initiatives to improve education in Southern Africa and Switzerland.

In 1,526 singles matches and 223 doubles matches, Federer remarkably never retired from a match – even after knee surgeries curtailed his on-court appearances in recent years. But now, at 41 years of age, 14 months on from his last match at Wimbledon, the superstar is set to call time on a historic chapter. While his focus will be on his family, wife Mirka, and their two sets of growing twins, he is likely to remain involved in the game and said that he would still take to the court. “I will play more tennis in the future, of course, but just not in Grand Slams or on the Tour,” he said in his retirement announcement.

One this is certain: Federer will be forever remembered so long as the sport of tennis is played.

Roger Federer announced his upcoming retirement Thursday, saying that next week’s Laver Cup will be his final ATP event.

“As many of you know, the past three years have presented me with challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries. I’ve worked hard to return to full competitive form, but I also know my body’s capacities and limits and its message to me lately has been clear. I am 41 years old. I have played more than 1,500 matches over 24 years,” Federer said. “Tennis has treated me more generously than I ever would have dreamt and now I must recognise when it’s time to end my competitive career.

“The Laver Cup next week in London will be my final ATP event. I will play more tennis in the future, of course, but just not in Grand Slams or on the Tour.”

 

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The Swiss legend held World No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for 310 weeks, second-most since 1973 behind only Novak Djokovic. However, Federer held top spot for a record 237 consecutive weeks from 2 February 2004 until 18 August 2008.

ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said: “Roger’s impact on tennis, and the legacy he’s built, are impossible to overstate. Over 24 years as a professional, Roger brought millions of adoring fans into the game. He spearheaded an incredible new era of growth and elevated the popularity of our sport. Few athletes have transcended their field in such a manner. Roger made us all feel proud and fortunate to be part of the same sport.

“He redefined greatness on the court, while his champion spirit, sportsmanship, and the way he played the game thrilled audiences around the world for decades, inspiring so many to pick up a racquet. Beyond the court, he is and will continue to be a true role model and ambassador, always giving so much of himself to the fans. Roger’s steadfast commitment to the ATP Tour throughout his career, as well as his many years of service on the Player Council, helped drive progress for fellow players and the entire sport. His humanitarian impact has been equally profound through the RF Foundation.”

Federer served the sport as president of the ATP Player Council from 2008-14 and later rejoined the council from 2019-22. He was influential in securing significant prize money increases for players. Through the Roger Federer Foundation, the Swiss has assisted almost two million underprivileged children in Africa.

Gaudenzi added: “As we look ahead to Roger’s future endeavours, he will no doubt continue to make a remarkable difference. First, we wish him a memorable final event at the Laver Cup in London, where fans will have an opportunity to give him the send-off he truly deserves. Roger, you will be greatly missed on the Tour. On behalf of everyone at the ATP and the sport of tennis: thank you for everything!”

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At Roland Garros in 2009, Federer completed the Career Grand Slam and at Wimbledon one month later, he broke Pete Sampras’ all-time men’s singles record by lifting his 15th major trophy. He went on to claim 20 Grand Slam trophies, which now only trails Rafael Nadal (22) and Djokovic (21). The Swiss earned six Australian Open triumphs, the 2009 Roland Garros title, eight Wimbledon trophies and five consecutive US Open victories (2004-08).

Federer earned 1,251 tour-level wins during his illustrious career, the second-most victories on record behind only Jimmy Connors’ 1,274. The Swiss also claimed 103 tour-level trophies, only trailing Connors’ 109. 

The Basel native claimed a record six titles, 59 wins and 18 qualifications at the Nitto ATP Finals. He also excelled at the ATP Masters 1000 events, where he won 28 titles.

Federer is also the winner of a record 40 ATP Tour Awards: ATP Tour No. 1 (2004-07, 2009), Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of Year (2006, 2013), Comeback Player of the Year (2017), Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship (2004-09, 2011-17) and Fans’ Favourite (2003-21). He is also the most-decorated athlete in the history of the Laureus World Sports Awards, winning Sportsman of the Year five times (2005-08, 2018) and Comeback of the Year in 2018.

