The influence of Novak Djokovic is undeniable. One of the elite standard bearers of his generation, it is hard to argue the impact the 29 year old has had both between the lines and away from the bright lights and boisterous crowds.

A consummate sportsman, Djokovic has earned the respect and admiration of his peers and is idolized by aspiring pros throughout the world. But arguably his biggest impact is much closer to home. Enter the next wave of budding Serbian stars, who are charging up the Emirates ATP Rankings on the ATP Challenger Tour.

“He’s had a big influence on every Serbian player,” said 21-year-old Nikola Milojevic. “Since he became No. 1 and has done all these amazing things, things got better for the players back home. In terms of improving conditions to practise in Serbia and having a lot more courts to play on, we owe it all to him.”

Milojevic soared inside the Top 200 of the Emirates ATP Rankings for the first time following a pair of runner-up finishes on the Challenger circuit to kick off the season. Final appearances in Noumea, New Caledonia and Tempe, USA are results of years of hard work for the Belgrade native, whose career has blossomed in 2017. The World No. 194 admits that his success would not be possible had it not been for his countryman carrying the mantle and inspiring a nation throughout the past decade.

“He would do even more for Serbian tennis if he could, but he’s too occupied with his career at the moment. But you’ll see, when he finishes it will be even better.

“I’ve reached two Challenger finals and it’s only the second month of the year, so I’d say it’s a pretty good start to the season. I’m so happy it’s paying off and hopefully third time will be the lucky charm.”

Surging Serbians

In many ways, Djokovic’s generous attitude towards taking a hands-on approach in helping his countrymen epitomizes Serbia’s close-knit culture. Flashback to November 2004, when he clinched his second Challenger title, in Aachen, Germany, vaulting into the Top 200 of the Emirates ATP Rankings for the first time. It was a significant milestone not only for Djokovic, but the emerging nation state of Serbia. Despite being mired in conflict for years, it would declare its independence in 2006 and produced one of the greatest competitors to ever step on a tennis court. At the time, the future No. 1 was one of just two players in the Top 200. Today, there are six, with many more on the doorstep.

Much like Milojevic, fellow Serbians Pedja Krstin, Marko Tepavac, Laslo Djere and Miljan Zekic all credit Djokovic with inspiring them to pursue professional careers. Krstin, 22, says that the World No. 2’s impact provided the spark to claim his first Challenger title last year in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

“For me, it’s great to have Novak,” said World No. 209 Krstin, who had reached a career-high No. 159 following his triumph on Mexican soil. “You can learn so much from him and he’s had a lot of good advice to give us. We look up to him a lot. You see me, Milojevic and Djere are doing well now. We’re a good generation. We just need to have some better tournaments and improve on the big points. That’s the key. I hope to continue winning a few more Challengers and my goal is to be Top 100 soon.”

The 2016 season was an exceptional one for Serbian tennis on the ATP Challenger Tour and Milojevic has since carried the momentum into the new campaign. Krstin’s title in San Luis Potosi set the tone and was followed by maiden crowns for 22-year-old Tepavac in Qarshi, Uzbekistan and Zekic in Todi, Italy, as well as a first final for 21-year-old Djere. In total, five players from Serbia reached a total of 10 Challenger title matches last year.

“Many people in Serbia are very proud of Novak, and not only in the tennis world,” Tepavac added. “Many of us would like to follow his example as a man of great character and one of the best players of all time. He makes me believe that with talent and hard work, one can achieve the highest goals of life.”

“He could go down as No. 1 in the history of the game and while we will never be like him, there’s no doubt we are doing much better with him around than without him,” said Zekic. “Right now we have many players in the Top 200 and we’ve never had that before in Serbia. It’s very good to have friends to practise with at tournaments.”

Serbia is not finished producing talented youngsters. The newest member of the contingent is first embarking on his professional journey. No. 1 junior Miomir Kecmanovic claimed his first ITF Futures title in January and is up to World No. 651 in the Emirates ATP Rankings. The Challenger Tour beckons for the 17 year old.

