PARIS: Serbia, without Novak Djokovic, proved no match for Slovakia who surged into the group stage of the Davis Cup finals for the first time, with Germany and Finland among five other countries qualifying on Saturday.
Slovak doubles duo Lukas Klein and Igor Zelenay clinched the decisive point with a 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 win over Nikola Caci and Miomir Kecmanovic to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the tie.
Lukas Pokorny made it 4-0 after Laslo Djere retired while trailing in the first set of the reverse singles on indoor clay at Kraljevo.
“Too many years we didn’t qualify but finally we made it,” said Zelenay.
Alex Molcan, who won Friday’s second singles, added: “We knew it was going to be tough against Serbians in their home nation. I’m happy we were able to win two matches today.”
Zelenay and Klein had recovered from a break in the first set, digging deep with 31 winners to see off 2010 champions Serbia.
On Friday, Klein got Slovakia off the mark with a 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 win over Kecmanovic, with Molcan rallying past Dusan Lajovic 4-6, 6-2, 6-0.
In Hungary, three-time winners Germany — missing Alexander Zverev due to illness — clinched the first two of Saturday’s matches for an eventual 3-2 victory.
Doubles pairing Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz’s 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) win over Fabian Marozsan and Mate Valkusz pulled the Germans ahead.
Jan-Lennard Struff sealed their ticket with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Valkusz to advance to September’s group stage featuring 16 teams. Zsombor Piros won a dead fifth rubber against Krawietz.
Finland cruised to a 3-1 win over Portugal, while Brazil qualified for a first finals appearance as Thiago Monteiro defeated Elias Ymer in three sets to cement a 3-1 victory of their own.
The Netherlands won a thrilling contest against Switzerland, Botic van de Zandschulp edging Marc-Andrea Huesler 5-7, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 in the decisive second reverse singles as the Dutch prevailed 3-2 in Groningen.
The Swiss led the tie 2-1 after Huesler and Leandro Riedi won Saturday’s doubles, but Tallon Griekspoor kept the hosts alive by seeing off Riedi in two tie-break sets.
“We had to win and it was up to me to do it,” said Griekspoor. “That is what you have to do as a team leader. I really didn’t feel any tension — I really enjoyed it.”
Canada, the 2022 champions, seized a 3-1 lead over South Korea to clinch victory on Saturday in Montreal when Gabriel Diallo defeated Hong Seong-chan 7-5, 4-6, 6-1.
Two-time winners Croatia are level at 1-1 with Belgium as are Argentina and Kazakhstan.
France hold a 2-0 lead against Taiwan, in one of five qualifiers set to conclude on Sunday. The Czech Republic have a similar advantage over Israel.
Defending champions Italy and last year’s runners-up Australia, as well as Britain and Spain have advanced automatically to the finals.
On Friday, the United States advanced 4-0 with Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram sealing their spot with a doubles win against Ukraine.
Taylor Fritz then eased past Vladyslav Orlov 6-3, 6-4 to complete an American sweep.
“I’m proud of the guys,” said US captain Bob Bryan of the record 32-time winners who have not lifted the trophy since 2007.
Slovakia rout Serbia in Djokovic absence to make Davis Cup finals
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Slovakia rout Serbia in Djokovic absence to make Davis Cup finals
Next Gen ATP Finals get underway in Jeddah
- Van Assche, Michelsen win opening matches in Red Group afternoon session
- Tien, Fonseca secure dramatic Blue Group victories over Mensik and Fils, respectively
JEDDAH: The 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF got underway in Jeddah on Wednesday as King Abdullah Sports City hosted tennis stars of the future for the second consecutive year.
Featuring the world’s eight best 20-and-under men’s players, the event is being held in the Kingdom as part of a five-year partnership between the ATP Tour and the Saudi Tennis Federation.
The year-ending tournament is known for its unique scoring format of four-game sets and technological innovation, ensuring fast-paced matches and added drama starting with the Red Group in the afternoon session.
In the first match, sixth seed Luca Van Assche made a triumphant return to Jeddah by defeating fourth seed Juncheng Shang 4-3 (7-3), 2-4, 4-1, 4-3 (7-5) in an entertaining contest.
France’s Van Assche reached the semifinals in Jeddah last year and used his greater tournament experience to secure an impressive victory against his higher-ranked Chinese opponent.
Van Assche, 20, said: “I’m very happy to be back here. It was a great experience for me last year, now it’s my second time. The city is great, the facilities are beautiful, and the hotel is unbelievable.
