Coco Gauff admits tennis boredom issues after historic US Open victory

The American tennis sensation has admitted that she struggled during a short hiatus following her momentous US Open triumph.

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Andy Murray exposes and calls out Novak Djokovic over 'how dare you' reaction

Andy Murray took a surprise swipe at Novak Djokovic over an old clip posted by Tennis TV.

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Daniil Medvedev weighs in on Carlos Alcaraz achieving dream at expense of Novak Djokovic

Daniil Medvedev has weighed in on Carlos Alcaraz's ambitious goal for 2023.

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Top Seeds Dodig/Krajicek Make Fast Start In Beijing

Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek made a confident start to their first tournament together on Chinese soil with a 6-2, 6-4 triumph against Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz at the China Open.

The top seeds Dodig and Krajicek converted four of five break points they earned in Saturday’s first-round clash to book a quarter-final spot in Beijing. The Croatian-American pair is chasing its fifth tour-level crown of the year in the Chinese capital, and its first on outdoor hard courts.

The leading team in the Pepperstone ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings as they chase a second consecutive appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals, Dodig and Krajicek will take on Marcelo Melo and Alexander Zverev in the last eight. Dodig is a defending champion in Beijing, where he lifted the trophy at the previous edition of the ATP 500 event in 2019 alongside Filip Polasek.

Fourth seeds Santiago Gonzalez and Edouard Roger-Vasselin also reached the quarter-finals with a 6-2, 6-2 triumph against Tomas Martin Etcheverry and Nicolas Jarry. Hugo Nys and Jan Zielinski beat Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen 7-6(5), 6-4, and the experienced duo of Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos overcame singles stars Alex de Minaur and Jannik Sinner 7-6(2), 6-3.

[ATP APP]

Cabral/Matos Spring Upset In Astana
Francisco Cabral and Rafael Matos stunned top seeds Jamie Murray and Michael Venus 6-3, 6-2 on Saturday at the Astana Open, where the Portuguese-Brazilian team converted four of its six break points to charge to a 68-minute first-round win.

There were no such problems for second seeds Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow, who beat Tallon Griekspoor and Bart Stevens 6-4, 7-5. Meanwhile Ariel Behar and Adam Pavlasek became the first team to reach the semi-finals when they defeated Gonzalo Escobar and Aleksandr Nedovyesov 6-3, 4-6, 10-5.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Humbert Upsets Rublev With Late Charge In Beijing

Ugo Humbert earned his first Top 10 win in more than a year with a dramatic victory against Andrey Rublev on Saturday night in Beijing. In the second round of the China Open, the Frenchman pulled out a 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(3) victory against the fifth seed, improving his career record to 8-8 against Top 10 opponents.

In an eventful match that saw 10 breaks of serve evenly split, Humbert denied Rublev's attempt to serve out a win at 5-3 in the final set and leaned on his rock-solid baseline game to close out the victory in a one-sided tie-break.

"I was really focussed from the beginning of the second set and the level was high," Humbert said after two hours, 48 minutes on court. "It's not easy against him because he plays very fast. I'm very proud that I did it."

Humbert improved to 8-8 against the Top 10 and 1-3 this season, with his most recent such victory coming against Casper Ruud last year at Wimbledon. He will have a chance for another Top 10 win in the quarter-finals when he takes on World No. 3 Daniil Medvedev, against whom he holds a 2-0 Lexus ATP Head2Head edge.

The 25-year-old Humbert reached a career-high of World No. 25 in 2021, but was outside the Top 100 for much of the 2022 season and as recently as this January. His quarter-final run in Beijing has lifted him two places to No. 34 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings.

"I was outside the Top 100 last year. I feel I played very well the last few weeks in Davis Cup, here," he assessed. "I'm very happy to win against [Rublev]."

Rublev was seeking his 10th quarter-final of the season. Despite the defeat, he remains comfortably inside the top eight places in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin. If Alexander Zverev wins the Beijing title, however, the Geman will replace Rublev in fifth place.

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Carlos Alcaraz 'snubs five tournaments' as new plan for Australian Open emerges

Carlos Alcaraz has laid out his plans for 2024, with the Australian Open highlighted as an important date in the calendar.

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Thiem Advances To Astana QFs In Final-Set Tie-Break

For the second straight match at the Astana Open, Dominic Thiem earned a hard-fought victory by winning a closing tie-break. After taking a second-set tie-break against Juan Pablo Varillias in the first round, the Austrian edged Marcos Giron 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(2) on Saturday at the ATP 250.

The result saw Thiem through to his 76th tour-level quarter-final, his fourth of 2023 (Estoril, Munich, Kitzbühel) and his first on hard courts since reaching the 2022 Antwerp semis (l. To Korda).

"It was a very close match again. It's obvious that here with these conditions there are many close matches, so many tie-breaks as well," he said, later explaining how the fast indoor conditions favour the server. "I was expecting a really tough one. I was starting very well, very aggressive, so that was good. Second set he started to play much better and the third set was a very close battle — I saved some break points, he did [also].

"I played a very good tie-break. This was the best part of the match."

[ATP APP]

Both men broke serve twice in the match, with Thiem creating nine break chances to Giron's seven. Giron failed to serve out the second set at 5-3 but responded by breaking for the second time to seal the set.

Austria's Thiem saved three break points in the final set, including two from 15/40 at 3-4. On the first, he wrong-footed Giron with a deep forehand volley after the American hit a booming forehand at his approaching opponent. Thiem varied his game to great effect down the stretch, mixing in delicate shots at opportune moments to complement his baseline power.

From 2/2 in the decisive tie-break, the Austrian won the final five points of the match with rock-solid play, while Giron's level dipped. Thiem will face third seed Alexander Bublik or fellow Austrian Sebastian Ofner in the quarter-finals.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

Earlier on Saturday, top seed Tallon Griekspoor earned a 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 6-1 win against Japan's Sho Shimabukuro. The Dutchman saved the only two break points he faced in the match, firing 16 aces and wining 86 per cent of his first serve points on a stellar serving day.

Griekspoor dominated the final set by claiming the only three breaks of the match and will next meet American Sebastian Korda, who followed up a three-set opening win against Alexei Popyrin with a 6-4, 7-6(4) win against Nuno Borges on Saturday. Both players created three break chances in the match, with Korda converting two to his opponent's one.

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Medvedev Breaks De Minaur Resistance In Beijing

Daniil Medvedev steadied himself to overcome a typically resilient Alex de Minaur on Saturday and book a last-eight spot at the China Open.

The second-seeded Medvedev prevailed 7-6(3), 6-3 in Beijing after his Australian opponent had rallied from 2-5 in the first set to force a tie-break. It was the third time in four tour-level events that the pair had met (Toronto, US Open, Beijing), and Medvedev was not surprised by De Minaur’s tenacity.

“[It was] tough, tough like always,” said Medvedev. “Alex has this ability, everyone knows it that when he’s down, he starts to play better. That’s what happened today. First set, I didn’t manage to count him down, as he was playing better because he was down. Second set I managed to play just unbelievable.

“It’s crazy how every time he is down in a match, you know he is going to start playing like he is No. 1 in the world. Tough to play against him, a tough victory, but I am happy with my level.”

Medvedev on 🔥 @DaniilMedwed | @ChinaOpen | #ChinaOpen

pic.twitter.com/fHDEP74cMr

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 30, 2023

Medvedev converted three of nine break points he earned for his Tour-leading 40th hard-court win of the season and improved to 6-2 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with De Minaur. Having lost to the Australian in the Toronto quarter-finals in August, he was delighted to make it two straight wins against the World No. 12, against whom he also triumphed in four sets at last month’s US Open.

“Confidence is key. When I am in good shape and good form, I have this ability to win these kinds of matches in straight sets,” said Medvedev. “If I’m missing just two per cent of what I’m doing right now, that’s when it’s tougher. That’s what happened in Toronto. I should have won the first set [there]. It’s a matter of a few points, at this moment it’s working and I’m going to try to keep going.”

Now into the quarter-finals for the 13th time in 18 tour-level tournaments in 2023, Medvedev will meet Andrey Rublev or Ugo Humbert next in the Chinese capital.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Draper Builds 'Strength Of Character' In Challenging 2023 Season

Jack Draper hit a career-high No. 38 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in January following a semi-final run at the Adelaide International 2. The 21-year-old was poised to continue his rapid rise in 2023. Injuries soon struck the Briton and have been an unfortunate theme this season for last year's Next Gen ATP Finals semi-finalist.

Draper reached the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open before an abdominal injury forced him to retire against Carlos Alcaraz. A shoulder injury suffered at Roland Garros forced him to miss three months of action, in which he was unable to compete at his home Slam, Wimbledon.

Despite the time away from the Tour, Draper stayed positive and used it as a teaching moment.

“With this year, having so many injuries and having to come back from them, it definitely builds a lot of strength of character,” Draper told the ATP Challenger Tour media team this week in Orleans. “I knew I just had to get myself in a good place physically and mentally to be at the top of my game.

