At age 17, Denis Shapovalov was hoping to merely get his feet wet on the pro circuit, as he entered his first ATP Challenger Tour and ATP World Tour events in 2016. The Canadian phenom got much more than he anticipated, submerging himself in a whirlwind campaign that culminated in a year-end No. 250 in the Emirates ATP Rankings - a stunning 880-spot rise from the start of the year. The youngest player in the Top 300, Shapovalov cut his teeth against the game's elite. The first player born in 1999 to win a Challenger match, he reached the semi-finals on home soil in Drummondville in March and advanced to the last four once again in Gatineau in August. Also...
Toni Nadal believes that Rafael Nadal is gearing up for a successful fortnight at the Australian Open. Rafa’s uncle and longtime coach closely observed his practise sessions this past Friday. Toni took in the 2009 champion’s training session with Marin Cilic that morning on Rod Laver Arena, then closely observed the afternoon practise on Hisense Arena along with new coach Carlos Moya. “Rafa is playing great,” declared Toni. “We’re having a really good level during the training sessions and he’s winning all of his sets. This isn’t a reference point for us, but it’s always positive to head into these tournaments with such a great feeling. Once we step onto the court, we need to see if this level is...
Gilles Muller beat Daniel Evans 7-6(5), 6-2 on Saturday at the Apia International Sydney to capture his first ATP World Tour title. It was an emotional moment for the 33-year-old Luxembourg native, who had gone 0-5 in his previous ATP World Tour finals. ATPWorldTour.com spoke to Muller after his victory in Sydney. How does it feel to be holding your first ATP World Tour singles trophy at the age of 33? It feels great for many reasons. I’ve been waiting for this a long time. I’ve lost five finals before, so my biggest dream and goal was to win a title. Finally it’s here, so it’s great. It’s a lot of weight off my shoulders now. What does it mean...
The question has Albert Ramos-Vinolas stumped. Why, nine years after turned professional, is the 28 year old suddenly playing his best tennis? He didn't switch coaches – Ramos-Vinolas, like Rafael Nadal, still works with his boyhood coach. Ramos-Vinolas didn't drastically change his style of tennis, either. But there's no question his tennis has improved. In 2016, Ramos-Vinolas won his first title at the SkiStar Swedish Open in Bastad. The left-hander also reached his first hard-court final at the Chengdu Open and hiked to a career-high No. 26 in the Emirates ATP Rankings in October. “I don't know why this year I had the better results. I cannot tell you one thing,” Ramos-Vinolas told ATPWorldTour.com last season. “Maybe experience but I...
Daniil Medvedev soared 34 spots to a career-high No. 65 in the Emirates ATP Rankings as a result of reaching his first ATP World Tour final at the Aircel Chennai Open (l. to Bautista Agut). The 20-year-old #NextGenATP Russian was named the Tecnifibre Young Gun On The Road in 2016, having climbed from No. 329 to No. 98 in 2016 Roberto Bautista Agut rose one place to equal his career-high of No. 13 (10 October 2016) by lifting his fifth trophy in the Chennai final. It was fifth final of the past 52 weeks and seventh since October 2015. He fell in the 2013 Chennai final to then No. 9-ranked Janko Tipsarevic. Grigor Dimitrov broke a title drought of more...