“It was difficult match today because he’s an unbelievable player. He’s in the top 50, so I knew it was going to be a tough match, and I’m very happy with my performance. I managed to be very calm. I’ve been working a lot the last couple of weeks. I managed to be very consistent.”
Second seed Alex Michelsen soon followed Van Assche in the Red Group win column, fighting back from a set down against fellow American Nishesh Basavareddy to emerge from an enthralling battle with a 2-4, 4-3 (7-5), 4-3 (7-4), 4-2 victory.
Basavareddy is making his debut at the Next Gen ATP Finals before making his ATP Tour debut, a consequence of his impressive run on the second-tier ATP Challenger Tour during the final stretch of the season.
The 19-year-old began brightly to suggest a surprise result could be on the cards, but Michelsen’s composure during two crucial tiebreaks swung the match in his favor. Trailing by a break and 1-2 in the fourth set, Michelsen won three straight games to secure his first victory on his second appearance in Jeddah.
Michelsen, 20, said: “Considering I went 0-3 last year, winning this first one felt really good. It’s always a good feeling and I felt really relieved to get that one done.
“He definitely handled (his debut) better than I did last year. He was rushing me very quickly from the beginning, and I didn’t have answers. Then I found my way into a couple of breakers. I feel like I served pretty well today, so that always helps.”
The evening session saw seventh seed Learner Tien deny third seed Jakub Mensik from completing a rousing comeback by sealing a dramatic 4-3 (8-6), 4-3 (7-3), 2-4, 2-4, 4-3 (10-8) triumph.
The 19-year-old American looked to be on course for a comfortable surprise victory over the ATP Rookie of the Year after winning the first two sets in tiebreaks, but the powerful Mensik soon found his rhythm and range to wrestle the momentum and level the match at two sets each.
The 19-year-old Czech moved to within three points of a superb comeback victory when he led the fifth-set tiebreak 4-1, but Tien dug deep to level at 5-5. Both players saved match points before Tien eventually clinched the win at the third attempt, completing a memorable win in his first professional match outside the US.
Tien said: “A really tough match. I had the lead early and then found myself down in the fifth (set tiebreak), but really happy to get through. The crowd the whole time was great, cheering for both of us a lot. It was a great place to play with the lights and all the effects on break points and stuff like that. It was a really cool match.”
The drama continued into the final match of the day as eighth seed Joao Fonseca stunned top seed Arthur Fils 3-4 (9-11), 4-2, 4-1, 1-4, 4-1. The 18-year-old Brazilian is the youngest player in the field and was the last to qualify, while 20-year-old Fils is the highest-ranked star in Jeddah at world No. 20. Despite being separated by 125 places in the PIF ATP Rankings, Fonseca delivered a superb display to clinch a fine victory on debut against the 2023 finalist.
Day 2 will start with the Red Group in the afternoon session with Shang against Basavareddy followed by Michelsen versus Van Assche. The evening session will focus on the Blue Group, beginning with a heavyweight clash between Fils and Mensik, before Tien and Fonseca conclude the action.
Next Gen players to use Jeddah as launching pad for top ATP careers
- Second staging of the 20-and-under event in Jeddah features the best eight players of that age group on the ATP circuit
- Daniel Vallverdu: My honest, true opinion, is that this field is one of the best the Next Gen has ever had
Tennis fans in Saudi Arabia will get an early “sneak peek” at the future stars of the men’s game when the Next Gen ATP Finals event kicks off in Jeddah on Wednesday, says co-tournament director Daniel Vallverdu.
The second staging of the 20-and-under event in Jeddah features the best eight players of that age group on the ATP circuit, headlined by top seed and last year’s runner-up Arthur Fils.
Since its establishment in 2017, the Next Gen ATP Finals has highlighted the very best up-and-coming tennis talent, with the majority of participants using the tournament as a launching pad on their way to the upper echelons of the sport.
Of the current top 20 tennis players in the world rankings, 17 have qualified for previous Next Gen editions and 16 have opted to take part.
“It’s an incredible stat,” Vallverdu told Arab News on the eve of the start of the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals.
“And, obviously, you have previous winners like Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Stefanos Tsitsipas. So, you have current world No.1s that have competed and won the event as well.
“I think it’s a true testament that the players that are playing here in Jeddah, today and this week — if you look at the trends and what’s happening over the last six, seven years — will be the next few top players in the world.”