It’s the exciting new showcase of great, young talent on the ATP World Tour and here is your chance to be a part of it. Beginning today, you can register to get access to tickets for the #NextGenATP Finals when they become available.

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The tournament, to take place 7-11 November, will feature the world’s top eight 21-and-under singles players. #NextGenATP star Alexander Zverev is currently leading the season-long Emirates ATP Race To Milan, which will track the progress of #NextGenATP players throughout the year. The top seven players in the race will qualify automatically, while the eighth spot will be reserved for a wild card.

See Who’s Pushing Zverev In The Emirates ATP Race To Milan Standings

Zverev has started strong this season. The 6’6” right-hander beat Richard Gasquet last month at the Open Sud de France in Montpellier to take his second ATP World Tour title.

Just behind Zverev, at No. 2 in the Emirates ATP Race To Milan standings, is an exciting new face on the ATP World Tour, Russia’s Daniil Medvedev. The 21 year old reached his first ATP World Tour final in January at the Aircel Chennai Open before falling to then-No. 14 Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain.

At No. 3 in the race is 18-year-old Norwegian Casper Ruud, who reached his first ATP World Tour semi-final last month at the Rio Open presented by Claro. Russian 19-year-old Andrey Rublev, 21-year-old Noah Rubin of the U.S.A. and 20-year-old Hyeon Chung of South Korea round out the top six.

In addition to great tennis, the #NextGenATP Finals will feature an exciting new dimension for fans. The tournament will trial a number of innovations with a view of ensuring continued growth in the popularity of men’s professional tennis.

The event will award US$1.275 million in prize money, and will follow a similar format to the ATP Finals, with a round-robin group stage followed by knock-out semi-finals and a final. While Emirates ATP Rankings points will serve as the criteria for entry, the tournament itself will not carry points.

On paper, it looks like a place Andy Murray could dominate. Hard courts. The U.S., where the Scot spent weeks of his off-season. A big-time event. But, for reasons even Murray can’t quite name, his haul of 45 tour-level titles is still missing one of the most prestigious crowns in all of tennis: a BNP Paribas Open title trophy from Indian Wells.

Murray has played at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event 11 times, every year since 2006. He’s had great runs, including in 2009, when he reached the final but fell to Rafael Nadal, and in 2007 and 2015, when Murray made the last four but fell to Novak Djokovic both times.

Murray has also had forgettable appearances in the desert, such as 2006, 2011 and 2012, when he fell in the second round all three years.

“I have never really felt that I played my best tennis here,” Murray said last year after his third-round defeat to Argentine Federico Delbonis. “I have tried and had many different preparations, where I’ve got here early and spent a lot of time on the courts, and sometimes I arrive later… Obviously it takes time to get used to new conditions regardless of where it is, but I have just never really found a way to get comfortable here throughout my career. It’s a shame.”

But if there were ever a year in which Murray could change his luck and win one of his two missing Masters 1000 titles, the other is Monte-Carlo, 2017 certainly seems like the season.

The Scot has won the past two ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments, finishing 2016 with his third Shanghai Rolex Masters crown and his first Paris Masters title to bring his career total to 14. Murray then ended the season by taking another “Big Title”, his first championship run at the ATP Finals in London.

Masters 1000 Champions

He’s hardly slacked off to start 2017 as well. Murray reached the final in his first ATP World Tour event, the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, before falling to Djokovic in three sets. On Saturday, the Brit captured his first ATP World Tour title of the year by beating Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in straight sets at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

Murray has now reached the final in 14 of his past 16 tournaments, including seven of his past eight. “It’s been a great run. Can’t complain about much,” he said after winning Dubai.

For inspiration in Indian Wells, Murray might look to his Paris breakthrough this past November. Before he won the indoor Masters 1000 title for the first time last year, the Scot had room for improvement at that event as well.

Murray had reached the final only once before, in 2015 (l. to Djokovic), and had experienced early losses there, including in 2012 when he fell in the third round to Jerzy Janowicz. Yet in November, Murray went unbeaten in Bercy.

Through The Years: Murray At The BNP Paribas Open