Top-seeded Aussie Alex de Minaur held off a determined Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Tuesday at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan, winning eight of the last nine games to prevail 4-2, 3-4(5), 4-1, 4-1 in Group A

De Minaur arrived in Milan at a career-high No. 18 in the ATP Rankings. The 20-year-old used the momentum from his runner-up finish at last year’s event (l. To Tsitsipas) to create a breakout season that includes his first three ATP Tour titles at the Sydney International (d. Seppi), BB&T Atlanta Open (d. Fritz) and Huajin Securities Zhuhai Championships (d. Mannarino). He further proved his mettle indoors by reaching the final two weeks ago at the Swiss Indoors Basel. (l. to Federer).

The Aussie joined Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic as the winners from Group A in Tuesday’s day session. Action in Group B kicks off in the night session, with Swede Mikael Ymer taking on Frenchman Ugo Humbert and second-seeded American Frances Tiafoe squaring off with Italian Jannik Sinner.

More to follow…

Frances Tiafoe can confidently call his third season on the ATP Tour a learning experience, both on and off the court.

In between the lines, he has experienced some of his best moments, making the quarter-finals of the Australian Open and the Miami Open presented by Itau in the first three months of the year.

But the American, who won his maiden ATP Tour title in 2018 (Delray Beach), didn’t reach a semi-final all season and returns to the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan with a 21-25 record.

“It was tough. Obviously, your head gets a little big, you think you can just show up [at] the big events,” Tiafoe told ATPTour.com. “I think I learned a lot this year, and it’s going to to help me for next year and the years to come.”

More About Tiafoe
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Tiafoe On #NextGenATP Friendships: ‘Togetherness Is A Big Thing’
Groups Locked In For Milan

Off the court, however, might be where Tiafoe has learned the most in 2019. The 21-year-old became a spokesperson for ThanksUSA, a nonprofit organisation that provides scholarships and employment support to children and spouses of U.S. military personnel.

Every Wednesday, when Tiafoe is around his home club, the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Maryland, USA, he plays tennis with members of the organisation as part of ThanksUSA’s Tennis Corps program. They joke around on court and open up off it.

“We play a bunch of tennis. We take breaks and just kind of talk about life, talk about some of the things they went through in the past and some of the things I’ve gone through,” he said.

Tiafoe’s mother, Alphina, and father, Frances Sr., moved from Sierra Leone to the U.S. in 1996. As a child, Frances sometimes stayed overnight at his home club, with his twin brother, Franklin, and their father, who was the Head of Maintenance. The Tiafoe boys began to play tennis at the club at the age of three.

Watch From 2017 Uncovered: Tiafoe Revisits College Park Roots

The veterans and their families like chatting with Tiafoe about the ATP Tour and follow his results. He enjoys measuring their tennis progress, or lack thereof.

“It’s a great organisation. Military families, they don’t get enough praise… I love being a part of it. I love playing with those veterans,” he said. “They love seeing me. [We] talk about my results. I talk about, ‘Man, you guys haven’t improved since I’ve been gone. What’s going on?’ They’re great people. They deserve that praise. I’m just more than happy to speak for them.”

The experiences remind Tiafoe of his unlikely beginnings and why he plays and travels the world 11 months out of the year.

“I just love being at home in general. Obviously, D.C. means everything to me. Something to have at home like that is great for me. Keeps me grounded, keeps me humble. Understanding where I came from, understanding that it’s not a ‘me thing,’ it’s a ‘we thing,’” he said. “In due time, I want to do much more. I think that would also give me much more motivation out here to know that I’m [contributing to] something bigger than myself.”

Tiafoe also has plans to do much more this week in Milan. The American didn’t advance out of the group stage in 2018, falling in straight sets to Spain’s Jaume Munar in his final match.

But Tiafoe is eager to make good on his final appearance at the award-winning 21-and-under event and apply what he’s learned this year. (Tiafoe was born in 1998, making him ineligible for the 2020 Next Gen ATP Finals.)

“This year was a huge learning curve. He did some really great things along the way,” coach Zack Evenden told ATPTour.com. “But it’s more of an important year for him, because he can learn a lot from it.”

Despite his occasional struggles, Tiafoe has never stopped working hard this season. “We always say whether any player is struggling, if you’re putting in the work, good things are going to come eventually,” Evenden said.

For Tiafoe, that good thing would be his first – and final – Milan title, a head-turning finish to match his click-worthy start.

