Jim Courier was bouncing the ball ahead of his fourth match point, his ever-present white-brimmed cap was pulled low and tight over his brow. A strong serve down the line gave Courier the initiative to attack the net and the resulting backhand volley landed out of the reach of Derrick Rostagno to complete a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 semi-final victory. At that very moment, on 8 February 1992, in the illuminated downtown auditorium in San Francisco, the 21-year-old American was assured of becoming the 10th player in Emirates ATP Rankings history (since 1973) to reach the summit of men’s professional tennis. He dropped to his knees and raised his hands to the sky. It wasn’t immediately obvious growing up that Courier...
Ivo Karlovic approaches the practice desk at the Ecuador Open, writes his name with a blue pen on the sheet to book a court from 11.30-1.30, and specifies that he is looking for a practice partner. He goes back to the hotel to sleep. Maybe when he returns to the Club Jacarandá, someone will have signed up to be his practice partner, so he can play some points. But when he gets back and checks the sheet, no one has written their name down next to his. In other columns he reads: Bellucci + Monteiro, Estrella + Zampieri, Cerratani + Oswald. All the practice courts at 11.30 have at least two players booked in. All except for the court of...
I am at a crossroads in my career, having fulfilled my original goals in tennis, while remaining short of the accomplishments of my idols … and I find myself learning to process versions of FOMO (fear of missing out) in two separate directions. Sometimes I wonder if, by focusing on my goal, am I letting the world pass me by? Or is achieving my goal, through sheer persistence and drive, worth the sacrifices I have to make? My biggest phobia at this point in my life is the possibility that someday I’ll look back and feel like I didn’t realise my full potential as a player. That I didn’t get to No. 1. That I didn’t win the multiple Slams....
Ryan Harrison has returned to the Top 70 of the Emirates ATP Rankings for the first time since 18 February 2013 (No. 69) after he captured the fourth ATP Challenger Tour title of his career. The 24-year-old American did not drop a set all week at the RBC Tennis Championships of Dallas and clinched the crown with a 6-3, 6-3 win over #NextGenATP Taylor Fritz. Read Report Harrison jumped 16 places to No. 62 – 19 positions off his career-high of No. 43 on 16 July 2012. The 19-year-old Fritz rose 15 spots to No. 83 in the Emirates ATP Rankings and is also currently No. 12 in the Emirates ATP Race To Milan, with the Top 7 singles players...
Roger Federer is back in the Top 10 of the Emirates ATP Rankings after winning his 18th Grand Slam championship at the Australian Open. After missing the last six months of the 2016 ATP World Tour season to rehab his knee following arthroscopic surgery in February, the 35-year-old Swiss started the new year at No. 17, his lowest standing since May 2001. But his stunning triumph at Melbourne Park, where he beat Rafael Nadal in a five-set finale, saw Federer jump seven places to re-join the game’s elite. "I think this one will take more time to sink in," admitted Federer, who had waited almost five years to taste Grand Slam glory against after his 2012 Wimbledon victory. "When I...
