Kto wygra swój pierwszy turniej w 2019?

[Barty]

No to jak tam, jak tam. W zeszłym roku mieliśmy 13-tu debiutantów, w tym takie przyszłe gwiazdy, jak Nishioka, Carballes Baena czy Basic. Co nam przyniesie rok 2019?

Można wybrać maksymalnie 3 największych pewniaków.

[Robertinho]

Mino, Szapo, Tiafoł.

[DUN I LOVE]

Tiafoe już wygrał w Delray Beach przed rokiem.

De Minaur mocny kandydat.

[Barty]

Wybaczcie fopa z Tiafołem, podmieniłem na Humberta.

Niemniej Roberto zdążył się już nabrać.

[Lleyton]

Zagłosowałem na Alexa.

[Lucas]

Poza Australijczykiem zaznaczyłem jeszcze Shapovalova i trochę z sentymentu Chunga. Jeśli nie rozleci się Koreańczyk może udałoby się zagarnąć gdzieś coś małego (popieram, że tych śmiesznych mistrzostw z Mediolanu nie wliczamy).

[Barty]

Jeśli nie rozleci się Koreańczyk może udałoby się zagarnąć gdzieś coś małego (popieram, że tych śmiesznych mistrzostw z Mediolanu nie wliczamy).

Właśnie nawet ATP nie uznaje mu tego tytułu w statystykach, więc niech walczy dalej chłop o swoje.

[Damian]

No no nawet Tennysa nie było w ankiecie.

[Robertinho]

Wybaczcie fopa z Tiafołem, podmieniłem na Humberta.

Niemniej Roberto zdążył się już nabrać.

Wyleciał mi z głowy ten epicki triumf.

[Saboteur]

De Minaur dołącza do naczelnego alt-righta światowego tenisa.

[Lleyton]

Dobrze głosowałem.

[DUN I LOVE]

W świecie Bartoszka Prajnesh Gunneswaran > Tennys Sandgren.

[Damian]

Kolejny, którego nikt się nie spodziewał - Juan Ignacio Londero.

[Barty]

First-Time Winner Spotlight: Juan Ignacio Londero

Spoiler:

Argentine speaks with ATPTour.com about what the milestone week means to him

Juan Ignacio Londero crowned an unexpected week on Sunday in Cordoba, where he achieved the best result of his career so far. The 25-year-old Argentine beat compatriot Guido Pella to win his first ATP Tour title at the Cordoba Open. Londero spoke with ATPTour.com about the milestone.

You’ve won your first ATP Tour title in your home country. What does that mean to you?
The truth is that I do not know what to tell you. It is an incredible feeling, for sure, and I did not expect to win the tournament. I came hoping to win one, two matches, even though I felt I was on a very good level. I knew I was training well, winning practice sets... It's really something that I will never forget.

At the age of 25, did you ever imagine winning your first ATP Tour title?
I saw Schwartzman, Fognini, Carreno Busta [walking around]... Having played so few ATP tournaments, I did not know if I would be able to win against them. But I loved the challenge. I really wanted to come to the tournament and measure myself against players I had never faced.

I'll speak from the heart: I never expected to win a tournament, not even close. Never thought about it. But I knew I could reach a semi-final, a few quarter-finals maybe. The truth is that I had doubts, but it is not that [the title] fell from the sky: I have done a great job. I have been playing very well and working hard and I showed it all this week. I lost a single set, played with great players and it was not a coincidence that I have this result. But still I did not expect it.

You May Also Like: Londero's Dream Week: From Winless To ATP Titlist

Is it extra special with family and friends to be here watching you win your first ATP Tour title?
Very special having won the tournament here, in Cordoba, in the first edition of the tournament. But only today I could start looking at the people on court to see them. Before I did not look at anybody, I did not want to look in order stay focused.

I just looked at my coach, at my team... At first, I enjoyed very little because I had tremendous nerves. But focusing was the key all week. Yesterday we went to have dinner, the day before the final, and it was my coach, my manager and me, the three of us alone. I was focused on what I had to do, and nobody else came. But it's amazing. I can win any other tournament in my life but none will be like this, trust me.

How were you feeling going into your first ATP Tour final against your countryman who was playing in his fourth final and was the favourite?
I was very nervous before the match... I could not even speak before entering. My physical trainer said to look at him before the match and to be calm, to try to let it go. It was the match that I enjoyed the most from the start. I knew that Guido had experience, but the audience helped me too.

