Tennis

Two years ago, Stefanos Tsitsipas was an alternate in the Next Gen ATP Finals field. Last season, the Greek star triumphed in Milan. And after beating defending champion Alexander Zverev in straight sets on Wednesday, Tsitsipas has guaranteed his spot in the semi-finals of the Nitto ATP Finals.

The 21-year-old loves challenges. And although he has already booked a trip to the last four at The O2 in London, Tsitsipas will get a chance to eliminate World No. 1 Rafael Nadal from the competition on Friday. If the Spaniard falls, he will not have a chance to move into the semi-finals.

“I’m going to give it my all. I’m going to try to give my soul, and I think it’s also a very good challenge for me in order to prepare for more difficult matches in the semi-finals and the finals, potentially,” Tsitsipas said. “So this match is going to give me a lot. It’s going to educate me, and I’m going to try to get and absorb as much as I can from that.”

Tsitsipas lost the first seven sets of his FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry with Nadal, but the Greek earned his first win against the lefty earlier this year in Madrid, triumphing in three sets. Nadal leads their series 4-1.

But the World No. 6 will take plenty of confidence into their matchup. Tsitsipas, in his Nitto ATP Finals debut, is the only player yet to lose a set. He was in devastating for against Zverev, losing only five games and saving the lone break point he faced.

“I believe I had a good performance today, which is very satisfying to know, that [there were] no signs of any nerves [and that I was] feeling pretty good on the court,” Tsitsipas said. “It was a good performance. It’s really good to know that I’ll be playing in the semi-finals, but I’ve got to concentrate, keep going the way I have been doing things the past couple of days.”

Tsitsipas has not shied away from clashes with the best players in the world. With his victory against the German, Tsitsipas is now 7-8 this year against Top 10 opposition.

“I always find an extra motivation, an extra reason to play well against the top guys. I consider Sascha also being of this part of this elite group,” Tsitsipas said. “He has done very well over the years. He has, in a way, inspired me to step it up and be part of the Top 10. So in a way I actually owe him a lot. He plays good tennis. Also playing Rafa, Roger, Novak, Andy — I haven’t played Andy, but I think there is plenty to learn from them.

“You have been watching them on TV. You have always wanted to be part of that. So for you, when you step out on the court… it’s a visual. When you see something that you have been dreaming of, I think there is always a spark, kind of an extra reason to play.”

The Zverev win was not the only big one for Tsitsipas, though. The three-time ATP Tour champion arrived in London having not beaten Daniil Medvedev in five tries. But he defeated the Russian for the first time on Monday to get his week started on a high note.

“It’s very fulfilling and satisfying. It’s a big relief when you go through so much pressure and so much will and trying to put yourself into a nirvanic concentration mode. It’s not as easy as people think it is,” Tsitsipas said. “It’s something that fulfills you when you are able to beat players like this and give your best, give your all. These wins mean more than others, and it’s a good thing to have in your portfolio.”

Tsitsipas wouldn’t mind adding a win against Nadal to his Nitto ATP Finals resume either.

It’s safe to say that Jannik Sinner has gained a few new fans this season.

In January, the Italian teenager was competing at an ITF Futures event in Tunisia. On Friday, he walked on court at the Next Gen ATP Finals to find thousands of fans at the Allianz Cloud cheering for him and holding signs with his name. Sinner credited the support in Milan with helping him defeat Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic and complete a dream run into the championship match against top seed Alex de Minaur.

”I think the crowd gives you a kind of energy, which is very important for a player,” Sinner said. “Today, I was a little bit more nervous because it’s a semi-final. Tomorrow, I will, of course, be a little bit nervous, which is normal. You have to try to put it away and focus on your game, which I think I have done a good job of today.”

His run as a wild card this week is the latest highlight in a remarkable season of growth. Sinner hadn’t won an ATP Challenger Tour match prior to arriving in Bergamo this February, but delighted the home crowd by taking the title and becoming the youngest Italian winner in Challenger history. His first ATP Tour main draw win came two months later in Budapest, followed by his first ATP Masters 1000 win in Rome. Last month, he defeated Gael Monfils to reach his maiden tour-level semi-final in Antwerp. 

Supporters of Italian tennis have had plenty to cheer for this year, including Matteo Berrettini qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals and Fabio Fognini winning his first Masters 1000 crown in Monte-Carlo, but Sinner’s run in Milan has stirred the crowds this week into near-hysteria. Fans have packed the stands to watch him practise and the list of media outlets hoping to speak with him grows each day. Although the 18-year-old can appear shy, he has embraced being recognised for his success.

