NextGen ATP Finals 2019

[Damian]

IN Denis Shapovalov

[Kamileki]

[Art]

[Damian]

Read & Watch: Five Things To Know About Milan-Bound Tiafoe

Spoiler:

American looking to reach semi-finals at 21-and-under event for first time
Frances Tiafoe is returning to Milan. The 21-year-old American has qualified for the Next Gen ATP Finals for the second consecutive year.

Here are five things to know about Tiafoe before the Next Gen ATP Finals, which will be held 5-9 November.

1. He has an unconventional tennis story.
Tiafoe did not grow up the son a former major tennis champion or destined for ATP Tour greatness. His father, Frances Sr., was the Head of Maintenance at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Maryland, USA, and Frances and his twin brother, Franklin, began to play there against a wall at the age of three.

Some nights, all three of them would sleep at the tennis center. Tiafoe's mother, Alphina, and Frances Sr. moved from Sierra Leone to the U.S. in 1996.

“I obviously wasn't a normal tennis story,” Tiafoe said. “The beginning of my career, I was playing for them, trying to do everything for my family. Obviously now I put them in a great place. Now I'm trying to do it for me.”

Watch From 2017 Uncovered: Tiafoe Revisits College Park Roots


2. He enjoyed a breakout run in Australia.
Tiafoe was 0-1 on the season coming into the Australian Open and had never made it past the third round of a Grand Slam. Yet the American won four matches, including against No. 6 Kevin Anderson, No. 35 Andreas Seppi and No. 21 Grigor Dimitrov, to make his first major quarter-final (l. to Nadal).

“[The Australian Open] was an absolute movie for me. Still in disbelief. I [want to] thank everyone who pushed me to make this run, y’all know who you are. I couldn’t be more grateful,” Tiafoe said.

3. He knocked out a Spanish legend in Miami.
David Ferrer retired in May after losing to Alexander Zverev at the Mutua Madrid Open. Along the way, though, Ferrer said goodbye to a few select tournaments, including the Miami Open presented by Itau.

In March, Tiafoe, en route to his first ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final, beat Ferrer in the Spaniard's last match in South Florida. The American also beat 2017 Nitto ATP Finals runner-up David Goffin before falling to fellow Milan qualifier Denis Shapovalov in the quarter-finals.

“Absolute war. I [have nothing] but respect for this guy, [David Ferrer]. You will be missed,” Tiafoe said.

Tiafoe

4. He's a massive fan of NBA basketball star LeBron James.
Tiafoe follows the NBA closely, and while he favours professional sports teams from Washington, D.C., including the NBA's Washington Wizards, Tiafoe is partial to NBA superstar LeBron James. In Melbourne and Miami, Tiafoe emulated James' celebrations.

“He's a hero of everybody, I hope. We're talking about LeBron James. I'm a massive basketball fan. I can talk about it for ages,” Tiafoe said.


Frances Tiafoe
✔
@FTiafoe
Unforgettable …

#AusOpen
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@AustralianOpen
AO Rewind: @FTiafoe

Flexing Frances Tiafoe
The 21-year-old American took AO2019 by storm, producing four scintillating performances to reach his first ever slam quarterfinal, and some of the best celebrations we’ve seen.

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ESPN
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@espn
What better way for American @FTiafoe to celebrate his first Grand Slam round of 16?

Channel @KingJames, of course.

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Tennis TV
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@FTiafoe celebrates his first Masters 1000 QF with the @KingJames silencer in Miami #MiamiOpen

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5. He's coming back to Milan.
Tiafoe represented the #NextGenATP in Milan last year, falling just short of the semi-finals. He went 1-2, beating Poland's Hubert Hurkacz but losing to eventual champion Stefanos Tsitsipas and Spain's Jaume Munar. Every year of the Next Gen ATP Finals has had American representation: 2017, Jared Donaldson and 2018, Taylor Fritz and Tiafoe.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/tiafoe- ... atp-finals

[Kamileki]

[Barty]

21.10.2019

1. Stefanos Tsitsipas 3,820
2. Felix Auger-Aliassime 1,681
3. Denis Shapovalov 1,495
4. Alex de Minaur 1,430
5. Frances Tiafoe 1,015
----------------------------------
6. Casper Ruud 931
7. Miomir Kecmanović 901
---------------------------------
8. Ugo Humbert 852
9. Mikael Ymer 763
10. Alexei Popyrin 571

[DUN I LOVE]

Ruud kolejnym graczem pewnym awansu.

