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Rivalries Of 2021: Tsitsipas vs. Zverev

Continuing our Best of 2021 Season In Review series, ATPTour.com revisits the biggest rivalries of 2021. Today we feature Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Alexander Zverev.

Stefanos Tsitsipas entered 2021 with a commanding 5-1 lead in his ATP Head2Head series with Alexander Zverev. But in 2021, the German made inroads against the Greek and narrowed the Greek’s advantage to 6-3.

Zverev won two of their three clashes this year, but Tsitsipas claimed a memorable victory in the third. ATPTour.com looks back at all three matches the rivals played in 2021.

Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC, F, Zverev d. Tsitsipas 6-4, 7-6(3)
Zverev walked on court for the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC final facing a tough foe in Tsitsipas. Not only was the Greek the top seed, but he had won five consecutive matches against the German, including 10 of their previous 11 sets.

Zverev knew it would be imperative to get off to a quick start. But Tsitsipas came out firing, playing aggressive tennis and painting the lines to surge to a quick lead and earn three chances to go up a double-break in the first set. He appeared well on his way to a sixth straight victory against his rival.

But Zverev, who did not lose a set in the tournament, remained calm and worked his ways into rallies to turn around the match and triumph 6-4, 7-6(3). It marked his first outdoor hard-court title since the 2018 Citi Open and his first trophy of the season.

“I had to fight my way into the match, and I did well to win the first set. In the second set, when I have a chance I need to close it out against these top players because normally they won’t give you a second chance,” Zverev said. “I thought I played extremely well in the tie-break. I’m happy with how it went.”

Roland Garros, SF, Tsitsipas d. Zverev 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3
Not every match in a rivalry is a classic, but this year’s Roland Garros semi-final between Tsitsipas and Zverev was a meeting neither man will soon forget.

Tsitsipas, who had just beaten another of his rivals, Daniil Medvedev, was pushing for a place in his first major final. Zverev had recently claimed his second Mutua Madrid Open title and was keen to advance to his second championship match at a Slam. The stakes had never been higher in their rivalry.

Despite his slip in Acapulco, Tsitsipas eased to a two-set lead. But Zverev took advantage of a small lapse at the start of the third set and in a flash he had a 0/40 advantage on Tsitsipas’ serve in the first game of the fifth set. A break in that moment could have been a backbreaker — especially mentally — for the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals champion. But Tsitsipas still believed, clawed back to hold his serve and wrestled back the momentum to emerge victorious 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3. After the match, he was clearly emotional.

“I felt the crowd with me, they were cheering me and giving me their energy. I still felt that there was hope and a chance to fight back,” Tsitsipas said. “The only thing I could do is fight. It was very emotional and this wins means a lot. It’s the most important one of my career so far.”

In his first major final, Tsitsipas took a two-set lead against Novak Djokovic before succumbing in five sets.

^{Photo Credit: Julian Finney/Getty Images}
Western & Southern Open, SF, Zverev d. Tsitsipas 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(4)
Zverev was as confident as ever ahead of the Cincinnati semi-finals following his gold medal win at the Tokyo Olympics. Carrying a nine-match winning streak, the German was feeling good at the ATP Masters 1000 event.

But in a match that featured its share of interesting moments, he had to dig deep to earn another win against Tsitsipas. Zverev was at his aggressive best to take the first set, and the German immediately broke to start the second set.

The Greek turned the match around with his powerful game and won the second set before sprinting to a 4-1 lead in the decider. When Zverev briefly walked into the tunnel after appearing ill, Tsitsipas looked in control. But Sascha recovered physically to triumph 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(4) and he would defeat Andrey Rublev for his fifth Masters 1000 crown.

“I didn’t feel well,” Zverev said. “In the middle of the second set I felt low energy and my stomach wasn’t great. I broke him at 4-2 in the third and went outside the court and did my thing. I started to feel better, the doctor came out and gave me a little medicine and my stomach started to calm down a little. The energy came back but I think that was also adrenaline.”

Tsitsipas vs. Zverev In 2021

Best of 2021 Rivalries
Novak Djokovic vs. Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev vs. Alexander Zverev
Novak Djokovic vs. Alexander Zverev

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Nadal To Return At Melbourne ATP 250

Rafael Nadal is poised to make his return from a foot injury at an ATP 250 in Melbourne that will begin on 4 January.