“I enjoy the spotlight. I think it’s something new. [The fans are] just trying to cheer for me,” Sinner said. “Sometimes guys the same age as me are coming up to me and asking for photos or autographs. It’s strange, but it feels good.”

Sinner will have the spotlight on him once again when he takes on De Minaur in Saturday’s final. But regardless of the final score, he is determined to create another memorable moment for his growing legion of fans.

”It’s unbelievable here, the atmosphere, and I enjoy every moment I play,” Sinner said. “I will try to play my best tennis because against Alex, if you want to win, you have to. It’s not an easy match tomorrow, but I will try my best.”

Alex de Minaur said on day one of the 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals that he feels like a completely different player during his return to Milan. The Aussie finished as runner-up last year to Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, and backed it up in 2019 with his first three ATP Tour titles (Sydney, Atlanta, Zhuhai).

But De Minaur has looked every bit as dominant during Group A play as he was last year during group action, when he went undefeated. The 20-year-old will try to go 3-0 again during group play on Thursday when he faces Norway’s Casper Ruud.

De Minaur moved to 2-0 on Wednesday with a four-set triumph against Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic, and Ruud, who is making his debut, earned his first Next Gen ATP Finals victory against Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 3-4(2), 4-3(2), 4-2, 3-4(2), 4-1.

“[Casper] played a hell of a match today and it’s going to be incredibly tough, but this is what we’re here for,” De Minaur said. “Everyone is playing at a high level, so I have to be ready for it.”

2 out of 2 for @alexdeminaur ✅

Can anyone stop Demon at the @nextgenfinals? 😈

🎥: @TennisTV pic.twitter.com/O1btixewfz

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 6, 2019

Kecmanovic, who is 1-1, will face Davidovich Fokina, who’s going for his first Milan victory. The Serbian will come in second place in the group and advance to the semi-finals if he beats the Spaniard and De Minaur beats Ruud.

Davidovich Fokina, despite being 0-2, still has a chance to make the final two days of the award-winning 21-and-under event. But he needs to beat Kecmanovic in three or four sets to have a chance.

Ruud can reach the semi-finals, but he needs to win in straight sets and to have Kecmanovic beat Davidovich Fokina by any score. Ruud’s other route to Friday features a win against De Minaur, by any score, and a Davidovich Fokina victory against Kecmanovic by any score.

Read More: All Of The Milan Semi-Final Scenarios

“I’m very happy that I won today, and I’m very happy that I can play the semi-finals,” Sinner said.

Sinner’s red-hot start has captivated the home fans, who were waiting in droves to buy an evening session ticket on Wednesday.

Just a small queue for tickets to Jannik Sinner‘s match tonight… ?#NextGenATP | #SeeTheFuture pic.twitter.com/Pu2STPJT1r

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 6, 2019

The eighth-seeded Italian will meet third seed Ugo Humbert of France, who will look to end his season with a win. Humbert is 0-2 so far after falling in four sets to Tiafoe on Wednesday.

The American, who failed to make the semi-finals last year, will face Ymer in a win-or-go-home match. The winner will finish second place in the group behind Sinner. It will be the first FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting between Tiafoe and Ymer.

“Play the way I have been playing. I have been playing well. I even played well yesterday. Sinner was playing great. I played well today,” Tiafoe said. “Keep serving well. You serve well in this format, you most likely will win. So serve well and keep putting pressure on the other guy. All you need is one break and the other guy is in trouble. I’m ready to go.”

Celebration of the year? ?@FTiafoe | #NextGenATP pic.twitter.com/KTgBUEQm4m

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 6, 2019

Two battles of unbeatens will highlight day two of the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan on Wednesday.

In the afternoon session, top seed Alex de Minaur of Australia will meet Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic, the fifth seed, as both players look to move to 2-0 at the award-winning 21-and-under tournament.

De Minaur will try to improve to 5-0 in group matches in Milan, after going 3-0 last year and beating seventh seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain 4-2, 3-4(5), 4-1, 4-1 in Group A on day one.

“Obviously it’s my second time around with these different rules. Going in, I knew it was going to be a tough match, especially with these conditions, anything can happen. The match can turn at any moment,” De Minaur said.