The Swiss climbed to the top of the sport for the first time aged 22, reaching World No. 1 on 2 February 2004. From there, he enjoyed a peerless reign. From 2004-06, he tallied an astonishing 247-15 record, a winning percentage of more than 94 per cent.

During that stretch, he lifted 34 tour-level trophies. From 2003-05, Federer won 24 straight matches against Top 10 opponents.

Nadal and Djokovic then joined Federer at the top of the sport, creating the ‘Big Three’, an unprecedented era in tennis.

In recent years, Federer showed great resilience and determination. After undergoing knee surgery in 2016, he returned in 2017 to play some of the best tennis of his career. As the 17th seed at the 2017 Australian Open, he won his 18th Grand Slam title and his first since Wimbledon in 2012. Later that year, he also triumphed at The Championships for the record eighth time. In 2018, he claimed his final major title in Melbourne.

Federer became the oldest World No. 1 in the history of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings on 19 February 2018 at age 36. The Swiss never retired from a match.

Roberto Bautista Agut ensured Spain made a winning start to its Group B campaign on Wednesday in Valencia. The World No. 21 struck 37 winners en route to a 7-6(5), 7-6(5) victory against Miomir Kecmanovic to give Spain a 2-0 lead against Serbia.

In the first match of the tie, Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas clawed past Laslo Djere 2-6, 7-6(5), 7-5 in two hours and 57 minutes. With his win, the 34-year-old has levelled his ATP Head2Head series against two-time tour-level titlist Djere at 2-2.

View Davis Cup Live Scores

Italy Sweeps Past Croatia
Matteo Berrettini rallied past Croatian Borna Coric 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-1 to secure Italy victory in Group A in Bologna.

The 26-year-old fired 15 aces to triumph after two hours and 24 minutes, handing Italy an unassailable 2-0 lead in the tie against Croatia. #NextGenATP star Lorenzo Musetti downed Borna Gojo 6-4, 6-2 in 86 minutes in the first match.

Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini completed a clean sweep for the Italians with a 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(3) win against Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic.

Krawietz/Puetz Deliver For Germany
Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz defeated Nicolas Mahut and Arthur Rinderknech 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(1) in the deciding doubles rubber to earn Germany a 2-1 win against France in Hamburg.

Jan-Lennard Struff battled past Benjamin Bonzi 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 in two hours and 16 minutes to give Germany a 1-0 lead in the Group C tie. Adrian Mannarino then drew the French level, cruising past Oscar Otte 6-4, 6-3 in their first ATP Head2Head meeting.

What is the format for the 2022 Davis Cup Finals?
The group stage of the 2022 Davis Cup by Rakuten Finals will take place across four cities – Bologna, Glasgow, Hamburg and Valencia – from 13-18 September. The 16 nations will compete in four round-robin groups of four teams. The top two teams in each group will advance to the knock-out stage. The knock-out stage will take place in Malaga from 22-27 November.

Perhaps the next big tennis rivalry initially started on the ATP Challenger Tour.

When Carlos Alcaraz made his Challenger Tour debut at 15-years-old, he defeated 17-year-old Jannik Sinner 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 at the Alicante Challenger in 2019. The Spaniard made history that day, becoming the first player born in 2003 to win an ATP match.

This past week, Alcaraz and Sinner met for the fifth time in a thrilling quarter-final match at the US Open, where Alcaraz outlasted the Italian 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-7(0), 7-5, 6-3 in the second-longest match in US Open history (five hours, 15 minutes). The two youngsters produced a high quality of tennis, battling until 2:50 a.m. local time.

Alcaraz and Sinner have split their four ATP Tour-level meetings and the instant classic at Flushing Meadows proved that their matches will be must-watch television for years to come.

