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Sinner clinches year-end No. 1 in PIF ATP Rankings

  • Posted: Oct 12, 2024

Jannik Sinner has clinched ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours — becoming the first Italian to do so — following his semi-final win at the Rolex Shanghai Masters.

On 10 June, Sinner became the first man or woman from his country to reach World No. 1 in singles since computerised rankings were introduced in 1973. He has not relinquished his place since and will retain it at least through the end of the season.

“It’s amazing. It’s something you dream of when you are a kid, when you are young, just to reach the No. 1. Now having the year-end, it’s also a different and special feeling,” Sinner said. “It means so much to me, obviously. This is something I could not accomplish without all the people I have around — the family and friends and also a big credit to my team.”

The 23-year-old is the 19th player to claim year-end World No. 1 and just the fourth active player, joining Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz.

Sinner won the Australian Open to begin his season and has not looked back since. After a battle with Alcaraz through the middle of the season for year-end No. 1 honours, he has pulled away to claim the prestigious award. He has captured an ATP Tour-leading six titles — including his first major triumphs at the Australian Open and US Open — and will try to win his seventh trophy of 2024 on Sunday in the Rolex Shanghai Masters final.

By emerging victorious in Melbourne and New York, Sinner became just the third man in the Open Era to claim his first two Grand Slam titles in the same season. He was the first to accomplish the feat since Guillermo Vilas in 1977.

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Sinner entered the season with momentum after reaching the championship match at the 2023 Nitto ATP Finals and leading Italy to Davis Cup glory. Beginning 2024 at World No. 4, he rallied from a two-set deficit to Daniil Medvedev in the final at Melbourne Park to become just the second Italian man to claim Grand Slam glory in the Open Era, joining Adriano Panatta (1976 Roland Garros).

Sinner would win his first 16 matches of the year and his record for the season stands at 64-6. The 23-year-old has matched his personal-best wins total from last year, when he set the record for most wins by a male player from his country in a single season in the Open Era.

The San Candido native entered the year with one ATP Masters 1000 title and has added two more, lifting trophies in Miami and Cincinnati. He also claimed crowns at ATP 500 events in Rotterdam and Halle.

By adding to his majors total at the US Open, Sinner became one of only four players who have triumphed at the Australian Open and US Open on hard court in the same season. The other three are Djokovic, Roger Federer and Mats Wilander.

Sinner has already held World No. 1 for 17 weeks and will continue adding to his total. He ranks 18th among the 29 players who have reached World No. 1 in weeks at the top of the sport.

ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said: “Finishing the season as the best player in the world is the ultimate achievement in tennis. Jannik’s determination and tireless work ethic earn him his place in history as the first Italian to achieve this milestone. At just 23 years old, he should be immensely proud of everything he has accomplished. We look forward with great excitement to watching his journey continue.”

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Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek salute Rafael Nadal

  • Posted: Oct 11, 2024

After Rafael Nadal announced his retirement from professional tennis at the end of the 2024 season on Thursday, WTA stars Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff shared heartwarming messages for the former World No. 1, who spent 209 weeks atop the PIF ATP Rankings during his career.

Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion who considers Nadal her role model, posted a video on social media, sharing thoughts about her “biggest inspiration” and his impact on her career.

“You were and still are the biggest inspiration that I ever had in tennis. The reason why sometimes I got extra motivated and kept pushing myself,” the four-time Roland Garros champion shared.

Calling it a special day for every tennis fan, Swiatek thanked the 22-time Grand Slam champion for humility and wished him the best as he prepares for the next chapter of his life.

“I hope you’re going to enjoy the other part of your life and hopefully maybe some other career, because the sky is the limit for you now. And I hope you are going to spend a lot of time now with your close ones and your family.”

Coco Gauff also shared her thoughts about the 14-time Roland Garros champion at the Dongfeng Voyah · Wuhan Open WTA tournament in China.

“He is my favorite person to watch practice honestly,” the 2023 US Open champion said. “The intensity that he brought on the practice court and obviously on the match court is something that I felt like watching is unmatched.