The Aussie, who has won three ATP Tour titles this season (Sydney, Atlanta, Zhuhai), has never faced Kecmanovic, who reached his first ATP Tour final in Antalya in June and advanced in straight sets against Norway’s Casper Ruud on Tuesday.

“I think I like it. I think I thrive in it very well,” Kecmanovic said of the shorter scoring format in Milan.

Wednesday’s opener features Ruud against Davidovich Fokina as both players will look to get on the board and give their semi-final hopes a jolt. De Minaur can qualify if he beats Kecmanovic and Davidovich Fokina overcomes Ruud.

To end the evening session, sixth seed Mikael Ymer of Sweden will face eighth seed and wild card Italy’s Jannik Sinner to see who will move to 2-0. Both players pulled off inspiring upsets on Tuesday.

More From Day One In Milan
Sinner Brings The Energy In Tiafoe Upset
Ymer Maintains Top Form
De Minaur Battles Past Davidovich Fokina
Kecmanovic Serves Up Victory In Milan

Ymer dominated third seed Ugo Humbert of France 4-3(2), 1-4, 4-2, 4-1 in Group B. Since 23 September, the Swede has climbed 31 spots in the ATP Rankings, from No. 105 to No. 74.

Sinner, behind a boisterous Milan crowd, overcame a hot start from second seed Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. to win 3-4(4), 4-2, 4-2, 4-2. Sinner started the season at No. 551 in the ATP Rankings. He enters Milan at No. 95, a climb of 456 spots.

Tiafoe, who is making his second Milan showing, and Humbert will kick off the evening session.

SCHEDULE – WEDNESDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2019
ALLIANZ CLOUD COURT start 2:00 pm
[4] C. Ruud (NOR) vs [7] A. Davidovich Fokina (ESP)

Not Before 3:00 pm
[1] A. de Minaur (AUS) vs [5] M. Kecmanovic (SRB)

Not Before 7:30 pm
[2] F. Tiafoe (USA) vs [3] U. Humbert (FRA)
[6] M. Ymer (SWE) vs [8] [WC] J. Sinner (ITA)

One year ago, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was sitting on the sidelines, questioning his future as a professional tennis player. The French stalwart had just undergone surgery on his left knee and was in the midst of a long and arduous recovery.

It is something that would test the spirit and resilience of any player. But for a 34-year-old former Top 5 star, rebuilding his ATP Ranking has its own inherent challenges. An experience like this reveals a lot about a player’s motivation and sheer passion for the game.

As Tsonga’s comeback got underway in 2019, his desire was evident from the start. The charismatic Frenchman was forced to find his game on the ATP Challenger Tour, entering the season outside the Top 250. A perennial Top 20 player for his entire career, he found himself in uncharted territory, competing in his first Challenger since 2007.

Despite only needing to play in three events on the circuit this year, Tsonga admits it was nonetheless a humbling experience. And one that reminded him why he first picked up a racquet.

“The reason why I went there was to have matches under my belt, but it was also many other things,” Tsonga said while competing at the Rolex Paris Masters last week. “Playing in Challenger tournaments helped me find the reasons why I was playing tennis again. The conditions are always more difficult. There’s always a battle. You meet with players who are dreaming of being great champions. And even the crowd that is attending is a different crowd.”

For today’s stars, competing at the highest level in professional tennis should not be taken for granted. It is a privilege to be embedded on the ATP Tour for months, years and especially an entire career. That said, returning to the ATP Challenger Tour can humble even the most seasoned veterans.

This year, Tsonga competed on home soil in Bordeaux, Cassis and Orleans. But success did not come easy. In fact, he would fall in straight sets in both the Bordeaux quarter-finals and in the semis in Orleans.

Movers To The Top 50 In 2019

In Cassis, however, Tsonga was in vintage form, streaking to the title and becoming one of five players to win on both the ATP Tour and Challenger circuit this year. He credits his victory at the Cassis Open Provence to his subsequent triumph at the ATP 250 in Metz, which propelled him back inside the Top 50.

And the Frenchman is not alone. Last year, Kei Nishikori returned to the ATP Challenger Tour after an extended absence due to a wrist injury, lifting the trophy in Dallas. He would go on to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals. Earlier this year, Kyle Edmund called his title at the Indian Wells Challenger one that “can get you going again” as he returned from a knee injury. And two months ago, former World No. 1 Andy Murray continued his comeback from hip surgery with an appearance in Mallorca, before lifting the trophy at the European Open in Antwerp.