The Spaniard leads a strong field that also includes former World No. 4 Kei Nishikori, former World No. 5 Kevin Anderson and 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov.

Nadal has not competed since this year’s Citi Open, where he lost against Lloyd Harris in the Round of 16. The Spanish superstar is No. 6 in the FedEx ATP Rankings.

Other players entered in the event include big-serving American Reilly Opelka, Kazakhstani standout Alexander Bublik and US Open quarter-finalist Botic van de Zandschulp.

During the same week, French star Gael Monfils will lead the way at an ATP 250 in Adelaide, which will also feature former World No. 3 Marin Cilic.

There will be plenty of young stars in action at the Adelaide tournament, including #NextGenATP Italian Lorenzo Musetti and Americans Sebastian Korda, Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe.

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Western & Southern Financial Group Extends Title Sponsorship In Cincinnati

Cincinnati’s Western & Southern Financial Group has extended its title sponsorship of the Western & Southern Open for an additional three years.

The partnership is the longest active naming rights agreement for a professional tennis tournament in North America. This past August was the 20th edition of the tournament, with Western & Southern as the title sponsor.

“We are honoured to continue our support for world-class tennis in Cincinnati,” said John F. Barrett, Chairman, President and CEO of the Western & Southern Financial Group. “This wonderful tournament is both a living tribute to Cincinnati’s rich history and an important part of its bright future.”

As part of this renewal, the Western & Southern Open will feature digital back walls in 2022, which have not previously been used at a combined ATP and WTA event in North America. The LED back walls will create a wraparound effect in conjunction with the digital side walls that have been used since 2017. In addition, LED digital signage has been used at the tournament for the net judge box since 2018 and on the umpire’s chair since 2019.

The Western & Southern Open features an ATP Masters 1000 as well as a WTA 1000 tournament in the same week at the same venue, making it one of five events to host concurrent top tier tour tournaments along with Indian Wells, Calif., Madrid, Miami and Rome.

“The decades-long support from Western & Southern Financial Group has afforded us the opportunity to grow the Western & Southern Open into one of the premier events on the tennis calendar,” said Katie Haas, COO of the Western & Southern Open. “Our partnership with Western & Southern has been critical in allowing us to showcase Cincinnati to a global audience and we look forward to continuing this relationship for years to come.”

Since becoming a single-week tournament featuring both tours in 2011, the Western & Southern Open has attracted more than 1.8 million spectators, including ticket buyers who have traveled to Cincinnati from all 50 states and more than 35 countries. International broadcast agreements deliver coverage to more than 50 million viewers in over 160 countries.

Locally, through its partnership with Tennis for Charity, the tournament has contributed more than $11 million to community initiatives, including Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the UC Health Barrett Cancer Center and Tennis for City Youth.

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Djokovic, Nadal Headline 2022 Australian Open Entry List

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal headline the entry list for the 2022 Australian Open, it was revealed by tournament organisers on Wednesday.

Djokovic will pursue a record-extending 10th trophy at the season’s first major, where he owns an 82-8 record. The Serbian has won the past three titles at the event and nine of the past 14.

Nadal has not played since the Citi Open in August due to a foot injury, but the Spaniard will try to claim a second victory at the Australian Open (2009). The lefty has advanced to the final in three of the past eight editions.

Another player poised to return from injury is Dominic Thiem, who has not played since Mallorca in June due to a right wrist injury. The Austrian has enjoyed success in Melbourne, where he made the championship match in 2020.

Nineteen of the Top 20 players in the FedEx ATP Rankings are entered, with the only exception being six-time champion Roger Federer, who is still recovering from right knee surgery. Fellow Swiss star Stan Wawrinka, the 2014 Australian Open winner, is also not on the list.

Other players to watch include reigning US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, two-time Nitto ATP Finals winner Alexander Zverev, 2019 Nitto ATP Finals titlist Stefanos Tsitsipas and World No. 5 Andrey Rublev.

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David Lampitt Appointed CEO Of Tennis Data Innovations

David Lampitt has today been announced as the first CEO of Tennis Data Innovations (TDI), a joint venture by ATP and ATP Media.