“I feel like this year, although it’s been really difficult, dropping out of the Top 100 and all these things, I’ve learned so much and I’m a much better player now than I was nine, 10 months ago. I’m proud of myself, but it’s definitely been difficult.”

[ATP APP]

Draper has especially leaned on the support of his team and family in the midst of this season's obstacles.

“The thing with being a tennis player is it’s an individual sport, it’s lonely and stuff, that’s where having amazing people around you, who are always looking out for you, always there for you is so important,” Draper said.

“My coach, James Trotman, I’ve been with him for two years now and we have an incredibly close relationship. Obviously we are working towards a goal, we are very professional and stuff. But it’s definitely a weird dynamic, I spend more time with him than with my mum and my dog. It’s quite funny. Without them, I am no one.”

When Draper returned to action in August, he quickly found a high level. The lefty reached the fourth round of a major for the first time at the US Open and then made his Davis Cup debut, defeating Thanasi Kokkinakis en route to Great Britain’s 2-1 victory over Australia.

Draper briefly exited the Top 100 for six weeks, but after earning 180 points at Flushing Meadows and this week’s deep run at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Orleans, France, he has climbed 10 spots to World No. 96 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings.

After the injury layoff in the first half of the season, Draper is hoping to flip the script by finishing the year strong and build upon his momentum in 2024.

“Next year, [the goal is] to carry on where I’ve left off at the end of this year. The main thing for me is always to just keep developing physically,” Draper said. “My goal is not to be a Top 100 or a Top 50 player. My goal is to be one of the best in the world.

“There’s many things that need to fall into place for that, but I think if I keep competing and keep working hard day in and day out and doing all the things I need to do physically and mentally to be at the top of the game, there’s no reason why I don’t have the game and the ability to go all the way in this sport.”

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Korda Keeps Nerve To See Off Popyrin In Astana

Sebastian Korda pulled through a tense final set against Alexei Popyrin on Friday to make a winning start at the Astana Open.

The American prevailed 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 6-4 in a first-round clash of fine margins at the Kazakhstani ATP 250 event. Korda had led 4-2 in the deciding set of the pair’s maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting before Popyrin rallied to 4-4 to set up a tense climax. It was the fifth-seeded Korda who found a second break of his Australian opponent’s serve in the 11th game, however, setting him up for a two-hour, 54-minute triumph.

Just under 3 hours! 👀

Korda battles past Popyrin 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 and will face Nuno Borges in the next round!@ktf_kz | #AstanaOpen pic.twitter.com/vardPMtwSW

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 29, 2023

The win extended Korda’s solid form on hard courts in 2023. The 23-year-old American has earned 15 of his 19 tour-level wins on the surface, a tally that includes a championship-match run in Adelaide, semi-final appearances in Winston-Salem and Zhuhai, and a quarter-final run at the Australian Open.

Korda will meet Nuno Borges in the second round as he chases a quarter-final spot on event debut in Astana. The World No. 28 is chasing his second ATP Tour title and his first since lifting a trophy on clay in Parma in 2021.

[ATP APP]

Also on Friday, Korda’s fellow seeds Jiri Lehecka and Adrian Mannarino booked their places in the last eight in Kazakhstan.

Fourth seed Lehecka downed qualifier Egor Gerasimov 6-2, 7-6(3) to reach his sixth tour-level quarter-final of the season. The Czech saved two set points in the 12th game of the second set before dominating the tie-break to wrap an 86-minute win. He will next face #NextGenATP Serbian Hamad Medjedovic, who downed Alexander Shevchenko 6-4, 6-4 to reach his second ATP Tour quarter-final.

Mannarino beat another qualifier, Alibek Kachmazov, 6-2, 5-7, 6-3. The sixth-seeded Frenchman, who reached the final in Astana in 2020, set a last-eight clash with second seed Sebastian Baez or Jurij Rodionov.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Recharged Rune Downs Auger-Aliassime In Beijing

Bouncing back with a bang in Beijing.

Holger Rune snapped a four-match losing streak in style Friday in the Chinese capital by surging to a 6-4, 6-4 triumph against Felix Auger-Aliassime at the China Open.

Rune arrived in Asia without a tour-level win since Wimbledon and had not competed since late August at the US Open. He may have been cursing his luck when drawn against World No. 15 Auger-Aliassime in China but the 20-year-old delivered a rock-solid display to forge an 84-minute triumph on the Beijing Olympic Green Tennis Center’s Diamond court.

“It felt good. I’ve had a tough period, both with my body and match circumstances, so I’m just happy to be back feeling good,” said Rune. “Feeling mentally well on and off the court. I’m just super happy with my level today.”

First win since Wimbledon 👏

A fantastic point from @holgerrune2003 on his way to taking out Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 6-4!@ChinaOpen | #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/Bi3RM3zUB3

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 29, 2023

A single break in each set proved enough for Rune to improve to 2-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Auger-Aliassime, who has had a moderate year by his standards but showed signs of his best in helping Team World to Laver Cup glory in Vancouver last weekend. Rune missed that event due to a back injury but was delighted with the way his body held up on the hard courts of Beijing.

“I was feeling very good. I didn’t feel anything in my body,” said Rune. “This is good. I don’t mind muscle soreness, but I’m too young to have these kinds of problems, so it’s good to feel good out there. I’m feeling healthy, taking care of my body and I’m super happy to play without pain and just enjoy myself.”

The next week in Beijing could be crucial for Rune as he seeks to reach the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time. The Dane, who was an alternate at the season-ending finals last year but did not play, sits just inside the qualification spots in eighth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin on 3,100 points, but he is only 90 points clear of Taylor Fritz.

Rune can extend that gap and book his ninth tour-level quarter-final appearance of the year when he meets Grigor Dimitrov next in Beijing. The Bulgarian earlier sealed his second-round spot at the ATP 500 with a 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-1 triumph against Mackenzie McDonald.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Stan Wawrinka calls out tennis authorities after 'unacceptable conditions' ruin tournament

Stan Wawrinka has called out the tennis authorities after a young player slammed 'unacceptable conditions'.

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Naomi Osaka leaves rival fuming after stealing her coach ahead of tennis comeback

Naomi Osaka may have created a fierce rivalry ahead of her return to tennis in 2024.

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Medvedev Charges Past Paul In Beijing Opener

Daniil Medvedev made a red-hot return to China after four years away on Friday, when the World No. 3 eased past Tommy Paul 6-2, 6-1 in Beijing.

Medvedev delivered a stunning display of clean-hitting at the China Open to seal a Tour-leading 39th hard-court win of the season in just 81 minutes. The 27-year-old made just three unforced errors off the ground in his first-round triumph, a level of consistency that ensured Paul was kept under relentless pressure for the entire match.

Paul regularly approached the net to try and counter Medvedev’s baseline prowess and won 79 per cent (23/29) of points moving forward, but he was still unable to gain a foothold in the encounter. Medvedev converted five of 11 break points he earned to improve to 2-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with the American.

Medvedev is making his debut this year at the ATP 500 in Beijing, where he will next meet Alex de Minaur. He is chasing his second title on Chinese soil and his third in Asia overall at the Beijing Olympic Green Tennis Center, having triumphed in Tokyo in 2018 and at the Rolex Shanghai Masters in 2019.

More to follow…

[ATP APP]

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Rolex Shanghai Masters: Draws, Dates, History & All You Need To Know

The Rolex Shanghai Masters was voted by players as the ATP Masters 1000 Tournament of the Year in each of its first five editions from 2009-13. The event has seen previous champions including Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

Here's what you need to know ahead of the ATP Masters 1000:

When is the Rolex Shanghai Masters?

The ATP Masters 1000 event will be held from 4 October to 15 October. The hard-court tournament will take place at the Qi Zhong Tennis Center. The tournament director is Michael A. Luevano.

Who is playing at the Rolex Shanghai Masters?

Carlos Alcaraz will make his Shanghai debut. Daniil Medvedev, Holger Rune, Caper Ruud, Jannik Sinner and Stefanos Tsitsipas are also among the field.

When is the draw for the Rolex Shanghai Masters?

The Shanghai singles draw will be made on Monday 2 October at 10:30 a.m. local time, on centre court.

What is the schedule for the Rolex Shanghai Masters?

* Qualifying: Monday, 2 October – Tuesday, 3 October (Start times: Monday at noon; Tuesday at 12:30 p.m.)
* Main Draw: Wednesday, 4 October – Sunday, 15 October (Start times: Wednesday through second Thursday: 12: 30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.;  Second Friday & Saturday: 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.)
* Doubles Final: Sunday, 15 October at 2 p.m.
* Singles Final: Sunday, 15 October not before 4:30 p.m.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

What is the prize money and points for the Rolex Shanghai Masters?

The prize money for the Rolex Shanghai Masters is $8,800,000 and the Total Financial Commitment is USD $9,702,520.