[arti]

Five Things To Know About Ruud, Who's Headed To Milan

Spoiler:

Casper Ruud can check qualifying for the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan off his 2019 goals list. The 20-year-old Norwegian is set to make his debut at the 21-and-under event, to be held 5-9 November at the Allianz Cloud. Here are five things to know about the right-hander.
1. Tennis is in the family.
Casper Ruud has been playing tennis since he was four years old, when his father, Christian, introduced him to the sport. Christian Ruud played on the ATP Tour, reaching No. 39 in the ATP Rankings, making the 1995 Bastad final and playing in the fourth round of the 1997 Australian Open. Christian also coaches and travels with Casper full-time on Tour now.
“I know that he cares about me and he wants everything in the best way for me. So, of course, he's been a really big part of my success and my team, ever since I was little,” Casper said.
2. They are Norway's first tennis family.
Christian is coaching Casper and his records are pushing his son. Christian is the most accomplished tennis player from Norway, a country known more for its winter sports, such as skiing.
Christian, for instance, is the highest-ranked Norwegian player in ATP Rankings history (since 1973). But Casper is close to catching his dad in some regards. While Casper, with a career-high ATP Ranking of No. 54, is still 15 spots away from tying his dad's mark, Casper made the Houston final in April, matching his father's title match appearance in Bastad.
“I'm from a small tennis country, and I don't have too many people to look up to in my home country, except for him. He's the only one who knows how it's been and how the life on the Tour is. I think it's been a huge advantage, even though I'm from Norway, to have my father so close to me and helping me with my tennis,” Casper said.
3. He has learned from his breakout run in 2017.
Casper was only 17, but at the 2017 Rio Open presented by Claro, he already seemed destined for big things. Ruud, in just his third tour-level event, sprinted to the Rio semi-finals, winning his first three ATP Tour matches at the 500-level event.
He became the youngest semi-finalist on the ATP World Tour since Borna Coric in Basel 2014 and the lowest-ranked player to make a 500-level semi-final since Alexander Zverev (No. 285) in Hamburg in 2014.
Ruud, rightfully, felt happy about his achievement. But, looking back on it, he admits to feeling a little too pleased with the one-week performance.
“I was maybe a bit too happy with playing good that week... I wasn't maybe greedy enough to go for many good weeks in a row,” Ruud said. “Of course, you can be happy and proud over some good wins, but there's always another match, and usually the day after, if you win. You always have to be ready and greedy to get that win.”
More About Ruud
Like Father, Like Son: Casper Makes His Mark
Why Greed Is Good For Ruud
Federer. Ruud Face Off In Paris
4. He faced Roger Federer in Roland Garros, and the Swiss admitted a weakness ahead of their matchup.
Ruud was playing in his first third round at a Grand Slam, and Federer, who has been on Tour since 1998, conceded a pre-match advantage to the #NextGenATP Norwegian.
“I know probably more about his dad than about him. Even though I never played him, the father,” Federer said. “I know that [Casper has] improved a lot in recent years, and I think he plays very well on the clay. Again, I haven't seen him play a whole lot. But for any 20-year-old to be on the big stage, playing a top guy, on a centre court, that's what you dream of.”
Christian Ruud ended his career at 2001 Roland Garros, the eighth Slam Federer played, and Dad had to have been proud of his son's efforts against Federer. Casper had a set point in the third set before falling 6-3, 6-1, 7-6(8).
5. He will make his Milan debut.
For two years, Ruud has been eying the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan. But this year, he'll make his debut and get to play alongside the game's best 21-and-under players. “This year is kind of the first year where I felt like I've been really steady throughout many tournaments and many weeks in a row,” he said. “I'm really happy, but I'm also greedy and trying to go for more.”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/ruud-qu ... atp-finals

[Kamileki]

[Kamileki]

[DUN I LOVE]

Cipas to pewnie puści, Auger wycofał się z Wiednia i Bercy, więc też pod dużym znakiem zapytania. Zaraz się okaże, że ten dzikus dla Sinnera nie jest potrzebny.

[Damian]

Ożer wiadomo, że na pewno również nie zagra.