Formed in late 2020, the TDI group was created to manage the aggregated rights to ATP Tour and ATP Challenger Tour match data, coupled with certain media streaming rights, to enrich fans’ enjoyment of tennis and make tennis even more accessible to the digital audience.

An accomplished sports industry professional, Lampitt brings a wealth of experience in senior roles across sport, most recently as Managing Director of Sports Content & Partnerships at Sportradar, a global leader in sports data, content and technology. In nearly a decade at the company, Lampitt shaped the commercial and strategic development of the sports data market and delivered partnerships with many of the world’s leading sports organisations, as well as being part of the leadership team that successfully completed the company’s IPO in September this year.

Prior to Sportradar, Lampitt spent seven years at the English Football Association and two years as CEO of Portsmouth Football Club. He also worked as CEO of Supporters Direct, a not-for-profit organisation promoting good governance in sport. He holds a degree in Modern Languages from Bristol University and is an ACA Chartered Accountant.

The appointment marks the first senior executive hire since the formation of TDI. As CEO, Lampitt will be responsible for overseeing the central management, product innovation, and exploitation of tennis data in a variety of downstream markets, including betting and performance analytics. TDI has a number of strategic goals including commercial performance of the data and databases under its control, sales strategy, integrity and compliance as well as the potential future integration of data assets from other tennis stakeholders.

David Lampitt said: “As a lifelong tennis fan, I’m delighted to be joining TDI at such an exciting juncture, as tennis looks to transform the way its data and content is leveraged across the modern game. I’m looking forward to building out the team at TDI and supporting the ATP and ATP Media’s joint mission to deliver the best experiences to tennis fans around the world.”

Andrea Gaudenzi, ATP Chairman and TDI Board member, said: “The biggest growth opportunity for tennis lies in media and data. With ATP Media already successfully dedicated to the media side of the ATP Tour, TDI was created for precisely this reason on the data side, to develop new products to enhance the fan experience and to aggregate those data products and scale revenues on behalf of our members.”

Mark Webster, ATP Media CEO and TDI Board member added: “This is an important new venture with huge potential upside, and we needed someone with deep understanding of the space to lead the team. We’re delighted to have attracted someone of David’s skill and experience to come on board as CEO.”

Lampitt begins in the role effective 1 January 2022 and will be based in London, UK.

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Rivalries Of 2021: Djokovic vs. Zverev

Continuing our Season In Review series, ATPTour.com revisits the fiercest rivalries of 2021. Today we feature Novak Djokovic vs. Alexander Zverev.

Prior to the 2021 season, Alexander Zverev had not beaten Novak Djokovic since 2018, when the German triumphed over the World No. 1 in the championship match at the Nitto ATP Finals.

However, that changed this year, with Zverev claiming significant victories over Djokovic, causing the Serbian problems with his big serving and heavy-hitting as the pair went toe-to-toe in the latter stages of the biggest tour-level hard-court events.

ATP Cup, Round Robin, Djokovic d. Zverev 6-7(3), 6-2, 7-5

The season started with a bang for Djokovic and Zverev as they met in the round-robin stage at the ATP Cup in just their second matches of the year.

Serbia headed into clash trailing Germany 0-1 in the tie after Jan-Lennard Struff had beaten Dusan Lajovic. In an entertaining match, Djokovic levelled the tie. In a close first set, neither faced a break point in the set, with Zverev clinching it on a tie-break. However, Djokovic then gained a foothold in the match as he adjusted his return position to great effect, taking a step back as he broke twice in the second set to level.

The 34-year-old then closed out the match and earned his 11th consecutive ATP Cup victory after breaking in the 11th game of the third set when Zverev struck two double faults.

“It was a great match,” said Djokovic. “I thought Sascha was serving terrific, both singles and doubles today. He was a set up… I just returned well when I needed to and closed out the match.

“He was serving tremendously well, big second serves. It’s never easy playing against Sascha when he’s in form, and he’s in really good form. We pushed each other to the very limit, and I’m glad that I had such a battle with him.”

Australian Open, QF, Djokovic d. Zverev 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-4, 7-6(6)
The pair met again just 11 days later in Melbourne on the Rod Laver Arena, with Zverev seeking revenge. However, Djokovic found his top form as history repeated itself, with the German falling to the World No. 1 after claiming the opening set on a tie-break.