SINGLES
Winner: $1,262,220 / 1000 points
Finalist: $662,360 / 600 points
Semi-finalist: $352,635 / 360 points
Quarter-finalist: $184,465 / 180 points
Round of 16: $96,955 / 90 points
Round of 32: $55,770 / 45 points
Round of 64: $30,855 / 25 points
Round of 96: $18,660 / 10 points

DOUBLES ($ per team)
Winner: $436,730 / 1000 points
Finalist: $231,660 / 600 points
Semi-finalist: $123,550 / 360 points
Quarter-finalist: $62,630 / 180 points
Round of 16: $33,460 / 90 points
Round of 32: $18,020 / 0 Points

How can I watch the Rolex Shanghia Masters?

Watch Live On Tennis TV
TV Schedule

How can I follow the Rolex Shanghai Masters?

Hashtag: #RolexShMasters
Facebook: Rolex Shanghai Masters
Twitter: @SH_RolexMasters
Instagram: @rolexshmasters

Who won the last edition of the Rolex Shanghai Masters in 2019?

Daniil Medvedev won the 2019 Shanghai Rolex Masters singles title with a 6-4, 6-1 victory against Alexander Zverev in the championship match. Mate Pavic and Bruno Soares lifted the doubles trophy in Shanghai with a 6-4, 6-2 triumph against Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo in the final.

Who holds the Shanghai Rolex Masters record for most titles, oldest champion, youngest champion and more?

Most Titles, Singles: Novak Djokovic (4)
Most Titles, Doubles: Marcelo Melo (3)
Oldest Champion: Rafael Nadal, 36, in 2017
Youngest Champion: Andy Murray, 23, in 2010
Highest-Ranked Champion: No. 1 Novak Djokovic in 2015
Lowest-Ranked Champion: No. 8 Nikolay Davydenko in 2009
Last Home Champion: None
Most Match Wins: Novak Djokovic (34)

View Who Is Playing, Past Champions, Seeds, Points & Prize Money Breakdown

[ATP APP]

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Tennis star suspended on anti-corruption charges after winning 10 titles this year

Tennis star Dragos Nicolae Madaras has been provisionally suspended on anti-corruption charges.

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Novak Djokovic casts 'doubt' on his tennis future as he shares Carlos Alcaraz wish

Novak Djokovic has made an honest admission about his future in tennis amid his growing rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz.

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Meet Matteo Berrettini's stunning girlfriend who will host Ryder Cup 2023 opening ceremony

She's normally cheering on Matteo Berrattini on the ATP Tour but this week Melissa Satta has important duties with the Ryder Cup back home.

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Carlos Alcaraz makes unusual Grand Slam comment ahead of resuming Novak Djokovic duel

Carlos Alcaraz is already looking ahead to the 2024 Grand Slam season after ending the year with a Wimbledon title.

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Stefanos Tsitsipas' Love Letter To Tennis

Stefanos Tsitsipas' first love is tennis, the sport he was first introduced to in 2001 by his parents, Apostolos and Julia. The Greek star has enjoyed a special ride with tennis ever since.

The 25-year-old sat down with ATP Uncovered to narrate his very own love letter to the sport.

"What felt so special with you is that I felt like part of my own playground, in which there were no rules, no limits," Tsitsipas said of his early days on the court.

He also reflected on the moment he decided to commit to tennis as his main focus and his progression on the ATP Tour, beginning with a lesson-filled defeat against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Rotterdam in 2017.

What else did Tsitsipas focus on in his tennis journey and why does he sometimes have a love-hate relationship with the sport? Watch the full video below.

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Dimitrov Debates Perfect Player & The Shot That 'Never Missed'

Grigor Dimitrov is known as one of the most versatile players in tennis, with impressive shots and intangibles throughout his game. So who would the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion pick to make his perfect player?

“Why are you making me think of players now?” Dimitrov joked. “I see them every day!”

[ATP APP]

The Bulgarian star selected an assortment of current and former players, some of whom have reached No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. But who are the players and for which shot did he pick them?

There was one shot in particular that proved menacing for the former World No. 3.

“He never missed it when he had to miss it against me,” Dimitrov said. “I feel like a lot of guys have missed a lot of shots, but not him against me.”

Dimitrov reveals his picks and explanations in the full video below.

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Motivated Medvedev Ready To March Through Stacked Beijing Field

Daniil Medvedev holds a Tour-leading 33 wins on hard courts this year and has lifted four trophies on the surface, equal with Novak Djokovic. Arriving at the China Open this week, the World No. 3 is determined to add to his title collection.

“It's my first time in Beijing. The tournament is super strong. So if you win it, it's great. It's a great memory. It's great for the confidence. There are still some important tournaments to come, so the better you play the end of the season, the better you play the beginning of the next one,” Medvedev said during his pre-tournament press conference. “The motivation is to try to do all this, to continue proving to yourself that you can win these big tournaments, big titles, against big opponents.”

Medvedev is making his debut in Beijing and arrives at the ATP 500 event off the back of a run to the title match at the US Open, where he defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals.

The 27-year-old is excited by the possibility of facing top seed Alcaraz again this week, but is wary of the other threats in a stacked ATP 500 field. Eight of the Top 10 players in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings are competing in Beijing.

“I think if we face each other, we are both happy, we are both in the final,” Medvedev said when asked about potentially playing Alcaraz. “That's a good goal, to try to make this happen.

“At the same time, as I said, so many good players. It's tough. It's like an ATP Masters 1000 here or a Grand Slam. In a way it's even stronger than a Grand Slam, where you don't have first rounds, where you maybe can get into the tournament, which sometimes can be the case in a Grand Slam… I think we're going to see a lot of different results where the seeded players can lose and stuff like this because first rounds are never easy.”

[ATP APP]

Medvedev faces World No. 13 Tommy Paul in the first round and could play World No. 12 Alex de Minaur in the second round if the Australian can defeat 2016 champion Andy Murray in his opening match.

Medvedev feels his game is in good shape ahead of the event and is excited to play in China.

“The arena looks really nice,” Medvedev said. “I practiced both yesterday and today. It looks very, very nice. I'm sure there is going to be a lot of people during the matches. Let's see. I only heard good things. First time I'm going to experience it. On ATP level, I think I only played in Shanghai and I really like it. I think it's going to be the same here.”

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Alcaraz: 'No. 1 Is One Of The Main Goals'

Carlos Alcaraz arrives at the China Open with double motivation. If the Spaniard can capture his seventh tour-level title of the season at the ATP 500, he would close the gap to 315 points on Novak Djokovic in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin.

The Spaniard is chasing a second consecutive ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by Pepperstone finish.

“As I said a few times, we have a really beautiful battle for the No. 1 spot after the great performance Djokovic had in the American season,” Alcaraz said. “He's the No. 1 right now. I'm coming here with extra motivation to try to recover it in the Race, of course, in the ranking. As I said, it's something that I have in my mind every time that I practice, in every tournament.

“Is not obligatory for me to recover that, but of course you have to put the goals in the year. So for me No. 1 spot is one of the main goals for me. In these great tournaments, I'm looking to do great to be able to be close or recover that number.”

Alcaraz, who opens against qualifier Yannick Hanfmann in Beijing, is competing for the first time since he reached the semi-finals at the US Open earlier in September (l. to Medvedev). The 20-year-old is pleased with how his preparations have gone ahead of the Asian Swing.

“We have [had] quality practice at home before coming here, played some sets with players from the academy that are playing great,” said Alcaraz, who is 58-7 on the season. “I'm feeling great coming here. I had my first practice yesterday at the centre court. It was amazing to get in and step on the court see how it is to be playing in that court.”

Alcaraz is making his debut in Beijing as the ATP Tour returns to the Chinese capital for the first time since 2019. While Alcaraz may lack experience at the hard-court event, his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero does not. Ferrero has competed five times in Beijing, reaching the semi-finals in 2005. Alcaraz is hoping to lean on Ferrero’s experience this week.

“He told me a little bit about this tournament. Of course, since 2004 until now the tournament has improved a lot. It is almost a different tournament. But he told me great things about this tournament,” Alcaraz said. “He played great the years that he has played here. Yeah, he told me that he enjoyed a lot playing here. Hopefully I feel the same way that he felt when he was playing.”

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Carlos Alcaraz thinks about beating Novak Djokovic 'in training and at every tournament'

Carlos Alcaraz discussed his "beautiful battle" with Novak Djokovic ahead of the China Open.

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Andy Murray has shot at redemption at China Open after three-month wait for revenge

Andy Murray will be hoping to exact some revenge when he takes to the court in Beijing this week.

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Flying With The Fox: Sinner, My Entourage

From teen prodigy to established Top 10 star, Jannik Sinner has become one of the most exciting young players on the ATP Tour.