Vallverdu, who also serves as a strategic adviser to the Saudi Tennis Federation and is the co-coach of world No.10 Grigor Dimitrov, sees great potential in the Next Gen class of 2024, which includes — alongside Fils — Alex Michelsen, Jakub Mensik, Shang Juncheng, Learner Tien, Luca van Assche, Nishesh Basavareddy and Joao Fonseca.
“Me personally, obviously, being close to the performance side and the player side, my honest, true opinion, is that this field is one of the best the Next Gen has ever had,” Vallverdu added.
“It’s a very special and particular group that’s here in Jeddah. I think they all have a very high potential and a very high ceiling to grow and become the top players in the world.
“I think if you look at that stat that 16 out of the current top 20 were part of this event, I think that’s a true testament to what the fans are able to experience this week. They will get a sneak peek before anyone else, before these young players become the next future stars on tour.”
Fils, who is joined by world No.48 Mensik, Tien and Fonseca in a tough Blue Group in Jeddah this week, fell to Hamad Medjedovic in last year’s final and will be looking to go one better this time around.
He is familiar with Saudi Arabia and has enjoyed the time he has spent in the Kingdom so far.
“I love this country. I’ve been here one month ago with my friends for some holidays. I really love the country,” the Frenchman said on Monday.
“This event is also mandatory, so I’m here because I need to be here, but it’s a practice week as well. We’re in the preseason, so we’re spending a lot of time on court and I’m here to have some matches, have some fun, but also to work a lot during this week and let’s see.”
Chinese world No.50 Shang is making his Next Gen ATP Finals debut and will commence his campaign on Wednesday against French No.6 seed Van Assche.
He is intrigued by the latest developments in sport in Saudi Arabia and says he will have a chat with his compatriot, Zheng Qinwen, who competed in the WTA Finals in Riyadh last month, about her experience in the Kingdom.
“Speaking of tennis, maybe in Saudi Arabia it doesn’t happen too often, but I’m glad having the Next Gen event coming here to visit the country, to see how everyone is, how the culture is as well,” said the 19-year-old.
“Obviously, the WTA Finals is in Riyadh, which was quite fun. Actually, when I meet Qinwen I’m going to ask her about it as well, how the city is over there. Hopefully I’ll get some good results in, but, most importantly, enjoy the week.
“I think there’s always a key moment that one country or one individual has to push a sport forward. And I’m glad Saudi is doing it. Not many tournaments were held here in the past, so I’m glad that this is happening and hopefully in the future there will be more to come.”
Through his work with the STF, Vallverdu has witnessed firsthand the rapid rise of engagement and participation numbers surrounding tennis in Saudi Arabia.
With two sanctioned tour events currently enjoying a multi-year stay in the Kingdom — the WTA Finals from 2024 to 2026 in Riyadh and the Next Gen ATP Finals from 2023 to 2027 in Jeddah — the STF and Ministry of Sport now have a platform around which they have been building several community programs.
“It’s been incredible. There have been some amazing numbers regarding participation and also clubs coming into play, new clubs becoming part of the ecosystem,” said Vallverdu.
“Having 21,000 fans being part of the WTA Finals, engaging with 33,000 students during the event and pre-event. So, numbers are growing, the interest is growing, which is crucial, and it’s one of the main components and it’s why the federation and the ministry are hosting these events.
“29,000 children participating in the Tennis for All program in 2023 and I’m sure we’ll get much bigger numbers for 2024 and that will keep rising.
“The split between boys and girls is a healthy one; it was 52 percent boys, 48 percent girls, which is amazing. The impact the WTA Finals had and will have in the next few years, in terms of female participation, will be exponential.”
He added: “Hosting these events is great, but it goes way beyond the event itself and it goes well beyond for the federation, where you want any program that’s running alongside the event to become its own post the events, maybe going somewhere else.
“So, that’s been a huge focus for the federation over the last 12 months, to make sure whatever was being done pre-Next Gen in 2023 and during Next Gen in 2023, was not only being carried on for the next 12 months, but was even growing at the same time.”
The 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF will take place at the King Abdullah Sports City from Dec. 18–22, with a tournament-record US $2.05 million prize money on offer.
Wednesday, Dec. 18 Order of Play
Afternoon session
Starts at 2:00 p.m. local time
[4] Shang Juncheng (CHN) vs [6] Luca Van Assche (FRA)
Not Before 3:00 p.m.