“It’s always pleasant to play such tournaments, because then we realize that what we do is exceptional,” Tsonga added. “We get closer to the public when we play Challengers and we listen to what people say and it makes you feel good. It helps you have a different view of your career, of tennis at large and to find pleasure again in playing tennis. There’s no pressure anymore.”

Tsonga has risen 230 spots in the ATP Rankings since the start of the year, ascending to No. 29. It is the biggest jump to the Top 50 in 2019. Last week, he would reach his first ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final in three years in Paris, claiming an impressive Top 10 win over Matteo Berrettini along the way.

With new experiences comes a new perspective – on both tennis and life.

“One should not forget that it’s not given to everyone to play tennis.”

Vasek Pospisil opened his 2019 campaign in a position no player desires. The Candian was laying on an operating table after undergoing back surgery to repair a herniated disc. He would miss the next five months of the season, before returning at Wimbledon.

Now, the former World No. 25 is working to rebuild his ranking one tournament at a time. His recent results will go a long way to achieve that. On Sunday, Pospisil defeated countryman Brayden Schnur 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-2 to capture the crown at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Charlottesville.

Watch Hot Shots: Pospisil On Fire In Charlottesville

Pospisil went back-to-back in Las Vegas and Charlottesville, securing his second straight title. The 29-year-old dropped a combined one set between the two tournaments, extending his win streak to 11 straight with his victory at the Boar’s Head Sports Club.

It marked the first time two Canadians met in a Challenger final outside of Canada since 1999, when Frederic Niemeyer defeated Sebastien Lareau in Urbana. Ironically, Niemeyer is now coaching Schnur.

✅ Back-to-back titles in Las Vegas & Charlottesville
✅ 10-match win streak@VasekPospisil is the champion at the @CMPChallenger! pic.twitter.com/EpZHvHnZ87

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) November 4, 2019

Up to No. 153 in the ATP Rankings, Pospisil is in a hurry to return to return to the ATP Tour. Just last month he streaked to the Round of 16 at the Rolex Shanghai Masters as a qualifier, securing a Top 20 upset of Diego Schwartzman along the way. The Vernon native has won 15 of his last 16 matches overall and is making a late-season push to return to the Top 100.

Pospisil spoke to broadcaster Mike Cation following the final…

Congrats Vasek. Your second title in a row. I can imagine the Vegas win meant a lot to you, in terms of that final push to have a trophy before the end of the year. What does this one in Charlottesville mean to you?
They both feel great. Obviously, Vegas was amazing coming back from the surgery I had in January. I had a different perspective on the sport and on life. A lot of things have changed and it’s the first time I’m coming back from a major injury.

You’re never quite sure how your body and your game is going to respond, being the first time. So far it’s much better than I expected. I put in a lot of hard work to come back to this level. I didn’t expect it to be this fast, but right now I’m feeling great.

You played 16 matches in your last three tournaments, between Shanghai, Vegas and now Charlottesville. In the second set it looked like the groin might be tight. How’s the body right now?
You know, it was on one return in the tie-break where I lunged and made a weird step. My hip was hurting a little bit. That is to be expected. I haven’t played this many matches in more than a year. When you’re doing that after a surgery, it just shows that I’m in better shape than expected. I was getting a little tired and the last couple days there was stiffness in my lower back. You can’t take any chances, but I think it took a toll definitely.

All week long you were able to get into your patterns, hitting the backhand slice up the line and setting up in the deuce corner with the forehand cross. You moved in to the net a lot too. Brayden took you out of that a little today. How did you acclimate?
He did and honestly I thought he was playing really well. At one point at the end of the second set and beginning of the third, I was accepting that he was serving better than me. I was a little off with my serve to start. I was just playing scrappy tennis at the time, just to hang in there, because he was being very offensive off the return.

I made an adjustment on my serve in the third set and that maybe made a bit of a difference. I was able to relax more in my service games and it allowed me to be more aggressive. It changed the match around.

What were your goals when you first started and how have they changed now with your successes in the last month?
I wasn’t even setting any goals. It was a situation where I was first coming back and wasn’t sure how my body would even react to match play. My goal was to finish the year healthy and get to the offseason in a good state of mind and a good physical state. And to then focus on 2020. That was it.

Obviously, not playing for most of the year will make you go that route. Right now, with the results I’ve had the past couple months, it’s completely unexpected and I won’t take it for granted. I’m more ready than I thought to climb back up the rankings. I’ll be going into the Australian Open with higher goals after this past month.