Djokovic entered the match having battled past Taylor Fritz in five sets and Milos Raonic in four sets. However, the top seed showed no signs of fatigue as he raised his level in the crucial moments, saving nine of 12 break points, including a set point at 5-6 in the fourth set.

The Serbian forced Zverev behind the baseline with deep returns and cut down on his unforced errors as the match progressed, showing greater consistency from the baseline to secure his second victory of the season against the German.

“Down to the very last shot, it was anybody’s game, anybody’s match,” Djokovic said. “[There were] a lot of nerves out there, a lot of pressure. Emotionally, [I] feel a little drained, honestly. It was a great battle.”

Tokyo Olympics, SF, Zverev d. Djokovic 1-6, 6-3, 6-1
Having won the first three majors of the season at the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon, Djokovic’s pursuit of his Golden Grand Slam was in top gear ahead of their clash at the Tokyo Olympics.

The Serb had won his past 22 matches and looked well on course to make it 23 as he led by a set and a break. But Zverev did not read the script as he hit with power and depth to rally back and advance, snapping his five-match losing streak against the World No. 1.

Zverev was stronger on return than in their meeting at the Australian Open, winning 59 per cent (16/27) of points on Djokovic’s second serve as he stepped inside the baseline to dictate with his powerful groundstrokes from the first shot in the rally.

“It seemed it was impossible to beat him at this event, so I’m very happy right now,” Zverev said. “I know that he was chasing history, chasing the golden slam and was chasing the Olympics, but in these kind of moments me and Novak are very close. Of course I’m happy that I’ve won, but at the end of the day I know how Novak feels.”

The World No. 3 then defeated Karen Khachanov in the final to become the first German man to win an Olympic singles gold medal.

Photo Credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

US Open, SF, Djokovic d. Zverev 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
With more history on the line, Djokovic gained his revenge against Zverev in a five-set classic at the US Open to move to within one win of capturing the Grand Slam.

Zverev had dropped just one set en route to the semi-finals, while Djokovic needed four sets to overcome Holger Rune, Kei Nishikori, Jenson Brooksby and Matteo Berrettini as he struggled to find top form in New York.

In an intense match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Djokovic remained calmer in the key moments though, breaking twice in the decider, before he served impressively under pressure to emerge victorious as he stopped Zverev from reaching his second final at Flushing Meadows.

“Alexander is a big champion,” Djokovic said. “He’s someone that I admire on and off the court. We get along very well; he’s definitely one of my best friends. We train a lot, we see each other a lot in Monaco, [which] he uses as a base. He’s a great guy and an even better player. I knew coming onto the court today that it was going to be a great battle.”

Nitto ATP Finals, SF, Zverev d. Djokovic 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-3

In the penultimate match of the ATP Tour season, Zverev had the final say in their epic 2021 rivalry. In front of a lively crowd at the Pala Alpitour in Turin, the 24-year-old fired 35 winners and saved a set point in the first set to down Djokovic and reach the championship match at the Nitto ATP Finals.

Zverev, who went on to win the title, ended Djokovic’s for a sixth season finale crown, which would have tied the 34-year-old with record-holder Roger Federer.

The German played with patience, power and precision against Djokovic, who struggled on second serve. The top seed won just 41 per cent of second serve points in the match compared to Zverev, who won 63 per cent.

“Every time we play it takes hours,” Zverev said in his on-court interview. “I have not spent more time on court with anybody other than him this year. I am happy with the win.”

Djokovic vs. Zverev In 2021

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Most Improved Nominees: Alcaraz, Karatsev, Norrie & Ruud In Contention

Most Improved Player of the Year in the 2021 ATP Awards goes to the player who reached a significantly higher FedEx ATP Ranking by year’s end, and who demonstrated an increasingly improved level of performance through the season. This year’s nominees are Carlos Alcaraz, Aslan Karatsev, Cameron Norrie and Casper Ruud.

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz made headlines in 2021 as he enjoyed a standout season. The Spaniard began the year at No. 141 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, but soared to a current career-high No. 32 under the guidance of coach Juan Carlos Ferrero.

In a historic year, the 18-year-old became the youngest man to reach the third round at Roland Garros since 17-year-old Andrei Medvedev in 1992, before earning his first tour-level title in Umag, defeating Richard Gasquet in the final.