“First priority is to get out the group and, obviously, see where you can go from there,” Tiafoe said. “But ultimately, I want to be playing on the last day and competing for a title.”

Giulio Zeppieri is prepared to step in if needed at the Next Gen ATP Finals. The 17-year-old Italian earned his alternate spot at this year’s event by winning a qualifying tournament last week that featured eight of the top Italian players in the ATP Race to Milan. NextGenATPFinals.com looks at five things to know about the rising star.

1. He’s used to the format in Milan.
The qualifying tournament Zeppieri won also featured the unique scoring system on display this week at the Allianz Cloud. Zeppieri rose to the occasion by defeating Enrico Dalla Valle 4-1, 4-3(3), 3-4(3), 1-4, 4-1 in the championship match. 

2. He’s soared up the ATP Rankings this year.
Zeppieri finished 2018 at No. 1035 in the ATP Rankings, having played just five tournaments. He made the most of his first year focussing on pro events and now sits at No. 393. The teenager’s highlights this season include a maiden ATP Challenger Tour semi-final in Parma and his first ITF Futures title last month in Santa Margherita di Pula. 

3. He prefers hard courts, but rarely plays on them.
The Italian prefers a speedy indoor court, but has played almost all of his pro events on clay this year. Although it may seems counterintuitive, there’s a method to his strategy. 

“We have a lot of ATP Challenger [Tour events] on clay in Italy,” Zeppieri explained. “I get a lot of wild cards in these tournaments, so I’m happy to play them.”

Read More: Scouting Report: The Next Gen ATP Finals Field

4. He had an outstanding junior career.
Zeppieri reached the boys’ singles semi-finals this year at the Australian Open and peaked at No. 12 in the ITF Junior Rankings two months later. After his run in Melbourne, the 17-year-old felt he had maximised his time in junior competition.

“The biggest difference [from junior to pro events] is the consistency,” Zeppieri explained. “You can do a couple of errors in the juniors and still win matches, but at the Challenger level, you have to be 100 per cent focussed. You can’t make too many mistakes or else it’s not enough.”

5. He looks up to Paolo Lorenzi.
Paolo Lorenzi is known for mentoring rising Italian stars and the veteran has taken Zeppieri under his wing. They practise regularly during the year and the teenager believes he’s benefitted from the experience.

“For us in Italy, Paolo is an idol,” Zeppieri said. “He did something very big [by] getting to No. 33 in the ATP Rankings. It’s always special for me to play with him.”

Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic opened this year’s Next Gen ATP Finals in style on Tuesday, scoring a 4-3(5), 4-3(5), 4-2 win in a serving duel with Norwegian Casper Ruud in the first match of Group A in Milan.

“I’ve had some experience with this format, so I was prepared for it,” Kecmanovic said. “I served pretty well, so that got me through today. I was able to stay calm and play aggressively.

”We’ve known each other since we were 12. We play together a lot, played doubles with each other before. We’ve professionals and have gotten the hang of playing each other, but we’re still good friends off the court.”

Kecmanovic improved to 2-0 in his FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry with Ruud. The 20-year-old has jumped more than 70 spots in the ATP Rankings this year and currently sits at No. 60, with results including his maiden ATP Tour final at the Turkish Open Airlines Antalya (l. to Sonego) and first ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final at the BNP Paribas Open.

Read More: Under Pressure, Kecmanovic Already Plays Like A Top 30 Player

Both players held serve comfortably in the first set to set up a tie-break. Ruud started slowly and went down 0/3, but fought back to even the score with a three-point run of his own. But at 4/4, Ruud’s baseline game betrayed him and a pair of errors gifted the Serbian two set points. Kecmanovic continued to control most of the rallies and leaned into a big forehand at 6/5 to take the early advantage.

The second set began identically to the first, with neither player earning a break point to set up another tie-break. It appeared Ruud might level the match after prevailing in a 22-shot exchange to take a 5/3 lead, but Kecmanovic increased the pace on his shots and cracked a big forehand two points later to tie the score. The Norwegian mistimed a forehand at 5/5 and Kecmanovic converted on set point with a big serve for a commanding lead.

A well-timed forehand volley winner from the Serbian gave him the first break point of the match at 2-2 in the third set. He made good on it after a forehand error from Ruud and held serve comfortably to advance in one hour and 16 minutes. Kecmanovic finished the day with an impressive 20 winners to just 10 unforced errors,

Action in Group A continues in Tuesday’s day session as top-seeded Aussie Alex de Minaur takes on Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic were the top three seeds when they first competed together at the ATP season finale in 2007. Twelve years later, the trio again leads the field at the Nitto ATP Finals.