Yet the story of the 22-year-old’s success is far from a one-man show, and for the 2023 season he has been accompanied at tournaments by any of four regular team members – coaches Simone Vagnozzi and Darren Cahill, physio Giacomo Naldi and fitness coach Umberto Ferrara.

The ATP Tour caught up with Team Sinner to find out more about the inner workings of the eight-time tour-level champion’s quest to reach the very top of the game.

Jannik Sinner

“I would describe my team as nice people, happy people,” Sinner told the ATP Tour earlier this year. “Everyone knows very well what he has to do. I feel good with them and lucky to have them, so I think it is a very good team.”

Different coaches bring different ideas to the table. Sinner believes his open-mindedness to learn from the combined experience of Vagnozzi and Cahill, as well as physical specialists Naldi and Ferrara, is key to his continued development.

“Everyone is very important for me because for me it's sometimes also good to mix it up a little bit,” said Sinner. “You don't go to every tournament with the same people, but to have different voices sometimes, it's very good. I think everyone is very important for me, because also with two different tennis coaches sometimes to have new things coming, you learn new things.”

It isn’t just on the court where Sinner feels the benefit of his entourage, which also helps him stay relaxed amid the hectic ATP Tour schedule. He enjoys playing cards, watching football and basketball or going go-karting with his team, and also cites his entourage as key pillars of mental and emotional support.

“When I ask someone to join my team it's not only if they are the best in their work but also how I feel with them,” said Sinner. “For me that is very important because we spend not only the time when we work together, but also at dinner and in the morning.

“I see more of them than my family, so you have to feel very comfortable. They also have to understand my problems, as I sometimes have to understand their problems even if they are a little bit older than I am. It is just important to talk about everything very openly.”

Simone Vagnozzi: Coach

Described by his fellow coach Cahill as “the one that’s really steering the ship”, Vagnozzi has worked with Sinner since February 2022. The Italian has been aware of his countryman Sinner’s potential for considerably longer, however, and believes the 22-year-old has the work ethic to match his prodigious talent.

“I’ve known Jannik from when he was 14. He played against one of my junior players, so I saw him for the first time there,” Vagnozzi told the ATP Tour. “We met a lot of times at tournaments when I coached [Marco] Cecchinato and [Stefano] Travaglia.

“It's really nice to coach him because he's a really funny guy. He has a really good character. It's easy to coach Jannik also because he wants to improve a lot and go on the court always with a smile and everything, so for a coach it’s really good.”

Vagnozzi takes the lead on the day-to-day coaching of Sinner after the Italian has been physically prepared and warmed up by Naldi and Ferrara. Vagnozzi works in tandem with Cahill, who possesses vast experience coaching top players (including former ATP World No. 1s Andre Agassi and Lleyton Hewitt) and particularly focusses on helping their charge with the mental side of the game.

“Normally we are two coaches on the team, me and Darren Cahill,” explained Vagnozzi. “Sometimes we are together, sometimes we are alone with Jannik. Normally I do the technical stuff on the court. [Giacomo and Umberto] do the physical stuff before, then we go to the court and play for one hour and a half, normally with another player. We play some points, do some drills, and in the afternoon, we do one hour of technique. Serve, volley, slice. Normally this is the routine.”

Vagnozzi relishes working with a coach as highly regarded as Cahill and believes that the wider team assembled by Sinner is a good foundation to help him push on to greater things.

“The relationship is really good. Darren is a really nice person and also has an unbelievable [work record],” said Vagnozzi. “Umberto the fitness coach I’ve known for many years because we worked together with Cecchinato and Travaglia. The physio Giacomo is new, but he is a really nice guy, young. Right now, everything is working well.”

Vagnozzi is certainly in no doubt of Sinner’s desire to rise to the top of the game. He named Sinner as the most competitive member of the team, even when it comes to card games or fun challenges that he and Cahill set on the practice court.

“Jannik wants to win everything,” said Vagnozzi. “Just yesterday we lost 20 bucks each, Darren and I, because he hit the ball can with his serve on the first try. If we say to him, ‘You get 20 Euros if you do it the first time and 15 Euros if you do it on the second’, [he always] does it on the first!”

Darren Cahill: Coach

One of the most respected coaches in the game, Cahill is clear as to why he decided to join Team Sinner.

“I think that there are a lot of young players at the moment on the men's Tour that are exciting to watch and certainly exciting to work with,” said Cahill. “Jannik is one of those players… He works incredibly hard, he has great discipline. He's a good kid off the court, his family's awesome and he's been well brought up, he's got his feet firmly planted on the ground, he's respectful, and he believes.

“He believes that one day the ultimate success will come to him and he knows that you don't get there without a lot of hard work. He's prepared to do the hard work.”

With Vagnozzi already in place as a full-time coach, Sinner brought Cahill on board in June 2022 with the belief that the Australian could add to his development.

“My role is more about the experience and how to help him mentally in these big moments, and to make sure that we're working on the right stuff that eventually is going to get him to the place we want to be,” explained Cahill. “To help Umberto and Giacomo [as well] and work out when we need to practise for an extra 45 minutes, or when it's good to send him back to the hotel to rest.

“It’s just the little things that make a big difference in a player's career, and that's kind of my role, more of an overseer of the team. So far, it's been really enjoyable, and I love it.”

Like Vagnozzi, Sinner’s desire to win is something that impresses Cahill, even if the Italian occasionally leaves him with lighter pockets when things get competitive off the court.

“We have lots of laughs,” said Cahill. “We play lots of games against each other. Jannik is incredibly competitive, whether we're playing cards or on the go-karts, or doing anything outside of tennis, he wants to win, and win badly. I think at times he's more concerned with taking five Euros off me than he is about winning a $20,000 paycheque. He cares more about five Euros, winning it off me, and takes great satisfaction when he sees me taking it out of the wallet to give it to him as well.

“He's a funny guy, a very funny kid. He makes it relaxing to be around. So far it's been a pleasure to work with him. Hopefully he says the same about me, but it's been great fun.”

Giacomo Naldi: Physio

Sinner is known for his electric movement along the baseline, something that he has previously attributed in part to the fact he was one of Italy’s top young skiers before he prioritised tennis. The man responsible for keeping Sinner’s body ready to race around the court is his physiotherapist, Naldi, the newest addition to the team.

“I've been working with Jannik since February,” said Naldi. “I'm from Bologna. I met Jannik in October of last year. They came to my clinic because he injured his ankle. We worked together for one week and then at the end of the year, they asked me if I wanted to join the team because their physio changed jobs. I decided to join them and I'm very happy to be with them.”

Naldi works closely with fitness coach Ferrara to ensure Sinner is ready to produce his best on court. His job is particularly important for the Italian star’s recovery, a crucial aspect to professional tennis given the tournaments and matches often come thick and fast.

“Our daily routine is composed of a pre-training section, which means some mobility, some preventive exercises,” said Naldi. “Me and [Umberto] in particular. My job is to work on his feet doing taping and his knee, some nice mobility and something for his body before he trains with the trainer and before the practice.

“The main part of my job is after a match or practice because I work with his muscles. So I do a massage, mobility [exercises] again, and also some osteopathic techniques, because I am also an osteopath and I try to do whatever he needs to recover his body.”

It was also Naldi who introduced the group to one its favourite off-court activities — the card game Buraco — a development that roused Sinner’s superstitious side.

“Since February when they learned to play, Jannik wants to play every day,” said Naldi. “The first time we played he won the tournament [in Montpellier], so now he wants to play every day.”

Umberto Ferrara: Fitness Coach

Since June 2022 it has been Ferrara, the fitness coach, who is responsible for helping Sinner reach his peak physical state for competition. Despite being a player who is known for his speed around court, Ferrara believes there is more to come from the Italian as he looks to make his mark at the top of the game.

“He is a very good athlete,” said Ferrara. “He has improved in the last year, and I think he must improve a lot in the two or three next years. But actually, he is a good athlete.”

Like Naldi, Ferrara has a standard routine to his day working with Sinner, but has to remain flexible depending on how the Italian’s body handles his on-court exertions.

“We start in the morning with the exercise for mobility,” explains Ferrara. “Then we have a lot of exercises to ‘prehab’ for the injury that Jannik has had in the past on the ankles. Then we follow the routine about strength and speed, to move better. That's it, but every day we change a little bit because it's dependent on the state or shape of Jannik.”

Ferrara’s hard work played a role in enabling Sinner to become an ATP Masters 1000 champion for the first time in August in Toronto. That moment stands out for the fitness coach as a highlight of his time on Team Sinner. Ferrara also cherishes the importance of the team’s efforts in helping the Italian overcome tougher moments in his career.

“The best memory is the win in Toronto for sure, but I also like the times when we finish the rehab after an injury and we restart playing playing and practising,” said Ferrara. “For me these are very good moments.”

Photo Credits: ATP Tour

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The Statistics That Prove Alcaraz's Improvement In 2023

As he began his title defence at the 2023 US Open, Carlos Alcaraz said he felt like a better player than when he won his first major title in New York. While the Spaniard could not repeat his trophy feat at the hard-court Slam, his statistics this season trump his 2022 campaign almost across the board.