Londero
Londero enjoyed home support all week in Cordoba. Photo: Córdoba Open / A. Del Bosco

You came into the tournament having never won a tour-level match. Are you surprised to win the title in your first tournament?
It was an incredible emotion just to win my first ATP main draw match against Nicolas Jarry, a great player who plays very well. The matches were going on and I wanted more, Gringo (my coach) was talking about believing in me, that I was close. He told me to trust myself, that I could do it. I outplayed them all, and I never believed or trusted in myself too much. He was behind me, talking to me and today it came real.

You did not lose a set en route to the final. What part of your game were you most happy with?
That's the confidence I had. I was able to do things well on the court and knew that it was possible. It confirms that I am at a great level, and little by little I believe more and more that this success will continue.

Read More: Londero On Dream Run: "It's All Very Crazy"

You are now into the Top 100 of the ATP Rankings for the first time, at No. 69 from No. 112. How does it feel to be in the Top 100?
Incredible, it is a very difficult question. I am very emotional. You have to understand that I came to try to play this tournament to see if I could win a round and that way I could be closer to defending the 130 points I had. I knew I had minimal chance of entering the Roland Garros main draw, but now I’m in. Now the new ATP Ranking will appear and I cannot explain it. I will look at it several times to believe it.

Now that you are in the Top 100 and have captured your first ATP Tour title, what are your goals for the rest of 2019?
It is very crazy, everything that happened to me in this tournament, and I will take everything week by week. First I must think why everything this week happened, and then set new goals for the rest of the year... This is a big step for my motivation. Nowadays I am a player who is going forward, and I want to continue like this.

Is there anyone you would like to thank for helping you get to this level in your career?
To all my team, of course, for those who have supported me for a long time, to Gringo, Agus, Roberto, the SportsLab team, my psychologist, my Yoga teacher that I started working with this year and the families that helped me. To all of them, thank you very much.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/londero ... rdoba-2019

[DUN I LOVE]

Kolejny, którego nikt się nie spodziewał - Juan Ignacio Londero.

Kolejny tydzień przyniósł Opelkę.

[Damian]

There have already been four first-time ATP Tour winners in 2019: Alex de Minaur (Sydney), Tennys Sandgren (Auckland), Juan Ignacio Londero (Cordoba) and Opelka (New York).

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/evans-s ... t-mcdonald

[Barty]

No i będzie dwóch kolejnych w tym tygodniu.

[Barty]

First-Time Winner Spotlight: Laslo Djere

Spoiler:

Serbian lifts first title in Rio de Janeiro
Laslo Djere was just looking for match wins coming into the Rio Open presented by Claro, but walked away with his first ATP Tour title. The 23-year-old Serbian defeated #NextGenATP Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime to win the ATP 500 event in Rio de Janeiro.

Djere was competing in his first ATP Tour final after reaching three other semi-finals on clay. The milestone moment puts him at a career-high ATP Ranking of No. 37.

The Serbian is also the fifth first-time champion on the ATP Tour in 2019, just eight weeks into the season.

First-Time Winners In 2019

Player
Age Tournament
Alex de Minaur 19 Sydney
Tennys Sandgren 27 Auckland
Juan Ignacio Londero 25 Cordoba
Reilly Opelka
21
New York
Laslo Djere
23
Rio de Janeiro
Radu Albot
29
Delray Beach
Afterwards, Djere spoke to ATPTour.com:

How does it feel to win your first ATP Tour title?
I’m really happy about this title, especially winning in my first final at the 500-level. It's an exceptional day for me in my career and my life. I was a little bit nervous for the final because I knew I was facing a tough opponent. I started to move and it got easier, but it was still very tough mentally and physically.

You didn’t have a ton of match wins to start the season. How do you then find yourself with an ATP 500 title this week?
I’ve never started the season well. The past two years I was losing eight or nine matches in a row. I wasn’t so nervous until Rio because it was only mid-February, but I knew a win would mean a lot. I was a bit disappointed when I saw the draw and saw I was facing Dominic Thiem in the first round, but I believed I could win.

What did it mean to beat a former champion in Thiem and get your first Top 10 win? Was that a key to your week?
Sometimes a player beats a tough opponent and flies through the week, which is what happened to me. Moments like beating a Top 10 player are the reason I dedicated my whole life to this sport. It means a lot and I’m sure it gave me some experience.