Being at No. 152 with nothing to defend until July is a pretty good situation.
Yeah for sure, it’s a pretty good spot to be in.

You mentioned you have a fresh perspective after the surgery. How do you now view Challengers and their role in pro tennis?
That’s a complex question. It’s such an important level and there are still things to improve, including continuing to build on the prize money. They aren’t the biggest events we have and they aren’t bringing in big revenue, but there has to be a balance where the major events are contributing more.

Long term that will affect the sport in a positive way, when you have more than 300 guys who can make a living. Maybe more guys will play tennis and more will invest in their bodies to make a better product. If there’s a way to funnel more money into these smaller events, that would be important.

You celebrated with a drink in Las Vegas. How will you celebrate now as you’re heading to Knoxville?
Taco Bell.

That’s the weirdest one I’ve ever heard.
You know, my coach Frank Dancevic and I were driving by Taco Bell and said how much we love it. But we never eat it. We decided if I win the tournament we’re going to have a big cheat meal and absolutely destroy it. That’s what we’re doing.

A LOOK BACK
Shenzhen Longhua Open (Shenzhen, China): This week, the ATP Challenger Tour descended on the affluent Mission Hills Country Club. Home to 20 hard courts, as well as the largest golf facility in the world, with 12 courses, the venue is a sprawling sports complex.

It is only fitting that the prestigious club would host a historic moment for tennis in China. On Sunday, Zhang Zhizhen claimed the first all-Chinese final in Challenger history, defeating countryman Li Zhe 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 in front of a packed crowd at Mission Hills.

It has been quite the impressive four-year stretch for Chinese tennis, with Wu Di becoming its first champion in 2016, followed by its first teenage winner in 2017, Wu Yibing. And in 2018, Zhang Ze became the first to win multiple titles. Now, Zhang Zhizhen joins his countrymen in securing a slice of history.

“I’m really happy,” said Zhang. “I didn’t think I would get it this week, so it’s very nice for me. It’s never easy to play him and he played really good in second set. Barely made any unforced errors in return games. I managed to get the momentum back in the third set and adjust my mindset in the right place.

“I am very happy with this win and it seems like I always play well in Shenzhen. This city has become my special place. This title also helps me reach my goal for this season (Top 150). So lots of pressure released from my shoulder now. It is never easy to win any Challenger title.”

Zhang Zhizhen is the champion in Shenzhen!

The first ever all-Chinese 🇨🇳 Challenger championship goes to the Shanghai native 63 46 61 over Li Zhe. pic.twitter.com/WIZemsnqEp

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) November 3, 2019

It was a second title for the Shanghai native nicknamed ‘ZZZ’, having prevailed in Jinan earlier this year. He rises to a career-high No. 141 in the ATP Rankings, sitting one spot off China’s highest-ever ranking, earned by Wu Di three years ago.

The 23-year-old continues to capture the tennis headlines in his homeland, steadily building on a breakthrough quarter-final run at the former ATP Tour stop in Shenzhen in 2017. Just last month he secured two more tour-level victories in Zhuhai and Beijing, including an upset of World No. 34 Kyle Edmund at the China Open.

Li, meanwhile, was competing in his second Challenger final and first since 2017, when he finished runner-up in Bangkok. He will also rise to a career-high in the ATP Rankings, cracking the Top 200 at No. 194.

Chinese Challenger Champions

City of Playford Tennis International (Playford, Australia): One year ago, Jordan Thompson took the ATP Challenger Tour by storm in the final weeks of the season, lifting a pair of trophies on home soil and finishing with a tour-leading 52 match wins. This year, it’s his countryman’s turn.

James Duckworth claimed a tour-leading 44th match victory on Sunday, streaking to the title on home soil in Playford. He did not drop a set all week in securing his third trophy of the year, capped by a 7-6(2), 6-4 triumph over Yasutaka Uchiyama. Also the champion in Bangkok and Baotou, the Aussie rises 20 spots to No. 110 in the ATP Rankings. Like Thompson did in 2018, he is hoping to conclude his campaign inside the Top 100. Duckworth enters Kobe, Japan, next week as the fourth seed.

He owns the most match wins this year (44) and now @JamesDuck21 has his third 🏆 of 2019.

Champion in Playford without dropping a set. 💪 pic.twitter.com/axY7VSGu3d

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) November 3, 2019

Charlottesville Men’s Pro Challenger (Charlottesville, Virginia, USA): Later on Sunday, it will be the first all-Canadian final outside of Canada in 20 years. Brayden Schnur battles Vasek Pospisil for the title in Charlottesville.