There is one key measure by which Alcaraz is off his previous pace: the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. Alcaraz debuted at World No. 1 following his US Open triumph last year and held onto that position to finish the year as the ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by Pepperstone. This September, he sits at No. 2.

But a closer look reveals that the 20-year-old has improved even by the measure of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

[ATP APP]

After finishing the 2022 season with 6,820 points, Alcaraz already has 8,175 points in this year's Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin. He's just 770 points behind Novak Djokovic in the Live Race, with two ATP Masters 1000s (Shanghai, Paris) and the Nitto ATP Finals still to come, among other events.

Following his US Open semi-final defeat to Daniil Medvedev, Alcaraz revisited his claim that he is a better player this season.

"These kind of matches can happen even if I feel myself [a] different player, more mature," he said, before going on to provide a harsh self-assessment.

"I thought that right now I am better player, to find solutions when the match is not going in the right direction for you. But after this match, I'm going to change my mind. I'm not mature enough to handle these kind of matches. So I have to learn about it."

Alcaraz was understandably disappointed after bowing out in New York, but a broader perspective shows his strides in the past 12 months.

In 2022, Alcaraz finished the season with a 57-13 record, an 81 per cent win rate. This year, he stands at 58-7, good for an 89 per cent winning rate. Despite not making his season debut until mid-February after missing the start to the season with an injury, Alcaraz has already surpassed his win total from a year ago. His 58 victories lead the ATP Tour according to Infosys ATP Stats, with Medvedev (55) the only other player above the 50-wins mark.

Of his seven defeats this season, only one has come in straight sets — a stunner against Fabian Marozsan in Rome. Outside of that second-round defeat and a quarter-final exit in Toronto, Alcaraz has reached at least the semis at each of his 11 other tour-level events in 2023.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

Alcaraz will hope to continue his consistent season in Beijing, where he is set to make his debut at the ATP 500. All of the remaining ATP Tour events in 2023 will be played on hard courts, and the Spaniard's statistics on that surface are also among the best.

With a 21-4 record, his 84 per cent hard-court win rate this season is third best on the Tour, behind only Djokovic (97%) and Medvedev (86%). His 21 wins are among the Top 10, a tally limited by his absence during the Australian Swing to begin the year.

With Djokovic not competing in Beijing or the ATP Masters 1000 in Shanghai, Alcaraz has a golden opportunity to close the 770-point gap between the pair in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin. By the end of the Asian Swing, Alcaraz could have his fate in his hands in his bid to repeat as ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by Pepperstone.

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Novak Djokovic set to play key role in Europe's Ryder Cup quest as Donald plays his joker

Novak Djokovic looks set for an important task at the Ryder Cup this week.

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Andy Murray, Cam Norrie and Dan Evans face savage China Open as Brits get nightmare draw

The Brits could have a tough time trying to get out of the early rounds at the China Open with all three men facing opponents inside the world's top 15.

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Carlos Alcaraz faces baptism by fire in China Open debut as top seed given brutal run

Carlos Alcaraz will need to learn on the job as he makes his debut in the Asian swing this week as the Spaniard has been handed a brutal path to the title.

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Rune vs. Felix, Murray vs. De Minaur; Beijing Draw Throws Up R1 Thrillers

The China Open draw has thrown up a host of intriguing first-round matches. Third seed Holger Rune meets Felix Auger-Aliassime, former champion Andy Murray will renew his Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry with Alex de Minaur and second seed Daniil Medvedev meets Turin hopeful Tommy Paul. Medvedev could play Murray in the second round.

The ATP 500 hard-court event, which is taking place for the first time since 2019, features eight of the Top 10 players in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. World No. 2 and top seed Carlos Alcaraz faces a qualifier on debut and could play Karen Khachanov or Lorenzo Musetti in the second round.

The Spaniard, who has won six tour-level trophies this year, is seeded to meet Casper Ruud in the quarter-finals. The seventh seed opens against Jan-Lennard Struff, who returned from injury last week in Zhuhai.

Rune is also in the top half and could play 22-year-old Italian Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals. Denmark's Rune is eighth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin and will hope for a deep run to boost his chances of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals. Sixth seed Sinner meets Washington champion Daniel Evans in the first round.

[ATP APP]

Alexander Zverev, seventh in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin, is seeded to take on Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals. Zverev opens against Diego Schwartzman, while Tsitsipas plays Nicolas Jarry. Fifth seed Andrey Rublev is in the bottom half and opens against Briton Cameron Norrie.

#NextGenATP Chinese star Shang Juncheng carries home hopes in Beijing. The 18-year-old begins against Yoshihito Nishioka.

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Elena Rybakina's coach drags Novak Djokovic into row after star slammed WTA

Elena Rybakina's coach called on Novak Djokovic's Professional Tennis Players Association for help after taking issue with the WTA.

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Will Khachanov Or Nishioka Triumph In Zhuhai?

As Karen Khachanov and Yoshihito Nishioka prepared for the resumption of elite tennis in Zhuhai a week ago, neither man was fully convinced they would be contending for the crown come the final.

Both men enjoyed bright starts to the season but then endured a rough patch after Roland Garros, with a back injury forcing Khachanov to the sidelines and a form slump hitting Nishioka’s confidence.

But after a superb week at the Huafa Properties Zhuhai Championships, including strong semi-final wins, the two players are one triumph away from claiming their first ATP Tour title for 2023.

Khachanov, the top seed, showed greater poise on pivotal points when edging Sebastian Korda 7-5 6-4 on Monday, while the eighth-seeded Nishioka progressed past an ailing Aslan Karatsev 6-4 6-4.

It will be the fifth Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting between the pair, with Khachanov leading their series 3-1, the most recent of which was a straight set triumph in the fourth round of the Australian Open in January.

Nishioka had claimed their previous encounter in Washington a year earlier but said he was thrown by the tactics deployed by Khachanov when beaten 6-0 6-0 7-6 (4) at Melbourne Park.

“It’s going to be a very tough match for me tomorrow because at the Aussie Open, he played a bit of a different way. I was very confused to play against him … and he knew how to play against me,” he said.

“But the surface here is a little bit faster and this is a different heat as well. I know what he is going to do me, so I need to fix that and maybe if I can do pretty well, maybe I will have a chance.”

[ATP APP]

Khachanov, who is seeking his fifth ATP Tour title but first since 2018, praised his Japanese rival as a great tactician on the court and is mindful he will need to perform well to claim the title.

“Nishioka, his main strength are his legs and his backhand. His flat backhand. He controls it very well. These are his main weapons,” he said.

“He knows how to play. He also puts you in difficult positions. He is a very smart and intelligent player.”

Timing is critical in tennis and for Nishioka, there is no sweeter spot on the Tour than the week he celebrates his birthday, with the left-hander turning 28 on the day after Tuesday night’s final.

Last year the No. 46 player in the Pepperstone ATP Tour Rankings claimed his second title when winning in Seoul in the week of his birthday.

In 2018 in Shenzhen, Nishioka came from qualifying to win his maiden ATP Tour title in the last week of September.

“This is pretty interesting. I have no idea why this (is a) week I always have a good time. Maybe it is (because) it is my birthday week, or something,” Nishioka said.

“It is amazing. Two times a title in this week and now I have the chance to win another title in this week.

“I wasn’t expecting (this). It is a little bit of a surprise. Yesterday was my best match in a couple of months and, little by little, I am playing better on these courts, this surface and in this heat.”

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

Khachanov was disappointed to miss Wimbledon after reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open and the quarter-finals of Roland Garros, and he was still building his fitness when he resumed at the US Open.

He has trained solidly since then but was not certain how long it would take him to recapture the form that saw him return to the Top 10 midway through this year.

“There is one thing you wish and you would like and the other thing is reality,” he said.

“So if you had asked me during the past three weeks, I was progressing and I was able to train and do more things that I was not able, let’s say, prior to the US Open or at the US Open.

“It is just a fact. I was not as ready as I am now. But I had a good block when I felt much better and there was a point… where I felt my tennis was coming back, but it was still on the practice court. I needed to play matches and tournaments. It is another process you need to go through.

“My wishes were to do well from the beginning but the expectation was… that I would fight and give my best and to see how I would go.”

In the doubles final, second seeds Jamie Murray and Michael Venus will play American pairing Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow in a match preceding the singles decider.

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#NextGenATP Atmane's Pokémon Collection: 'One Of The Biggest In France'

Terence Atmane would be happy to demonstrate a magic trick with playing cards, talk about his 158 IQ score, or comment on his two recent titles on the ATP Challenger Tour.

But mention the Next Gen ATP Finals contender's lifelong Pokémon card collection, which he started in 2007, and the 21-year-old Frenchman lights up.