[2] Alex Michelsen (USA) vs [7] Nishesh Basavareddy (USA)
Evening session
Not Before 7:00 p.m.
[3] Jakub Mensik (CZE) vs [5] Learner Tien (USA)
[1] Arthur Fils (FRA) vs [8] Joao Fonseca (BRA)
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships celebrates women’s event’s 25th anniversary with world’s top 10
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships celebrates women’s event’s 25th anniversary with world’s top 10
- World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, reigning champion Jasmine Paolini, and five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek in star-studded lineup
DUBAI: World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek, and reigning Dubai champion Jasmine Paolini lead a star-studded lineup featuring the world’s top 10 WTA players in the 25th anniversary Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships’ women’s tournament.
In an incredible year for Paolini, she has tied the record for the highest-ranked Italian woman in WTA rankings history, with the World No. 4 winning her second career title in Dubai, finishing runner-up at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and then triumphing in doubles at the Paris Olympics and in Malaga.
Sabalenka, meanwhile, was recently voted WTA Player of the Year for the first time after winning four titles in 2024, including a second Australian Open and maiden US Open triumph. That form allowed her to reclaim the top ranking from Swiatek, who was beaten in straight sets by World No. 3 Coco Gauff in Saudi Arabia’s season-ending tournament.
“The tournament’s elevation to permanent WTA 1000 status last year underlines the caliber of talent this competition consistently attracts … with the world’s top 10 players now confirmed to participate,” said Ramesh Cidambi, managing director of Dubai Duty Free and chairman of the tournament’s organizing committee.
Another former Dubai champion, Barbora Krejcikova, will feature at the WTA 1000 tournament, as well as World No. 5 Qinwen Zheng, who made history by winning China’s first tennis singles gold medal at the Paris Olympics this year.
Daria Kasatkina, a finalist in Dubai in 2018, and Jessica Pegula, a semi-finalist here in 2023, will also compete at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium.
Meanwhile, a strong men’s lineup is primed for the 33rd edition of the ATP Tour event.
All set for Next Gen ATP in Jeddah
JEDDAH: The Next Gen ATP Finals begins in Jeddah on Wednesday, with the season’s top under-20 players competing for the championship title.
The tournament, in its second year in Saudi Arabia, will be organized by the Saudi Tennis Federation and the Association of Tennis Professionals, under the supervision of the Ministry of Sports, and sponsored by the Public Investment Fund.
Held on indoor hard courts at King Abdullah Sports City from Dec. 18-22, the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF features the eight best 20-and-under players on the ATP Tour.
This year’s lineup comprises Frenchman Arthur Fils, Alex Michelsen of the US, Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic, China’s Juncheng Shang, American Learner Tien, Luca Van Assche of France, American Nishesh Basavareddy and Brazil’s Joao Fonseca.
Defending champion Hamad Medjedovic cannot try to retain his title due to his age, meaning that a new winner will be crowned in Jeddah next week.
The new ambassador of the Saudi Tennis Federation, Rafa Nadal, one of the greatest sporting figures and tennis players of all time, will attend the semifinals and final to witness the new champion crowned for 2024.
The 2024 tournament has increased total prize money to a record $2.05 million.
Previous Next Gen ATP Finals winners were:
2017: Chung Hyeon
2018: Stefanos Tsitsipas
2019: Jannik Sinner
2020: Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021: Carlos Alcaraz
2022: Brandon Nakashima
2023: Hamad Medjedovic
PIF appoints Matteo Berrettini as tennis ambassador
- Berrettini competed in the Diriyah Tennis Cup in 2022, showcasing his talent on Saudi soil for the first time
LONDON: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund on Monday announced the appointment of Italian tennis star Matteo Berrettini as its new tennis ambassador.
The former world No. 6 in the ATP Rankings is celebrated for his impressive achievements, including becoming the first Italian player to reach the quarterfinals of all four Grand Slam tournaments and securing a victory at the prestigious Nitto ATP Finals.
No stranger to Riyadh, Berrettini competed in the Diriyah Tennis Cup in 2022, showcasing his talent on Saudi soil for the first time.
In his new role as PIF tennis ambassador, he will focus on nurturing young talent and working closely with emerging players to shape the future of the sport, a statement said.
A key aspect of Berrettini’s ambassadorship will be promoting inclusivity within tennis, aiming to elevate the game and create opportunities for players of all levels.
The initiative aligns with PIF’s broader commitment to fostering global sports development through investment and inspiring the next generation of athletes.