Skład na ten moment:
De Minaur
Shapovalov
Tiafoe
Ruud
Kecmanovic
Humbert
M. Ymer
Sinner

[Damian]

[arti]

[Kamileki]

[Damian]

Next Gen ATP Finals Field Is Set

Spoiler:

Kecmanovic, Humbert, Ymer, Sinner complete the 21-and-under field
The field for the 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals is set. A trio of first-time qualifiers – Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic, Ugo Humbert of France and Sweden's Mikael Ymer – qualified for the award-winning eight-man event. Additionally, 18-year-old Jannik Sinner of Italy completes the field as a wild card for the tournament, to be held 5-9 November at the Allianz Cloud in Milan.

The four players join Australian Alex de Minaur, Canadian Denis Shapovalov, American Frances Tiafoe and Norwegian Casper Ruud at the 21-and-under tournament, which features eight players from eight countries and three continents.

Greek qualifier Stefanos Tsitsipas will not compete because of his Nitto ATP Finals participation, at The O2 in London, from 10-17 November, and Canadian qualifier Felix Auger-Aliassime was forced to withdraw (left ankle) from the tournament, which will feature a series of rule changes and innovations for the third consecutive year.

Buy Your Tickets Today

De Minaur climbed 177 spots in the ATP Rankings during his breakout season that ended in the 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals title match. The 20-year-old raised his level this year, going unbeaten in ATP Tour title matches at the Sydney International, his hometown tournament in January, the BB&T Atlanta Open in July and the Huajin Securities Zhuhai Championships in September.

Shapovalov will be making a return trip to Milan after participating in the inaugural event in 2017. The Canadian reached three semi-finals, including his third at the ATP Masters 1000 level in Miami (l. to Federer), and celebrated his maiden ATP Tour title at last week’s Intrum Stockholm Open (d. Krajinovic).

Tiafoe will look to reach the semi-finals in Milan for the first time after falling short on debut last year. The American made his first major quarter-final in January at the Australian Open and his first Masters 1000 quarter-final in March at the Miami Open presented by Itau.

Get To Know The Milan Qualifiers
De Minaur | Shapovalov | Tiafoe | Ruud | Kecmanovic | Humbert

Norway's Casper Ruud will become the first player from the Nordic nation to compete in Milan. The 20-year-old, who is coached by his father and former World No. 39 Christian Ruud, reached his first ATP Tour final in April (l. to Garin) at the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship in Houston and made the semi-finals at the Brasil Open in Sao Paulo (l. to Garin) in February and the Generali Open in Kitzbuhel in August.

Serbia's #NextGenATP star Miomir Kecmanovic has climbed 77 spots in the ATP Rankings this year, from No. 131 to No. 54. The 20-year-old made his first ATP Tour final at the Turkish Airlines Open Antalya (l. to Sonego) in June and earned his first Top 10 win in August, at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati against 2018 Nitto ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev.

Ugo Humbert finished one spot away from qualifying in 2018, but the 21-year-old Frenchman will be competing in Milan next month. The left-hander made the fourth round of Wimbledon (l. to Djokovic) and three semi-finals, at the Open 13 Provence in Marseille, the Hall of Fame Open in Newport and the European Open in Antwerp.

Sweden's Ymer won back-to-back ATP Challenger Tour titles during the past month to thrust himself into Milan contention. The 21-year-old, who reached the second round of Roland Garros (l. to Zverev), is at a career-high No. 74 in the ATP Rankings and has won four Challenger titles this season.

Watch: Spotlight Series: Jannik Sinner


Sinner is on the cusp of becoming the youngest player inside the Top 100 of the ATP Rankings, a status currently belonging to Auger-Aliassime. The 18-year-old Italian, who is 373 days younger than his Canadian counterpart, is No. 101 and surged forward 18 spots last week by beating World No. 13 Gael Monfils and making the European Open semi-finals (l. to Wawrinka). The teenager became the youngest ATP Tour semi-finalist in five years (Borna Coric, Basel 2014). Sinner was close to making Milan on his own merit as he is one spot away from qualifying in the ATP Race To Milan.

The third edition of the event in Milan will see the continuation of a number of innovations, including a best-of-five set format, shorter sets to 4 (tie-break at 3-All) and No-Ad scoring. Other innovations include Electronic Line Calling through Hawk-Eye Live, a 25-second Shot Clock, In-Match player coaching via head-sets, Video Review and more.