“I have one of the biggest collections in France,” Atmane told ATPTour.com. “I [am] planning to put a video on my Instagram showing the collection that I have by the end of the year with some subtitles and everything. Like 10, 15 minutes to show people what it is about, so they can learn a little bit more about me and my collection, the story all about it and how it started and why.

“When I was a little kid, I was watching Pokémon on TV. It came pretty naturally, at school and everything, people were talking about these Pokémon cards and it was pretty famous in the world at that time. I remember I was playing with my friends in school and then somehow I started collecting this when I was a little boy. And this little boy still has his collection from that time.”

[ATP APP]

Atmane's favourite card in his collection is the 'Kyogre ex' from the 2007 Crystal Guardians set.

“It’s like the highest grade that you can have for Pokémon cards," Atmane said. "I bought it from a friend of mine. Once he received the card I told him, ‘Okay, I want to buy it because it's one of my favourite cards of all time.’ So I was like I'm going to [pay] the price no matter what's the price." 

The #NextGenATP star loves all things anime, manga and video games. Ironically, if it were not for video games, Atmane may not be a professional tennis player. The lefty started playing the sport at age seven, thanks to the PlayStation game Virtua Tennis and Wii Sports.

“I was playing all day every day. One day my mom came back home and she said, 'Okay, enough of video games, I'm going to buy you a tennis racquet and then let's go to a tennis club and try,'” Atmane said. “Since then, I've never stopped playing tennis.”

Now Atmane is one of the fastest-rising stars on the ATP Challenger Tour. In the past 12 months, he has soared more than 200 spots in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings and currently sits at a career-high World No. 149. Atmane has collected two ATP Challenger Tour titles within the past month: Zhangjiagang and Guangzhou.

During each title run, Atmane rallied from the brink of defeat. In Zhangjiagang, he fended off six match points in the opening round en route to his first Challenger trophy. Two weeks ago in Guangzhou, Atmane saved three championship points to defeat Australian Marc Polmans after three hours in which the Frenchman was suffering from cramps.

^{Terence Atmane wins the Challenger 75 event in Guangzhou, China. Credit: Guangzhou Nansha International Challenger}
“I knew that when I was going to come back on hard court that I was going to play good, but playing that good? No, I wasn't really ready for this,” Atmane said. “I played five Challengers, two semis, two titles, so I guess the hard work is paying off. On one hand, I'm surprised. On the other hand, I'm not really surprised because I was ready to play good on hard courts.”

Nicknamed 'The Magician', the 6'4" Atmane could also be called fearless. In his ATP Tour debut in Zhuhai, Atmane raced to a 6-0 lead against eighth seed Yoshihito Nishioka before the Japanese star mounted a comeback. Despite Atmane's loss, fans were introduced to his aggressive style, in some ways akin to his idol, former World No. 5 Fernando Gonzalez.

"I'm going full on everything, I try to take every opportunity that I have, every short ball that I have to destroy the ball," Atmane said. "I try to serve as fast and as hard as I can. I have a pretty big forehand... It's extremely risky and it's also really intense, physically and mentally."

Atmane, who is 12th in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Jeddah, is aiming for maiden qualification at the Next Gen ATP Finals. He is one of four Frenchman in the Top 12 of the Race To Jeddah and with only eight spots up for grabs, Atmane is hoping to continue his success and potentially be in Saudi Arabia alongside his best friend Arthur Cazaux, who is currently in 10th place.

“We're talking about it pretty much all the time like, ‘It would be awesome if we were both there,’” Atmane said. “But I told him every time that it’s not a big deal if I'm not there and if he's not there, it doesn't mean that we're not good players. We try to play our best tennis and see by the end of the year if we are both in the Next Gen.”

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Ugo Carabelli, Lestienne Add To Argentina, France's Challenger Title Race

Players from Argentina and France continue to battle atop the ATP Challenger Tour leaderboards. Argentines won a record 23 Challenger titles last season, with France just one behind. Both countries now find themselves in another race for history in the final quarter of the season.

Argentine Camilo Ugo Carabelli captured his fourth ATP Challenger Tour title and first of this season on Sunday to earn his country’s 17th trophy at that level in 2023. France leads the way with 23, one shy of breaking the all-time record, after Constant Lestienne scored his second Challenger crown of the season.

The 24-year-old Ugo Carabelli returned to the winners’ circle by winning the Challenger Dove Men+Care Antofagasta, where he rallied past American Tristan Boyer 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 in the final. Boyer, 22, played college tennis for two years at Stanford University before turning pro last season.

"I am very happy to win, I have been working hard to get a result like this and luckily I got it," Ugo Carabelli said in Spanish. "I felt comfortable all week, that was important. I want to thank Horacio [de la Pena] and his team for giving us the chance to have many tournaments in South America. That's very important for us as we are close to home and can travel with more members of our team." 

[ATP APP]

Lestienne triumphed at the Saint-Tropez Open after avenging this year’s Wimbledon first-round loss to Liam Broady in the final, defeating the Briton 4-6, 3-6, 6-4.

“It means a lot to me because it’s my first title in France, on home soil,” Lestienne said. “Today I managed my feelings well and that helped me stay in the match because Liam played really well. It was [long] rallies, so I was just trying to stay solid and go for when I could. I was also trying to mix the game, high balls, drop shots.”

At World No. 94 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, Lestienne has won 10 of his past 11 Challenger matches, having also won the Golden Gate Open in California last month.

^{Constant Lestienne wins the Challenger 125 event in Saint-Tropez. Credit: Saint-Tropez Open}
The 31-year-old Lestienne is one of seven French players to claim more than one title at the Challenger level this year, joining Luca Van Assche, Benoit Paire, Ugo Humbert, Hugo Grenier, Hugo Gaston and Terence Atmane.

Following Broady’s run to the final, the 29-year-old has climbed 10 spots to World No. 93, setting him up for a Top 100 debut.

In other ATP Challenger Tour action, Nerman Fatic defended his title at the BCR Sibiu Open. The 28-year-old Bosnian defeated countryman Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-4 in a rematch of last year’s final at the event, where Fatic won his maiden Challenger title.

“It's totally crazy for me to win this tournament two years in a row. I can't even tell you how I feel right now,” Fatic said.

Tell me you’re a champion without telling me you’re a champion 😉

Nerman Fatic 💪#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/jlZEBbYVm8

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) September 24, 2023

Dzumhur, 31, was riding a nine-match winning streak at the Challenger level entering Sunday’s final after winning in Istanbul two weeks ago.

“Damir is an exceptional player,” Fatic said. “He is my friend and it is never easy to play against him. We have played the final in Sibiu twice and I hope to play the final together every week in the circuit.”

Italian Andrea Pellegrino won the LAYJET-Open in Bad Waltersdorf, Austria, where he downed home hope Dennis Novak 1-6, 7-5(5), 6-3 to capture his third ATP Challenger Tour trophy.

“It’s the biggest title for me for my whole career, I’m very happy about that,” Pellegrino said. “It was an unbelievable week, very tough matches. It means a lot to me and I hope to continue like this.”

^{Andrea Pellegrino wins the Challenger 125 event in Bad Waltersdorf, Austria. Credit: GEPA Pictures}
The 26-year-old Pellegrino trailed Novak 1-6, 0-4 before mounting a comeback. Another pivotal moment came when Pellegrino won three consecutive points from 4/5 in the second-set tie-break to stay alive.

“At the beginning, he started very well,” Pellegrino said. “He was playing unbelievable but then he made mistakes and I started to believe. Until the end, it was a very big fight. I started to play much better.”

In Bad Waltersdorf doubles action, Germans Constantin Frantzen and Hendrik Jebens won their season-leading fifth Challenger title, defeating Italians Marco Bortolotti and Francesco Passaro 6-1, 6-2 in the final.

American Denis Kudla dropped just one set all week to win the Columbus Challenger and earn his first title at that level since March 2022. The second seed cruised past Canadian Alexis Galarneau 6-2, 6-1 in 62 minutes to lift the trophy.

The 31-year-old Kudla ended his four-match skid across all levels to start the tournament and went the distance to claim his ninth ATP Challenger Tour title.

^{Denis Kudla wins the Challenger 75 event in Columbus, Ohio. Credit: Top Notch Management}

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Roger Federer's private opinion on Ben Shelton shared as star clinches Laver Cup

Jim Courier delivered Roger Federer's personal verdict on Ben Shelton after the 20-year-old helped Team World win the Laver Cup.

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Grand Slam champ who dropped to No 426 returns to top 40 after Gauff win kickstarted form

Sofia Kenin continued her resurgence with a run to the semi-final in Guadalajara and shot up the rankings.

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Laver Reveals Favourite Young Player: 'We're Going To See Him Win A Slam'

Ahead of Sunday’s Laver Cup action, Rod Laver answered fan questions on Twitter. The Australian was asked questions related to the past, present and future of tennis.

Who is Laver's favourite young player?

Shelton is the new player on the tour. We're going to see him winning a Slam, he's got one of the biggest serves, a big left-hander, he doesn't make many mistakes. He sees an opening and he goes for it.