When the two met in a first-round match in Alicante three years ago, it was a display of some of the brightest teenage stars in the sport. It was that meeting on the clay courts of Spain that set that stage for their rivalry and the Challenger Tour is where both players embarked on their professional careers.

“This shows me that I have the level to play with these players,” Alcaraz told ATPTour.com in 2019, when speaking about the ATP Challenger Tour. “These matches give me very important experience. I need to continue improving and I’m sure that these matches will only make me better.”

Every player dreams of rising from the Challenger Tour to some day lifting a Grand Slam trophy. Alcaraz has done just that, from collecting his first Challenger title in August 2020 to triumphing at Flushing Meadows approximately two years later.

The Spaniard, who is a four-time Challenger titlist, captured his maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open. Alcaraz broke into the Top 100 after claiming the title at the Oeiras Challenger In May 2021 and after triumphing at Flushing Meadows this past week, the 19-year-old climbed to No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. His rise to the top spot was rooted in early success on the ATP Challenger Tour.

The Murcia native advanced through qualifying at the Trieste Challenger in August 2020, winning seven matches in nine days to claim his maiden Challenger title at 17. Rafael Nadal is the only Spaniard who has claimed a Challenger title at a younger age. The 22-time major champion captured his first title in Barletta, Italy as a 16-year-old and was two months younger than Alcaraz when he added a second crown on home soil in Segovia.

Carlos Alcaraz (left) celebrates his first ATP Challenger Tour title with coach and former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero. Credit: Citta di Trieste Challenger

“There are a lot of points at stake at the Challenger level,” Alcaraz told ATPTour.com after winning the Trieste Challenger. “To play at such a high level against really good players… It’s good preparation for when I compete at the biggest tournaments.”

Alcaraz continued building on his success, winning 10 consecutive matches in October 2020, when he captured two Challenger titles at home: Barcelona and Alicante.

History Maker

With his 🏆 in Barcelona, @alcarazcarlos03 becomes just the fifth-youngest player to win multiple #ATPChallenger titles.

16y, 8m – Richard Gasquet
17y, 1m – Felix Auger-Aliassime
17y, 1m – Rafael Nadal
17y, 3m – Bernard Tomic
17y, 5m – Carlos Alcaraz pic.twitter.com/Vb8Equ7s2f

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) October 11, 2020

Alcaraz made his Tour-level debut at the ATP 500 event in Rio de Janeiro in February 2020, when he defeated countryman Albert Ramos-Vinolas. The teenager was selected by fellow players as the Newcomer of the Year in the 2020 ATP Awards. The following season, Alcaraz triumphed in Umag, Croatia to capture his first ATP Tour title and won the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals in November.

Alcaraz boasts five ATP Tour titles in 2022, a season-leading 51-9 match record and is the World No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

Even the highest-ranked player in the sport began his professional journey on the ATP Challenger Tour.

🔊🔊

Former World No. 1 @juankiferri discusses his coaching tenure with surging 🇪🇸 teen Carlos Alcaraz, the youngest player in the ATP Rankings.

🎥 @meftennisevents pic.twitter.com/OGNkIO2CV0

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) August 21, 2019

With the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Milan heating up, a number of #NextGenATP stars earned standout results in the third quarter of the season to boost their chances of qualifying for the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals.

Italian Lorenzo Musetti defeated Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz to lift his maiden tour-level title in Hamburg, while Jack Draper and Ben Shelton made their mark at ATP Masters 1000 events in North America. Brandon Nakashima, who is aiming to compete at the 21-and-under event in November for a second consecutive season, impressed on the Wimbledon lawns and Jiri Lehecka continued his strong season with title success on the ATP Challenger Tour.

Leaders Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner also broke new ground to move further clear in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Milan, with the 19-year-old Alcaraz capturing his maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open. 

View Latest Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Milan Standings

Alcaraz & Sinner Remain In Front
With the world watching, Alcaraz made history at the US Open, overcoming Casper Ruud in the final to clinch his first Grand Slam crown and secure the No. 1 Pepperstone ATP Ranking.