“Watching the video, a bit emotional because Rafa is all I’ve known growing up. Pretty sure he’s won Roland Garros for the majority of my life,” shared Gauff, born three years after Nadal turned pro in 2001.

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She also recalled fond memories of Nadal from this year’s Paris Olympics.

“Actually, I don’t think I posted the picture, but we traded pins at the Olympics, which is the one thing I wanted to do. He was super nice with that. We were both waiting on the shuttle. It was the last shuttle of the day, like 11 p.m. I asked him if I could have one of his pins. He gave me one.

“Carlos [Alcaraz] was there, too, but Carlos didn’t have any pins. I only took the picture with Rafa there. I was like, ‘Carlos, you can’t be in it because you didn’t give me a pin,” she shared, laughing.

“Yeah, just something like that I’ll remember. And something I’ll definitely tell my kids because it meant a lot to me.”

The Spaniard, who has a 12-7 record for the 2024 season according to Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, will play his final event at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, Spain, in November.

– with assistance from WTATennis.com.

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Korda undergoes elbow surgery

  • Posted: Oct 11, 2024

Top 20 American Sebastian Korda has undergone surgery on his right elbow, the 24-year-old posted on Instagram Friday.

No. 19 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Korda has not played since suffering a straight-sets loss to Czech Tomas Machac in the second round of the US Open.

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Korda posted: “I wanted to update you all — I’ve been dealing with some elbow issues and my team and I decided surgery was the best option. Everything went great, and I can’t wait to be back on court soon. Thanks for all your support!”

The 24-year-old, who won the Washington ATP 500 title in August, is 31-19 on the season according to the Infosys ATP Win-Loss Index.

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Federer, Djokovic reunite in Shanghai: 'Hey Old Man'

  • Posted: Oct 11, 2024

Roger Federer returned to the Rolex Shanghai Masters for an exhibition doubles match on Friday.

Before stepping on court, the Swiss legend ran into old rival Novak Djokovic as the 99-time tour-level champion walked out of his quarter-final match after battling past #NextGenATP star Jakub Mensik.

“Hey Old Man,” said Federer to the Serb, laughing, as the two shook hands.

 

The 20-time Grand Slam champion who won the ATP Masters 1000 event in Shanghai twice (2014, 2017), partnered with Eason Chan, a prominent Chinese singer and actor. They defeated the pairing of top Chinese player in the PIF ATP Rankings Zhang Zhizhen, and table tennis champion Fan Zhendong in a light-hearted match. The four treated fans with some great exchanges.

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The 103-time tour-level titlist also visited Shanghai last year to receive the Icon Athlete Award from the tournament, celebrating his illustrious career.

During their careers, Djokovic and Federer played 50 times, with the Serbian taking their Lexus ATP Head2Head series 27-23.

-Additional reporting from Vivienne Christie, courtesy Rolex Shanghai Masters.

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Fritz on Djokovic: 'Hopefully one of these times I'm due'

  • Posted: Oct 11, 2024

Taylor Fritz has a chance to add more success to his already unforgettable season Saturday in Shanghai.

Playing Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, the No. 7 player in the PIF ATP Rankings will hope to get his first win against the Serb. The former World No.1 holds an overwhelming 9-0 lead in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series, in which the American has only won three sets.

“Hopefully one of these times I’m due, because I’m only getting better and better, and I’m excited at the opportunity to play him,” Fritz said.

“We [have] played a lot of times, and I’ve never gotten him, so I’m really, really just waiting for that. Excited for the chance and waiting for that time when maybe I can get a first win on him.”

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This is perhaps Fritz’s best chance if he is to notch a first victory against the 99-time tour-level champion. Since the last time they played at the Australian Open earlier this year, Fritz has won two titles and has made great strides at big tournaments, including his first major final at the US Open in September, where he fell to No. 1 Jannik Sinner. As a result, the 26-year-old is up to the fifth spot in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin and is in prime position to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the second time.

“This year, I have felt like I’ve been in a better rhythm with my serve. There’s been times where it hasn’t felt maybe as good as I would like it to, but especially in the last match and then this match, even more so in the second set of this match, I feel like I’m serving a good percentage and hitting spots very well,” he shared.