— Rod Laver (@rodlaver) September 24, 2023

The 20-year-old Ben Shelton, who is No. 19 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, is one of the fastest rising stars in the sport. This time last year, Shelton was World No. 177. The lefty has enjoyed a breakthrough season, with a career-best run coming at his home Slam, where he was a semi-finalist.

Shelton was also a big part of Team World's convincing Laver Cup victory against Team Europe. The 2022 NCAA singles champion earned a singles victory in his Laver Cup debut and also earned two doubles wins, alongside Felix Auger-Aliassime and Frances Tiafoe. The 25-year-old Tiafoe is another player who Laver anticipates great success from.

Any of the top 10 could come out and win it, but we could see a surprise finalist such as Tiafoe. He's certainly capable.

— Rod Laver (@rodlaver) September 24, 2023

Laver also shared what he enjoys the most about the Laver Cup.

The players realise the importance of what the event is. The Laver Cup is now established. Before it was an idea, now it's a reality. The players feel a great identity with the region that they are representing. It's the competition. They are trying so hard.

— Rod Laver (@rodlaver) September 24, 2023

I'm honoured that the Australian has my name on the centre court. Roger Federer was instrumental in naming the Laver Cup after me. I'm honoured he felt that way about my career.

— Rod Laver (@rodlaver) September 24, 2023

What's the biggest difference between tennis now and when Laver played?

The rackets. The wooden rackets were great to play tennis with, but you have to generate all your own power. It made the game too tough for people. Metal rackets exposed the whole game, and made it more popular for women to play. They got their kids into the sport.

— Rod Laver (@rodlaver) September 24, 2023

Probably the most important was against Rosewall in the WCT final in '72. Back then, tennis wasn't exposed to the public. The NBC televised the event and it really took off. All the tennis courts were full that year. Interest in the game exploded.

— Rod Laver (@rodlaver) September 24, 2023

Is the 11-time major champion still playing tennis?

Not any more. I had to replace my hips and a knee, so I don't want to wreck them again. It was worth every bit it. I play a lot of golf these days.

— Rod Laver (@rodlaver) September 24, 2023

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John McEnroe rubs in Team World's victory at Laver Cup as Europe left embarrassed

Team World won the Laver Cup for the second year in a row as their Europe rivals lost all but one match over the whole weekend.

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Shelton/Tiafoe Clinch Team World's Laver Cup Victory

Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe put the finishing touches on Team World’s convincing Laver Cup victory Sunday.

The Americans held their nerve to defeat Team Europe’s Hubert Hurkacz and Andrey Rublev 7-6(4), 7-6(5) and secure the Laver Cup 13-2, claiming the event for the second consecutive year. The Vancouver crowd was treated to exciting rallies, with both teams demonstrating quick reflexes and deft touch in the forecourt throughout the one-hour, 37-minute clash.

Shelton and Tiafoe relied on their firepower and were dominant on serve, winning 40 of their 48 first-serve points to clinch the title. A key moment came when Shelton and Tiafoe won three consecutive points from 4/5 in the second-set tie-break to close the match.

[ATP APP]

"It's been crazy for me and I've enjoyed being in a team environment," Shelton said. "I've enjoyed playing for Johnny Mac. Team World really brought the energy this week. It's easy for me to play when I'm amped up and hyped and the bench has done a great job of hyping me up all week. I hope I've done a good job of hyping them up too. Playing with Frances speaks for itself, easiest guy to play with, most fun guy to be on court with."

Tiafoe said, "Being a part of it last year and clinching it last year was so emotional, first time. John [McEnroe[ was super excited. Now, being able to do it again in doubles with Ben was a lot of fun." 

Led by captain John McEnroe, Team World has now won the past two editions of the Laver Cup after falling in the first four.

"It felt unbelievable to kick their a** baby!" McEnroe said. "They kicked ours many times. It was a battle to the end when we won last year and we came in, great team spirit, good combination of youth and experience. I felt it from the word go and we stepped up. I thought all the guys played great."

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Khachanov Ahead Of Zhuhai SF With Korda: 'It's Tough To Find His Weakness'

Trailing a set and gasping for breath after several lung-busting rallies against Mackenzie McDonald, Karen Khachanov posed to soak in the Zhuhai applause on Sunday. The competitiveness of his 4-6 6-4 6-4 triumph over McDonald and the crowd’s response throughout their Huafa Properties Zhuhai Championships quarter-final delighted him.

It is these experiences the World No. 15 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings missed the most during his absence from the Tour following a semi-final loss to Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros.

“I was missing the energy of the crowd. Here today, it was almost full, and I always enjoy playing in front of people in full stadiums, so I was really missing it,” Khachanov said. “I am mentally ready. I had a kind of unexpected vacation and now I'm motivated, determined, excited to be back playing and trying to bring on this game again.”

[ATP APP]

The top seed will next experience a similar challenge and atmosphere when he meets American Sebastian Korda in Monday’s semi-finals. It will be the fifth Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting between the pair. If their history and recent form in Zhuhai is a guide, it shapes as an intriguing clash in a tournament resplendent with exciting matches.

The 27-year-old Khachanov edged Korda in a thrilling five-set encounter at Wimbledon in 2021 and was leading their Australian Open quarter-final this year when the American retired due to injury. Korda, who claimed his second victory in as many months over Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6- 1 6-2 in Sunday’s quarter-finals, defeated Khachanov in Cincinnati and Antwerp last year.

Khachanov and Korda have experienced similar seasons, playing at a high level at times only to be stricken with significant injuries when within range of career-best achievements. Khachanov said his rival, who hopes to break into the Top 20 by the end of the season, is an astute tactician who dissects matches well when at the peak of his game.

“When he is on and he brings his flat shots and his A-game, he has a really, really great perspective and is a tough opponent,” Khachanov said. “He serves well. He moves well. He returns well. It is tough to find a weakness. But that is what I will have to look for tomorrow against him.”

Korda, who is also in the doubles semi-finals alongside McDonald, has loved his first trip to China and is revelling on the quick courts at the Hengqin International Tennis Center.

“We’ve had some good matches so far. I am sure tomorrow will be another good, fun match,” Korda said. “We have a 2-2 record so far, so it is a big one for us. A spot in the final is where we want to be and I am very excited for it.”

Khachanov, who returned to the Top 10 briefly in June and resumed with an opening-round loss at the US Open, has enjoyed a busy week since his arrival in Zhuhai. Aside from his victories over Alex Bolt and McDonald, the father-of-two participated in a school visit and has also offered advice to talented young Chinese players.

The angular right-hander said he enjoyed mixing with young people and hoped that he might be able to provide an insight or example that could help their careers.

“It was really, really cool. I have two kids now as well and I think if I can inspire more kids around the world, I'm just really happy to be able to deliver and to do it,” Khachanov said. “I think that's most important. The next generation, they like to see tennis on the court… but it is not only about winning or losing.

“It is the way you act, being polite, these things are the most important. If I can deliver this and be… not an idol, but a person they can look to, I would be very happy."

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Roger Federer makes retirement promise to himself after 'missing everything' about tennis

Roger Federer is back at the Laver Cup exactly a year after retiring. The 42-year-old has given an update on life after tennis.

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Roger Federer confirms plan to return to ATP Tour after Swiss icon's Wimbledon buzz

Roger Federer discussed his future after attending the opening day of the Laver Cup.

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Tiafoe Takes Down Hurkacz, Extends Team World's Laver Cup Lead

Frances Tiafoe faced pressure Saturday evening when he stepped on court at the Laver Cup. Not only was the American trying to halt Team Europe's momentum after Casper Ruud won the second match of the day, but Tiafoe was trying to flip the script against Hubert Hurkacz, who had won their past three Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings.

Mission accomplished for the 25-year-old. Tiafoe defeated Hurkacz 7-5, 6-3 to give Team World an 8-2 lead in the teams competition.

The No. 11 player in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, Tiafoe had lost three consecutive singles matches entering the encounter. But after earning a doubles victory alongside Tommy Paul on Friday evening, Tiafoe rose to the occasion in Vancouver. He harnessed the energy of the crowd to withstand 11 aces from Hurkacz.

[ATP APP]

In the critical moments, it was the American who thrived. Tiafoe saved the only break point he faced while converting three of his five opportunities to triumph after one hour and 13 minutes.

Hurkacz will next return to the court for doubles with Gael Monfils against Felix Auger-Aliassime and Ben Shelton. The winner will receive two points, while each match on Sunday will be worth three points.

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Serena Williams makes her feelings crystal clear on Kim Kardashian's tennis pictures

Serena Williams had a few things to say to Kim Kardashian over her latest set of Instagram pictures on a tennis court.