As fellow Serbians on the ATP Tour, do you have a relationship with Novak Djokovic? Has he given you any advice or encouragement?
We know each other and always say a few words when we see each other at tournaments. He obviously plays the biggest tournaments and that wasn’t always the case in my career, so I haven’t had a chance to see him as much. He sent me a message when I reached the Top 100 [of the ATP Rankings] and called me to play doubles with him at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, when I was nowhere close to the Top 100. He’s a great guy and an inspiration to all of us.

You May Also Like: First-Time Winner Spotlight: Reilly Opelka
Your parents played a big part in your comments yesterday and then today in the trophy ceremony. What would they think of this result?
They would be really happy. I learned at a young age that life isn’t fair, but it’s unfortunate that they can’t enjoy this success because they dedicated their lives to me and the sport. I hope they see this and that they’re really proud of me.

How will you celebrate tonight?
I didn’t make a plan for that yet. I’ll definitely celebrate with my coach since he’s here…maybe switch from the pasta, rice and chicken I’ve had for the past 10 days. I think maybe a glass of wine and then I’ll really celebrate when I get back to Serbia with my friends and family.

What do you like to do when you’re away from the tennis court?
I like to read good books and sometimes go to the cinema. I like to spend time with my girlfriend and friends whenever I can. I like baking and enjoy making cakes and desserts if I have some free time. I make really good brownies, cinnamon buns and apple crisps, but I also like experimenting as well.

Who were some of your favorite players growing up?
I liked watching Andy Roddick because he has a big serve. I had a poster in my room of Gustavo Kuerten with the trophy when he won Roland Garros. And then I started looking up to Janko Tipsarevic, Viktor Troicki and Novak Djokovic when they started coming up on tour as well.

You’ve written that you like the Chicago Bulls and Seattle Seahawks. How did you find those teams and do you still follow them?
I remember my dad was watching the NFL a few years ago and it was Seattle against New Orleans. I loved the way Seattle was fighting and I’ve followed them ever since. I enjoy watching the highlights when I can. I supported the Chicago Bulls because Dwyane Wade was on the team and now I support the Miami Heat because he’s with them. But I know this is his last season, so I don’t know what I’m going to do when he retires. [Smiles].

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/djere-f ... light-2019

[Barty]

First-Time Winner Spotlight: Radu Albot

Spoiler:

Moldovan lifts first title in Delray Beach
Radu Albot was on the verge of defeat on Sunday in his first ATP Tour final. But the Moldovan saved three championship points against Daniel Evans to triumph at the Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com.

At the beginning of the year, the 29-year-old aimed to break into the Top 50 of the ATP Rankings, and on Monday he will climb to a career-high No. 52. Albot also made Moldovan history, becoming the first player from his country to lift an ATP Tour title. Albot spoke to ATPTour.com after the match to reflect on his maiden moment.

First-Time Winners In 2019

Player
Age Tournament
Alex de Minaur 19 Sydney
Tennys Sandgren 27 Auckland
Juan Ignacio Londero 25 Cordoba
Reilly Opelka
21
New York
Laslo Djere
23
Rio de Janeiro
Radu Albot
29
Delray Beach
How does it feel to be holding your first ATP Tour trophy?
It feels unbelievable. You work so much, you work your whole life, your whole career and at the end you win a tournament. This is just a great feeling. I think it’s difficult to put into words.

Was this a goal you had as a junior growing up, working your way up to when you started as a professional? Did you ever think you’d be here one day at 29 holding a trophy?
In my career I’ve had a lot of goals. My first goal was to break the Top 500 of the ATP Rankings, then it was 300, then 150, then the Top 100. Now I had the goal of breaking the Top 50, and I am close to it with this win. I'm closer to the goal than ever.

If you ask me if I was thinking of holding a trophy as a kid, not really. It’s a tough sport. Everybody is playing unbelievable tennis nowadays. You play a guy who is No. 200 and you can lose. You play a guy who is No. 400, you can lose. It’s just so physical and so mental here. I think it’s a surprise for me as well that I won, but I’ll take it. I played great tennis the whole week.