The Spaniard now holds a standout 51-9 record on the season, having won ATP Masters 1000 titles in Miami and Madrid earlier this year. The 19-year-old is the youngest player to rise to No. 1 in the history of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings (since 1973) and the fourth Spaniard, joining his current coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, Carlos Moya and Rafael Nadal.

Jannik Sinner remains in second in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Milan after advancing to the quarter-finals at Wimbledon and the US Open. The Italian also captured his first tour-level title of the season in July when he downed Alcaraz in the Umag final.

No. 3 Lorenzo Musetti, 1266 points
After a steady rise over the past 18 months, Musetti enjoyed his best moment on the ATP Tour in July, when he soared to his maiden tour-level title on the clay in Hamburg.

The Italian saved two match points in the first round against Dusan Lajovic, before he produced lights-out tennis, defeating Emil Ruusuvuori, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Francisco Cerundolo to reach his maiden tour-level final. With the pressure on, the 20-year-old overcame Carlos Alcaraz in an all #NextGenATP blockbuster to capture the ATP 500 crown.

“For me it’s a dream,” Musetti said after winning the title in Germany. “Obviously I always dreamed about winning a title and I didn’t have any chances before. I think my best result was a semi-final, so I never had the opportunity to play a final. I’m really happy with this week. I think we did an amazing job and now we will celebrate and enjoy it for the next days.”

Musetti, who became the 10th first-time winner of the season, rose to a career-high No. 30 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings at the start of August. Having earned a seed at the US Open, the Italian played with renewed confidence in his second appearance in New York. He edged David Goffin and Gijs Brouwer on the hard courts to advance to the third round.

The 20-year-old is currently third in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Milan as he closes in on qualification for the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals for the second consecutive year.

Read 2022 Next Gen ATP Finals Spotlight Features
Jiri Lehecka
Jack Draper
Holger Rune
Shang Juncheng
Luca Nardi
Dominic Stricker
Chun-Hsin Tseng
Ben Shelton

No. 5 Jack Draper, 925 points
Great Britain’s Draper continued his standout season on the English lawns and the North American hard courts, boosting his Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals qualification hopes in the process.

The 20-year-old, who won four ATP Challenger Tour titles across the first four months of the season, enjoyed a run to his first tour-level semi-final on the grass in Eastbourne, toppling Top 20-star Diego Schwartzman en route. Draper then made his biggest wave yet in Montreal, where he turned heads by reaching the quarter-finals at the ATP Masters 1000 event.

After coming through qualifying, the lefty earned his maiden Top 10 win in the second round at the hard-court tournament, stunning Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets. He then moved past Gael Monfils, before he was stopped by eventual champion Pablo Carreno Busta.

“This is why I put in all the hard work, for nights like this on stages like this,” Draper said following his win against Tsitsipas.

“I just thought I needed to play good tennis to beat Stefanos. He’s at the top of the game for a reason. [He’s] someone I’ve looked up to the last few years. It’s just good to be out here and try to express myself on this stage.”

Draper then rocked up at the US Open and put on a show, dispatching sixth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime to reach the third round on debut in New York.

No. 7 Brandon Nakashima, 592 points
Consistency was the name of the game for Nakashima in recent months on the ATP Tour. The American looked comfortable on the grass at Wimbledon, eliminating Top 20 Canadian Denis Shapovalov en route to his first fourth-round appearance at a Grand Slam.
The 21-year-old, who lost to eventual finalist Nick Kyrgios in five sets, was one of four Americans to reach the last 16, which was the most at SW19 since 1999.

“It felt amazing out there. To play against such a high-level player on one of the biggest stages, it doesn’t get much better than that,” Nakashima said following his maiden Top 20 win against Shapovalov. “The crowd was great out there today.”

Nakashima then made the journey across the North Atlantic Ocean, where he reached consecutive quarter-finals on hard in Atlanta and Los Cabos.