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Fritz Extends Team World's Perfect Start At Laver Cup

After a perfect 4-0 start for Team World on Friday at the Laver Cup, Taylor Fritz maintained the trophy-holders perfect record in Vancouver on Saturday afternoon. The American played his best early and late in a 6-2, 7-6(3) win against Team Europe's Andrey Rublev, extending his team's lead to 6-0 by earning two points for his Day 2 victory.

In a battle of aggressive baseliners, Fritz's clean ball-striking helped him dictate more of the action on the indoor hard courts. Rublev had his moments, including several screaming return winners, but Fritz's steadier tennis — and dogged defense at times — made the difference.

Fritz immediately carried over the momentum from Friday by breaking in the opening game and easing to a one-set lead. Rublev, seeking to win Team Europe's first singles set at this year's event, started well in set two but saw his 3-0 lead erased as Fritz came on strong late.

[ATP APP]

Both players fought off a break point late in set two, with Rublev's break chance doubling as a set point at 6-5. In the decisive tie-break, Fritz hit two brilliant half-volleys to help seal the match.

"I was telling my team, I feel like I've always been much better at the handsy half-volley pick-ups and stuff," Fritz said of those moments of magic. "I feel like people definitely don't believe that I have that. But I think I'm more likely to miss the easier volleys than the half-volleys."

Fritz was in constant communication with captain John McEnroe and his team during changeovers, and the American said he thrives in the group setting.

"Any type of team environment, I feel like it always elevates my game," he explained. "I feel like I always play better actually, I feel like my record in team events is really strong and it's because I have a team cheering for me. I can get pumped up for them, I'm excited to play for them. It just adds a lot more pressure and fire to it and I think I play better in those situations."

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

Fritz's win passes the baton to Tommy Paul, who will be the next man up to continue his team's perfect run when he takes on Casper Ruud to close the day session. In the evening slate, Frances Tiafoe will play Hubert Hurkacz before Felix Auger-Aliassime and Ben Shelton take on Hurkacz and Gael Monfils in doubles.

After one point was awarded for each win on Day 1 at Laver Cup, two points are on offer for each win on Saturday. On Sunday, three points will be awarded for each victory. With a 6-0 lead, Team World is nearly halfway to the 13 points needed to win the trophy.

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Laver Cup star wants to be like Rafael Nadal weeks after Novak Djokovic 'mocked' him

Ben Shelton shared his admiration for Rafael Nadal after getting off to a winning start at the Laver Cup. It was his first match since losing to Novak Djokovic at the US Open.

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Roger Federer's final Laver Cup result 'irrelevant' as Tiafoe lifts lid on chat at the net

Frances Tiafoe has opened up on what it was like to face Roger Federer in the final match of the retired Swiss star's tennis career.

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Tiafoe Takes On Banter From Gauff, Pegula, Rublev & More

Frances Tiafoe has become one of the most popular players on the ATP Tour in recent years, with his high energy, fun personality gaining him fans both in the stands and in the locker room.

The American, who starred in the first season of Break Point, recently showed off his fun side when he answered questions that were asked by his fellow stars on the ATP Tour and Hologic WTA Tour.

Quizzed by Andrey Rublev, Coco Gauff, Casper Ruud, Sebastian Korda, Mike Bryan and Jessica Pegula, Tiafoe recalled funny memories with Rublev, pushed off banter from Ruud and Pegula and discussed his love-hate relationship with his brother.

To learn what he said, watch the full video below.

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Shelton Wins For Team World In Laver Cup Debut

Ben Shelton heard the doubters when he was selected by John McEnroe to make his Laver Cup debut for Team World. The American was happy to prove those naysayers wrong with his breakout semi-final run at the US Open, and he continued to repay McEnroe's faith on Friday with a straight-sets win against Team Europe's Arthur Fils.

In his first match since a defeat to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the New York semis, Shelton was a 7-6(4), 6-1 winner against France's Fils, earning defending champion Team World an early 1-0 lead in the first-to-13 event.

The American revelled in the team environment, constantly interacting with the Vancouver crowd and the Team World bench throughout the victory.

"Come on, Johnny!" Shelton shouted to McEnroe after winning six straight points to win the opening tie-break from 1-4. "Yeah baby!" was the captain's reply.

"It's been amazing," Shelton said of working with his fellow American lefty. "Just a few key pieces of advice I've picked up on over the last few days. It's been great to be around him, and his energy is unmatched. Having him as a captain at a team event is amazing. He definitely matches my energy out here on the court, and I'm happy to be playing for him and Team World."

[ATP APP]

A tight opening set did not see a break point for either player, with just one point going against serve in the first six games. Both players found early success by backing up big serves with heavy forehands on the indoor hard court.

It was Shelton's success in the rallies that won him the opening set, with Fils' errors costing him his lead in the tie-break. With the comfort of the lead, Shelton ran away with set two, creating break points in all three return games and converting twice.

"I think the crowd really got me going, having it in Canada. I know it's not the U.S., but thanks for the World support," he said. "I really wanted to be able to set the tone with my energy for Team World today. I think it went pretty well, so I'm excited to get on the bench and cheer for these guys the rest of the day."

Team World's Francisco Cerundolo will meet Team Europe's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the second of four matches on Friday in Vancouver, rounding out the day session. Friday's evening session will see home favourite Felix Auger-Aliassime take on Gael Monfils before Americans Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe play Fils and Andrey Rublev in doubles.

The first team to reach 13 points will win the Laver Cup. One point is awarded for each victory on Friday, two points for each win on Saturday, and three for each win on Sunday.

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John McEnroe makes impassioned Laver Cup plea as he vents over 'frustrating' tennis issue

John McEnroe called on the tennis world to "realise the gift" of the Laver Cup.

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Caroline Wozniacki releases furious statement over fake quotes on doping controversy

Caroline Wozniacki has hit out on social media after quotes were wrongly attributed to her.

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Tennis star gets standing ovation after generous act leaves defeated rival giggling

A tremendous act of sportsmanship was shown at the Huafa Properties Zhuhai Championships.

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Rafael Nadal gives conditions to injury comeback as Spaniard plots potential 'goodbye'

Rafael Nadal is still recovering from surgery as he hopes to return to tennis in 2024.

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Laver Cup: Team Europe & Team World Ready As Day 1 Schedule Revealed

The photos have been taken and practice is complete. On Friday, Team Europe and Team World will begin the 2023 Laver Cup in Vancouver. 

After taking official photos for the teams event on Wednesday, the stars made their final preparations on Thursday in Canada. The Order of Play for Day 1, when matches will be worth one point each, was also unveiled.

Recent US Open semi-finalist Ben Shelton will try to make a good start for defending champion Team World against fellow Laver Cup debutant Arthur Fils of Team Europe.

“Being back in a team environment, I feel really comfortable," Shelton said at his team's press conference Thursday. "Really excited to be on this team with these guys, guys that the last few years I’ve been watching tear it up on Tour and been watching tear it up in this event. So really happy to be here, excited to be kicking things off tomorrow and looking forward [to] the chance to set the tone for the team.”

A series of smiles 😁@LaverCup | #LaverCup pic.twitter.com/sBGq9NRfuH

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 21, 2023

In the day's other two singles clashes, Francisco Cerundolo (Team World) will play Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (Team Europe) and Felix Auger-Aliassime (Team World) will try to defeat Gael Monfils (Team Europe).

Team World's Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe will take on Team Europe's Fils and Andrey Rublev in the first doubles match of the competition.

ORDER OF PLAY - FRIDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER 2023

ROGERS ARENA start 1 p.m.
Arthur Fils (Europe) vs Ben Shelton (World)

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (Europe) vs Francisco Cerundolo (World)

7 p.m.
Gael Monfils (Europe) vs Felix Auger-Aliassime (World)

Arthur Fils (EUR) / Andrey Rublev (Europe) vs Tommy Paul (World)/ Frances Tiafoe (World)

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Hop On, Jerry! McDonald Gives Hobbling Shang Piggy-Back In Zhuhai

A first-round match on Thursday at the Huafa Properties Zhuhai Championships featured one of the most interesting endings to a match in recent memory.

After Mackenzie McDonald polished off a 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-3 victory over #NextGenATP Chinese star Shang Juncheng, who was struggling physically with cramp, the American jogged to Shang’s side of the court. McDonald put Shang on his back and carried him to his chair.

“I knew he was struggling so I ran to him to shake his hand,” McDonald told ATPTour.com. “He said, ‘Good match’, and he said, ‘Can you help me to the bench?’ I said, ‘Hop on’. So he jumped on my back and I carried him over to the bench and he said, ‘Good match, man.’”

Still friends 🤭@mackiemacster passes a tough test against Shang 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-3!@ZhuhaiChampions | #ZhuhaiChampionships pic.twitter.com/kOznQVQJd9

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 21, 2023

The clip of the competitors enjoying a light-hearted moment after a tough battle quickly went viral on social media. McDonald needed two hours and 36 minutes to win the match, but just seconds to earn plenty of fans around the world.

The sixth seed will face Belgian Kimmer Coppejans for a place in the quarter-finals.

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