Challenger Eckental (Eckental, Germany): In Eckental, Steve Darcis plays his final match on the ATP Challenger Tour. The Belgian veteran, who announced he will retire from pro tennis in January, is a two-time ATP Tour champion and 10-time winner on the Challenger circuit. He will face Jiri Vesely for the title later on Sunday.

Challenger Ciudad de Guayaquil (Guayaquil, Ecuador): In South America, top seed Hugo Dellien carries a 5-2 record in Challenger finals to the Guayaquil championship. He faces 19-year-old Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild, who is competing in his first final.

A LOOK AHEAD
Four tournaments on four continents highlight this week’s slate. The Slovak Open in Bratislava welcomes a loaded field for the tournament’s 20th edition. Seven players are inside the Top 100 of the ATP Rankings, including top seed Mikhail Kukushkin.

On the indoor hard courts of Kobe, Japan, defending champion Tatsuma Ito returns and is joined by fellow seeded countrymen Yasutaka Uchiyama, Yuichi Sugita, Go Soeda and Hiroki Moriya. James Duckworth and Zhang Zhizhen look to go back-to-back after lifting trophies this week.

In Knoxville, a red-hot Tommy Paul leads the field, with Brayden Schnur and Bradley Klahn. And on the clay of Montevideo, home hope Pablo Cuevas targets a fourth tournament title.

Alex de Minaur finished runner-up to Stefanos Tsitsipas last November in Milan, and will look to go one better this year as the top seed at the 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals. The 20-year-old Australian has won three ATP Tour titles this season, and broke into the Top 20 on Monday after reaching the ATP 500-level final at the Swiss Indoors Basel (l. to Federer). 

American Frances Tiafoe, who is set to be the No. 2 seed, also returns to Milan for a second straight year. The returning qualifiers will be joined at the award-winning 21-and-under event by Ugo Humbert, Casper Ruud, Miomir Kecmanovic, Mikael Ymer, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Italian wild card Jannik Sinner. 

The third edition of the Next Gen ATP Finals will see the continuation of a number of innovations, including a best-of-five set format, shorter sets to 4 (tie-break at 3-All) and No-Ad scoring. Other innovations include Electronic Line Calling through Hawk-Eye Live, a 25-second Shot Clock, In-Match player coaching via head-sets, Video Review and more. Players will also be permitted to use wearable technology in competition for the first time on the ATP Tour. 

This year’s tournament will also see the return of the traditional ‘let’ rule, following the decision to bring to a close the ‘no let’ trial that was in place across the first two editions of the event. 

Here’s all you need to know about the Milan tennis tournament: what is the schedule, where to watch, who has won and more. 

Established: 2017

Tournament Dates: 5-9 November 2019

Tournament Director: Ross Hutchins

Draw Ceremony: Saturday, 2 November, at 7:30pm

Are You In? Subscribe To Get Tournament Updates In Your Inbox

Schedule 
* Main draw round-robin: Tuesday – Thursday: Match 1 at 2:00pm, Match 2 follows (not before 3:00pm on 6 & 7 November). Match 3 at 7:30pm, Match 4 follows. 
* Semi-finals: Friday at 7:00pm & 9:00pm
* Singles final: Saturday, 9 November not before 3:00pm

How To Watch
Watch Live On Tennis TV 
TV Schedule

Venue: Allianz Cloud

Prize Money: $1,400,000  

Tickets On Sale: Buy Now 

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

Honour Roll (Open Era)
Most Titles: Hyeon Chung, Stefanos Tsitsipas (1)
Oldest Champion: Hyeon Chung, 21, in 2017
Youngest Champion: Stefanos Tsitsipas, 20, in 2018
Lowest-Ranked Champion: No. 54 Hyeon Chung in 2017
Most Match Wins: Andrey Rublev (6)

2018 Finals
Singles: [1] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) d. [2] Alex de Minaur (AUS) 24 41 43(3) 43(3)   Read & Watch

Social
Hashtag: #NextGenATP

Facebook: @nextgenfinals
Twitter: @nextgenfinals
Instagram: @nextgenfinals

Did You Know…The first two champions of the Next Gen ATP Finals, Hyeon Chung and Stefanos Tsitsipas, went on to reach the Australian Open semi-finals the following year.