After disappointing first-round exits in Montreal and Cincinnati, the American looked back to his best at the US Open. Nakashima cruised past Pavel Kotov and former World No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets, before he ran out of steam during his third-round match against 11th seed Jannik Sinner.

No. 14 Ben Shelton, 280 points
Shelton has thrown himself into contention to qualify for the 21-and-under event in Milan in November after enjoying a red-hot summer in North America.

The American, who studied at the University of Florida, won the NCAA singles title as a sophomore earlier this year to earn a main draw wild card into the US Open. However, fans were not made to wait until the fourth major of the season to see the 19-year-old in action.

After advancing to his first ATP Challenger Tour final in July, Shelton made his tour-level debut in Atlanta. The lefty swept past Ramkumar Ramanathan to earn his maiden ATP Tour win, before he gave countryman John Isner a scare in a third-set tie-break defeat.

_{^{Photo Credit: Mike Lawrence/ATP Tour}}
Shelton then made his ATP Masters 1000 debut in Cincinnati, where he made his biggest mark yet. The home favourite backed up his first-round victory against Lorenzo Sonego by shocking Norway’s Casper Ruud in straight sets.

“If he plays like he did today every match for the rest of his career, I think he will reach very far,” Ruud told ATPTour.com. “I think it surprised me a little bit how well he played. I knew he was a young, up and coming, great player. But today he was painting lines as we call it and hitting all the spots he needed to. It was really impressive to see.”

Following his third-round defeat against Cameron Norrie, Shelton made the decision to go pro, despite being eligible to study in Florida for another two years. The American is currently 14th in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Milan and will need a strong finish to the season if he is going to qualify for the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals.

Others To Watch
Czech Lehecka is sixth in the Pepperstone ATP Race To Milan, while Chun-Hsin Tseng is eighth. Lehecka lifted his first ATP Challenger Tour trophy of the season in August, while Tseng of Chinese Taipei earned his maiden tour-level match win in Los Cabos.

The 21-year-old Italian Francesco Passaro soared to a Challenger Tour crown on clay in July and is currently ninth, with the 20-year-old Dominic Stricker 10th. The Swiss lefty came through qualifying to reach the second round in Stuttgart, before he clinched his second Challenger Tour title of the year on home soil.

Holger Rune remains fourth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Milan following a run to the third round at the US Open.

It might be time to give Andy Murray a new nickname: Nostradamus.

During an interview with ATPTour.com in Cincinnati in August 2021, the former World No. 1 was asked which current player he would pick to reach No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

“Of the current ones Medvedev would be the guy I would expect to get there first. I think maybe he will need to be a little bit more consistent on the clay to get there, but I think he’s got a good chance,” Murray said. “From the young, young ones, I think [Carlos] Alcaraz is really, really good. I think he’s got a good chance at it. I would probably say Alcaraz if I had to pick one from the young guys.”

Murray’s prophecy has been fulfilled just 13 months later. Medvedev ascended to World No. 1 on 28 February and has held the top spot for 16 weeks over two stints. Alcaraz on Monday became the youngest World No. 1 in Pepperstone ATP Rankings history.

Alcaraz, Medvedev and many of the game’s biggest stars face plenty of pressure at the top of the sport. What would Murray’s advice be to deal with that?

“I know it’s difficult, but when I reflect a little bit on my own career, I wish I had enjoyed the good moments more,” Murray said. “Tennis sometimes because of the way the schedule is, you go from one tournament to the next and you don’t often have the opportunity to enjoy great results. If you win in Canada, you’re on a flight that night to come here and if you win the tournament here, you’re straight to New York to start preparing for that event.

“I just kind of wish that in those moments that I’d taken a bit of a step back and taken a few days to enjoy the wins more. So much hard work goes into them and it’s what you always dreamed of. But once you’re in it, you’re just always onto the next week. I regret that a little bit.”