It was your first ATP Tour final against someone who had been in just one final before. Can you talk about that?
I was trying not to think much about it because the thoughts might be there too much in your head. You just try to focus on your game and your gameplan, what you’re doing good and your opponent is doing good so you can adjust. You just make it as simple as possible, like another match. You don’t want to be struggling thinking about how it’s a final. You don’t need to get tight.

You’re the first player from Moldova to win an ATP Tour title and you had the flag after the match. What does that mean?
This means a lot, being the first guy who has ever won an ATP Touyr title from Moldova. It’s a big thing. Nobody is playing professional tennis from my country at the moment. Nobody has an ATP Ranking point.

It’s a tough sport, it’s tough to break through. I say all the time the same thing, I hope that the kids will watch, the kids will get inspired, the kids will practise, get better, come out here and hopefully be better than me. I really hope there will be another player from Moldova who will get another title or go higher in the ATP Rankings than Radu Albot.

You came back from a set down in your last three matches. Talk about your fight all week.
I always try to fight until the last point. Even today, I was three match points down, but I was fighting. I was just being there on the court. Every time I lose a set, I just continue to play. It’s just half of a match. You don’t need to drop your game or let the other set get away from you. That’s what I was focusing on in the last three matches, and luckily it worked out pretty well.

What was it like in the third set when you had the break at the rain delay and then led 4-2, a chance for 5-2 and he broke you back?
This is the sport. This is tennis. It happens a lot. You’re winning, you’re leading and suddenly 10 minutes later you’re down and you’re defending everywhere in the court and saving match points. In the rain delay we did not talk much about tactics. I talked to my coach and we just kept doing what I was doing before, no new tactics. The first game it worked, it worked good later on but I just didn’t convert the second break to go 5-2 up and I think that would have been the key and it would’ve been an easier end to the match for me.

What did you learn during the week in putting together five wins at an ATP Tour event for the first time?
It’s a very good question. I honestly don’t know the answer. It’s difficult to win five matches in a row on the ATP Challenger Tour or in a Futures. To win five in a row at an ATP Tour event against great players, Top 100 players, Top 30 players, this is a different level. I was just 5-0 this week and we keep going.

You’re now just outside the Top 50 only two months into the season, and that was your goal before the year. Do you have any new goals?
It’s a little bit too quick to think about it. I just finished my match. Of course, even if you’re No. 1 in the world, you have different goals. You will not be like, ‘Okay, I’m done. I’m going to put my racquet into the bag and quit.’ Everybody has goals. I am close to No. 50, and for sure there will be different goals I want to achieve in the future.

How about bringing Magnus Tideman onto your team as a coach? How has he helped your game?
We met in December. We hadn’t talked to each other ever. We started to work at the Australian Open. This was the only tournament where I hadn't won a match at a Grand Slam, so this year I won my first Australian Open match.

It’s just a lot of belief, a lot of little things that maybe you don’t pay attention to, but it works. Of course I’ve been working hard even before Magnus. It’s not like something crazy happened, it’s just good timing and good vibes. The connection between Magnus and I has worked pretty well, and I love it.

Is there anyone who you’d like to acknowledge who has helped you get to where you are today?
I would like to say a lot of thanks, first of all, to my parents. Even in the middle of the night they are watching my matches, it doesn’t matter where I play. In Australia, in the United States, any state in the United States, they are watching all my matches. Even though I think they’re awake, I didn’t take my phone out yet to check. For sure, they called me and they texted me.

I’d like to say thanks a lot to the president of the Moldovan Tennis Federation… he helped me a little bit financially when I had trouble in my career. Hopefully he will keep helping me in the future. I also want to say thanks to my ex-coach, who helped me a lot, Leon Smith. He’s helping Gael Monfils now. I want to thank my girlfriend, who is a big, big, big part of the team. She’s not just like a girlfriend. Her name is Doina Chiorescu.

For people who are not familiar with Moldova, tell them what they should know about your country.
Moldova is situated between Romania and Ukraine in Europe. It’s a pretty small country with a population of four million people. The capital is Chisinau, this is where I live, and there is only a population of one million.

My country is very, very famous for cellars under the ground. There are hundreds of kilometres and you cannot walk there. You have to take a car and drive the car underground to see the wine cellars. This is the most famous thing we have in Moldova. A lot of tourists go there and a lot of wine experts. There are a lot of hard-working people and unfortunately they're not really paid well at home.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/radu-al ... beach-2019

[DUN I LOVE]

Ilu już ich mamy w 2019?