Wednesday’s final match was intense, and it was largely due to the innovative format being used at the inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals. Borna Coric was serving for the match against Daniil Medvedev, up two sets to one and 3-2, 40/15. On the surface, it seemed like the Russian had little chance. But thanks to the no-ad scoring system, when Medvedev found his way to deuce, everything was on the line. One more point and he could force a tie-break, and from there a fifth set. But Medvedev could not save a third match point, and Coric prevailed, 4-3(5), 2-4, 4-1, 4-2. “I think it was really physical,” Coric said. “The first two sets were extremely tough. Coric's physicality was...
The Next Gen ATP Finals has been branded as “The Future of Tennis”. But Denis Shapovalov was all old-school on Wednesday night in Milan. The 18-year-old Canadian dominated Italian wild card Gianluigi Quinzi at the Fiera Milano, blasting 41 winners to pick up his first victory at the inaugural tournament, 4-1, 4-1, 3-4(5), 4-3(5) in 89 minutes. Shapovalov is now 1-1 in Milan and will have a chance to reach the semi-finals on Thursday when he faces top seed Andrey Rublev. The winner will advance to the last four. “It was extremely tough. Gianluigi started playing unbelievable in the third set,” Shapovalov said. “It was tough to stay in it mentally so I'm really proud of myself.” Learn More About...
That was the Karen Khachanov ATP World Tour fans have seen make his way into the Top 30 of the Emirates ATP Rankings this season. After an opening defeat on Tuesday, the Russian bludgeoned the ball at will on Wednesday against American Jared Donaldson to earn his first win at the Next Gen ATP Finals 4-1, 4-3(3), 4-2. Khachanov improved to 1-1 in Group B after falling in four sets on Tuesday against countryman Daniil Medvedev. He was locked in from the start against Donaldson, who's the highest-ranked 21-and-under American. The Russian was stepping into the court and bullying the American from side to side with his powerful forehand. Donaldson was frequently feet behind the baseline, left to only retrieve...
From thrilling innovations including electronic line-calling, playing lets and usage of a shot clock to amazing tennis played by eight of the best 21-and-under tennis players in the world, the first day of the inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals was one to remember. But after the historic opening day, the intensity will only continue to build. Four players have an opportunity to advance to the semi-finals on Wednesday. In Group A play, top seed Andrey Rublev and No. 6 seed Hyeon Chung play each other for the second time this season. In August, Chung rallied to win 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 in the second round of the Winston-Salem Open. That will be the second match on Centrale. Rublev opened with a five-set...
They say that one point could change a match. That rang plenty true in the third match of the inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals. Borna Coric used a line-clipping return down set point in the first set to turn his opening match of the tournament around before ousting Jared Donaldson, 4-3(2), 4-1, 4-3(5), on Tuesday evening. The American appeared to be control, having broken at 2-2 in the opener. But on a deciding-point deuce, the Croatian lunged out wide for a forehand, which he sent flying crosscourt off the edge of the line to save the set and with it, gain all the momentum he needed to storm away from his opponent. As Coric’s coach said after his charge won...