Fuelled with confidence, Alcaraz upset then-World No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas en route to the quarter-finals at the US Open and defeated Top 10 stars Matteo Berrettini and Jannik Sinner respectively in Vienna and Paris. He rounded out his season in style by lifting the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals trophy.

“It has been a really good season for me,” Alcaraz said following his title run in Milan. “I am really happy about the moments I have experienced — beating Stefanos [Tsitsipas] at the US Open, reaching the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam and winning my first ATP [Tour title].”

Aslan Karatsev
Aslan Karatsev’s season began against Brandon Nakashima in the first round of qualifying at the Australian Open when the Russian was No. 114 in the FedEx ATP Rankings. Fast forward one month and he had reached the semi-finals at the first major of the season, defeating Diego Schwartzman, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Grigor Dimitrov before losing to Novak Djokovic.

It was a run that gave Karatsev a renewed sense of belief and confidence, which he showcased in Dubai, where he soared to his first tour-level title, defeating Lloyd Harris in the championship match.

In a breakthrough season, the 28-year-old also triumphed on home soil in Moscow, reached the final in Belgrade and scored Top 2 wins against Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev, finishing the year in the Top 20 of the FedEx ATP Rankings.

“It’s not just happening right now, there is [a lot of] work that was done before [to get here],” Karatsev said in April. “I had some injuries before and some troubles, and now we’re doing a good job with my coach. It’s been two and a half years and it’s just paying off in 2021… It’s coming from the hard work every day, and it’s a long process. You have to be there every day and work hard.”

Cameron Norrie
When Cameron Norrie was asked in January who he thought was going to have a breakthrough season, the 26-year-old bravely backed himself. It is a statement that Norrie backed up in style, rising from No. 71 in the FedEx ATP Rankings at the start of the year to a current career-high No. 12.

The Briton won his first tour-level title at the Mifel Open in Los Cabos and claimed his maiden ATP Masters 1000 trophy at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

The 26-year-old, who earned Top 10 wins against Dominic Thiem and Andrey Rublev, also reached tour-level finals in Estoril, Lyon, at the Queen’s Club, and San Diego. Norrie finished the season by making his debut at the Nitto ATP Finals as the second alternate in Turin.

On competing at the season finale and reflecting on his year overall, Norrie said: “It was one of the biggest matches for my career, so I just tried to learn from Indian Wells and take from that the experience, the emotions, playing big matches and playing well under the pressure there. It has been a lot of fun playing at this level and playing at this level all year.”

Casper Ruud
Casper Ruud continuously broke new barriers throughout his remarkable 2021 campaign as he rose into the game’s upper echelons by translating his clay-court success onto hard.

He enjoyed semi-final runs at back-to-back ATP Masters 1000 events in Monte Carlo and Madrid, before he captured his first tour-level trophy of the season in Geneva. However, this was just the start for Ruud, who triumphed in Bastad, Gstaad and Kitzbühel to become the first player since Andy Murray in October 2011 to win three titles in three consecutive weeks.

With the foundations laid for Nitto ATP Finals qualification, Ruud then won his first hard-court title in San Diego. The 22-year-old, who also became the first Norwegian to crack the Top 10 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, delivered at the season finale, advancing to the semi-finals at the Pala Alpitour.

“I think the biggest change for me is my self-confidence and belief that I can play at this level is much higher,” Ruud said in Turin. “I am a guy that hasn’t played as much on the biggest stage. I’ve had a taste of it, but I’ve worked my way up slowly and steady. I hope players respect me a little more now than a year or two ago.”

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Novak Djokovic on Australian Open entry list despite vaccine uncertainty

World number one Novak Djokovic is included on the list of Australian Open entries, despite uncertainty over his Covid vaccination status, while seven-time champion Serena Williams is absent.

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2022 ATP Cup Schedule Revealed, Medvedev To Open Against Thiem

The 2022 ATP Cup tournament schedule, which was released on Wednesday in Australia, revealed that Russia will face a stiff opening test.

The defending champion, led by World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev, will begin the event on 2 January inside Ken Rosewall Arena against Austria, which has former World No. 3 Dominic Thiem at the helm. The matchup projects a No. 1 singles clash between Medvedev and Thiem, who leads the pair’s ATP Head2Head series 3-2. Austria also has a veteran doubles team in Oliver Marach and Philipp Oswald.