The tournament’s pioneering role in innovation was recognised at the 2018 Yahoo Sports Technology Awards in London, where ATP & ATP Media won the Most Innovative Governing Body or Rights Holder Award, as well as at the 2018 Leaders Sports Awards, where the tournament was recognised with the award for Best Innovation.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/field-i ... inals-2019

[Barty]

[Lucas]

[Kamileki]

[Barty]

Sinner's Rapid Rise From Watching To Playing In Milan

Spoiler:

Italian ready for Next Gen ATP Finals debut
Nearly 12 months ago, Jannik Sinner was in the stands watching the Next Gen ATP Finals. He was in Milan to compete in the Red Bull Next Gen Open, which runs alongside the tournament, and wanted to see “how the players like Denis Shapovalov and Frances Tiafoe are playing, especially in the important points.”

This year, he’ll experience it firsthand.

The 18-year-old’s breakout season continues in Milan via the wild card reserved for an Italian player. But Sinner’s results this year prove that he’ll blend right in when he begins his quest for the title. His recent highlights include his first ATP Tour semi-final in Antwerp and becoming the youngest player currently inside the Top 100 of the ATP Rankings.

“I think I’ve played a very good season and am making good results, so I’m happy to be part of the best eight players for the Next Gen ATP Finals,” Sinner said. “It means a lot for me to be able to play on home soil in Milan. Hopefully I can play here again in the future.

“I’m perhaps a bit surprised because the beginning of the season was not so good. My goal wasn’t so much on the results, but just trying to improve my game. I think I’m mentally strong this year and am just trying to keep pushing on that part.”

What the modest Sinner doesn’t reveal is that his “not so good” start to the season included becoming the youngest Italian to win an ATP Challenger Tour title, prevailing in front of a home crowd this February in Bergamo. Two months later, he picked up his first ATP Tour main draw win in Budapest.

Read More: Sinner's Stunner: Teenager Reflects On Bergamo Title

Sinner continued to draw attention in his first ATP Masters 1000 event at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. He saved a match point to defeat American Steve Johnson, then hit plenty of shots for the highlight reel in a competitive loss to fellow #NextGenATP star Stefanos Tsitsipas. Sinner joked before the match that he had an advantage because the Greek didn’t know who he was, but it’s safe to say that’s no longer the case.

“Being on the centre court in Rome was a very special feeling, especially to have the whole crowd cheering for you,” Sinner said. “My parents were there for the match. There was obviously some tension in the beginning, but I always believed in myself.

“Playing against Tsitsipas, I tried to understand his level compared to where I was. That was probably the most important part of the tournament for me. It was a bit strange having so many people around me, but I enjoyed this. I still have so much to learn on and off the court, so I’m happy to be in these big events.”

Sinner’s speedy climb up the ATP Rankings has been on his own terms. He first picked up a racquet at age three, but played sparingly as competitive skiing and football served as his main childhood passions. But at age 10, his father brought him to the courts once more and he took to the sport.

Three years later, Sinner committed to tennis and moved away to train at the academy of world-renowned coach Riccardo Piatti. From the moment he arrived, the coaches at the academy knew they were witnessing something special.

“I remember there were many coaches watching on my first day there and they were all excited to see me play. They were very sure about what they were doing and always tried to help me on court, so this made me feel more sure about my decision to go there,” Sinner said. “It wasn’t easy to leave home, but I was happy I could live in a kind of family where the father is my coach, Riccardo. It was like a friendship and everything went smoothly.”

You May Also Like: Jannik Sinner: From Focussing On Skiing To #NextGenATP Sensation
It was Piatti who supported Sinner’s decision to largely eschew junior tournaments from a young age. The learning curve was steep as the baby-faced teenager faced off against men who were much bigger and stronger, but he quickly adapted. Less than 18 months after turning his attention to pro events, Sinner found himself competing on the ATP Tour.

“This decision to play at a high level was very important for me,” Sinner said. "My team helped me get some wild cards. You can get into the rhythm of a match more easily at the junior level, but it’s tough to play for one whole match or one whole tournament at the pro level. Even playing many ATP Tour events this year will help me.”

Sinner’s long-term focus is largely due to his unwavering self-belief. Behind the shy personality and modest assessment of his season is a confidence that he can create headlines on the ATP Tour for years to come. It’s an asset which will serve him well in Milan.

“I’ve never been in doubt about being a good tennis player. You have ups and downs, which is normal in our sport, but you have to be on top of your mentality,” Sinner said. "I’m a very nice guy on and off the court. That’s the most important part for me. But I want my opponents to feel under pressure before the match even starts. I hope they think that they’ll have to be on top of their game for the whole match.”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/sinner- ... 19-feature