“If a lot of my results this year, US Open included, [have] taught me anything, it’s that I don’t need to be playing perfect to have deep runs in tournaments and to have big results. Just my average level has improved a lot, and it’s gotten me to a level where, if I compete really hard and focus really hard, a lot of times it will be enough to get me deep in the tournaments.”

Despite having played more than 60 matches (49-19 record according to Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index) this year, Fritz feels it is important to continue powering through, aiming for a strong finish as the end of the season approaches.

“We’re coming up on the home stretch, and when I kind of get deeper into a tournament, past the first couple [of] rounds, it gets a lot easier for me to really lock in and give it absolutely everything I have. So, I feel good, as good as I can feel after playing [so] many matches.”

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Djokovic on left knee: 'I already have troubles with the right one'

  • Posted: Oct 11, 2024

Novak Djokovic mustered up some gutsy tennis Friday night to battle his way past #NextGenATP star Jakub Mensik to book his place in a ninth semi-final at the Rolex Shanghai Masters.

However, the scare posed by the 19-year-old, who took the opening set against the record four-time champion, wasn’t the only fright that Djokovic endured in the contest.

“It was a strange feeling [during] those couple of points in that game, but after that it was fine,” said Djokovic, who pulled up holding his left knee in the sixth game of the deciding set. “Hopefully when it cools down I’m not going to have any troubles with it, because I already have troubles with the right knee, so it wouldn’t be great. Let’s see what tomorrow brings.”

The 37-year-old underwent successful surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee following his withdrawal from the quarter-finals of Roland Garros in June. Djokovic made a miraculous recovery to make it to the Wimbledon final just three weeks later and has been competing with a soft knee brace ever since.

“China has always been a happy place, a place where I really played my best tennis throughout my career,” said Djokovic, who is seeking a record-extending fifth title in Shanghai. “These kinds of matches, against teenagers, are what really motivates me, keeps me going, and pushes me to really dig deep. To show to the world that I still have it in my legs, that I can still go the distance with the young guys.”

After facing two exciting #NextGenATP prospects in Alex Michelsen, whom he defeated 7-6(3), 7-6(9), and Mensik, Djokovic will face seventh seed Taylor Fritz on Saturday for a spot in the championship match. Now into a record 77th ATP Masters 1000 semi-final, the No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings feels as if the American will pose a similar threat to what he has already encountered this week in China.

“I was challenged by [Alex] Michelsen in the first round, and today [in] tough matches with big servers, said Djokovic, who edged Mensik 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-4. “I’m going to have a big server opponent tomorrow, Fritz, so I have to be ready for another difficult, tight match.

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“[It is] quick conditions, if you serve well it’s quite a big advantage. Hopefully I can be fresh, and now we are entering the last four players of the last couple of matches of the tournament. Now is the time for me to really try to step it up even more, and hopefully I can get a chance to be in the finals.”

After coming through in four sets at this year’s Australian Open quarter-final, Djokovic improved to 9-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Fritz, though he will not rest on his laurels after seeing the explosive 26-year-old reach his maiden Grand Slam final at last month’s US Open.

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Koolhof/Mektic surge into Shanghai final

  • Posted: Oct 11, 2024

Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic got through another stern test Friday at the Rolex Shanghai Masters to bolster their chances of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals.

The pair came through its third championship tie-break of the week unscathed against Santiago Gonzalez and Edouard Roger-Vasselin, the duo prevailed 6-7(3), 6-4, 10-6 to book their spot in their fifth final of the season.

Koolhof and Mektic clinched the Nitto ATP Finals trophy in 2020 and, after three years with different partners, have reunited in a bid to emulate that success.

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With three titles as a pair in 2024, including the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Koolhof and Mektic have pushed up to seventh in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings, leapfrogging Wimbledon champions Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten.

However, with ninth-placed Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow trailing them by just 453 points, Koolhof and Mektic will not rest on their laurels heading into the remaining weeks of the year.

Into their first Shanghai final as a team, the Dutch-Croatian duo will face either Jean-Julien Rojer and Adam Pavlasek or Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni for a shot at the trophy.

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