Serbia, which lifted the ATP Cup trophy in 2020, will play on opening night (1 January) against Norway. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and Norwegian star Casper Ruud recently met at the Nitto ATP Finals, and they are set to battle again inside Ken Rosewall Arena at No. 1 singles.

Full 2022 ATP Cup Schedule

^{*KRA= Ken Rosewall Arena and QBA= Qudos Bank Arena}
The winner of Group A will meet the winner of Group D in the first semi-final on the evening of 7 January for a spot in the championship match, with the winners of Group B and C playing during the day on 8 January. The final will be on the evening of 9 January, with all knockout stage matches taking place inside Ken Rosewall Arena.

Knockout Stage Schedule

View List Of Committed Players

Group A

Serbia leads Group A, which also consists of Norway, Chile and Spain. On the evening of 5 January, Serbia will play Spain in a rematch of the 2020 ATP Cup final, which was also held inside Ken Rosewall Arena. Roberto Bautista Agut and Pablo Carreno Busta lead the way for an experienced Spanish side.

Group B

Russia is in a difficult group with home country Australia, Austria and Italy. Medvedev and company will face Italy in a tantalising rematch of the 2021 final on 6 January during the day inside Ken Rosewall Arena. Four of the Top 10 players in the FedEx ATP Rankings will compete in that match, with Medvedev and Andrey Rublev leading the way against Matteo Berrettini and Jannik Sinner.

Group C

The last match of group play inside Qudos Bank Arena on 6 January promises to be a good one between Group C teams Germany and Canada. Germany is led by two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev and Canada has two of the ATP Tour’s brightest talents in Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov, longtime friends.

Group D

Two 2021 Nitto ATP Finals competitors lead the way in Group D, with Stefanos Tsitsipas topping Greece’s lineup and Hubert Hurkacz playing No. 1 singles for Poland. The two countries will face each other on the evening of 1 January inside Qudos Bank Arena.

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Dimitrov, Isner & Opelka To Lead Inaugural Dallas Field

Former World No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov and Americans John Isner and Reilly Opelka will lead the field at the inaugural Dallas Open, to be held 6-13 February 2022 at the Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex at Southern Methodist University, the tournament announced Tuesday.

The trio, which boasts 26 ATP Tour titles between them, brings star power to the Dallas ATP 250, which has relocated from New York. Tournament Director Peter Lebedevs is thrilled with the committed players and the local reaction in Texas.

“The reception the Dallas Open has received from the community thus far has been incredible. We are thrilled to have Grigor, John and Reilly lead our player field, and hope to make additional announcements on player commitments in the coming weeks,” Lebedevs said. “After quickly selling out of our VIP Boxes and Forty-Love Suite, we are excited to now have individual tickets on sale for fans who want to be a part of the inaugural tournament.”

Dimitrov has won on the biggest stages in tennis, highlighted by his dream run to the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals trophy. The Bulgarian also earned ATP Masters 1000 glory at the 2017 Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati.

^{John Isner promoted the Dallas Open at a Texas Rangers game earlier this year. Credit: Kelly Gavin/Texas Rangers.}
It will be a special tournament for Isner, who resides in Dallas. The American frequents SMU for practice when in town, and he will try to lift his 14th ATP 250 trophy in the United States.

Isner is also serving as host for the inaugural Dallas Open, and the Isner Family Foundation, established by Isner and his family, will serve as a non-profit partner for the event.

“It’s incredibly nice. It’s very lucky for me to have this tournament coming here so close to home. I practise there all the time,” Isner said earlier this year. “I’m lucky in the sense that I kind of have a couple of hometown events. Atlanta is one, and here in Dallas. It’s good.”

Opelka, like Isner, has quickly become one of the most difficult opponents to face on Tour. The American earned his first tour-level crown at this event in 2019 when it was held on Long Island. He has since climbed as high as No. 19 in the FedEx ATP Rankings.

Tournament organisers have also announced a singles main draw wild card for SMU standout Caleb Chakravarthi, who will headline the Dallas Open’s College Night on 7 February. The SMU senior is a two-time team captain.

“As part of GF Sports & Entertainment’s commitment to growing the game of tennis and supporting the next generation of American players, we are excited to have Caleb headline our College Night and showcase his talent on a professional stage,” Lebedevs said.

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