Nadal, who returned to World No. 1 on Monday, and five-time champion Djokovic will battle for year-end No. 1 at The O2. The 38-year-old Federer, who is set to to be third seed, will be looking to win a record-extending seventh title here. They will be joined in London by defending champion Alexander Zverev, four-time qualifier Dominic Thiem, and three young debutants: Daniil Medvedev (23), Stefanos Tsitsipas (21) and Matteo Berrettini (23). 

Colombians Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah, who will be presented with their year-end No. 1 trophy in a special on-court ceremony at the Nitto ATP Finals, lead doubles contenders.

The event, which features only the world’s best eight qualified singles players and doubles teams, is contested in a round-robin format with the best four players and doubles teams reaching the knockout semi-finals stage. 

Established: 1970

Tournament Dates: 10-17 November 2019

Tournament Chairman: Chris Kermode

Draw Ceremony: Tuesday, 5 November

Schedule (View On Official Website)
* Main draw: Sunday, 10 November to Saturday, 16 November – doubles at 12:00pm, singles not before 2.00pm; doubles not before 6:00pm, singles not before 8.00pm. *Friday, 15 November evening session doubles not before 5:45pm.
* Doubles final: Sunday, 17 November at 3:30pm
* Singles final: Sunday, 17 November not before 6:00pm

How To Watch
Watch Live On Tennis TV 
TV Schedule

Venue: The O2
Main Court Seating: 17,800

Prize Money: US $9,000,000

Tickets On Sale: Buy Now 

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

Honour Roll (Open Era)
Most Titles, Singles: Roger Federer (6)
Most Titles, Doubles: Peter Fleming, John McEnroe (7)
Oldest Champion: Roger Federer, 30, in 2011
Youngest Champion: John McEnroe, 19, in 1978
Lowest-Ranked Champion: No. 12 David Nalbandian in 2005
Most Match Wins: Roger Federer (57)

2018 Finals
Singles: [3] Alexander Zverev (GER) d [1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) 64 63   Read & Watch
Doubles: [5] Mike Bryan (USA) / Jack Sock (USA) d [8] Pierre-Hugues Herbert / Nicolas Mahut 57 61 13-11  Read & Watch 

Social
Hashtag: #NittoATPFinals

Facebook: @ATPTour
Twitter: @atptour
Instagram: @atptour

Did You Know… Eight different countries are represented at the Nitto ATP Finals for the fourth consecutive year: 

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.”

The experience of competing in the Next Gen ATP Finals has helped propel numerous rising stars forward in their careers, but even Alex de Minaur is surprised at how quickly he’s risen up the ATP Rankings this year.

He arrives in Milan at a career-high ATP Ranking of No. 18 after a banner year that’s included his first three ATP Tour titles in Sydney (d. Seppi), Atlanta (d. Fritz) and Zhuhai (d. Mannarino). De Minaur was one of the pack among his #NextGenATP peers in Milan 12 months ago, but has firmly established himself as the top seed this year.

“It’s been an unbelievable year and not one that I expected. I’m very happy with what I’ve been able to accomplish,” De Minaur said ahead of his first match on Tuesday against Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. “I’m just happy to be here in Milan. I had a blast last year, so I’m looking forward to coming out here and competing again.”

Read More: Preview: De Minaur Battles Davidovich Fokina

De Minaur quickly took to the unique scoring format during his debut in Milan last year, sprinting through his three matches in Group B and then outlasting Spaniard Jaume Munar in a five-set semi-final. Although he lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the championship match, he credited that defeat with fueling his wins in the coming months.

“Finishing runner-up last season was a bit of a bittersweet ending,” De Minaur said. “I wasn’t able to get it done in the final, but it was a great end to a very positive year. I was able to bring that momentum to make sure I had a very positive pre-season and did all the right things.”

The fruits of De Minaur’s labour were revealed at the start of the year. The Aussie shrugged off an 0-2 record in tour-level finals to clinch his maiden ATP Tour title on home soil in Sydney. Rain pushed the semi-finals and final to Sunday, but he showed supreme fitness to become the youngest winner at the event since mentor Lleyton Hewitt took the title in 2001.

“It was one of the most incredible days to be able to win my first ATP Tour title in my hometown,” De Minaur said. “There were lots of nerves and different expectations coming into that week. I was able to play in front of family and friends. It was a very special tournament for me overall.”

Read More: 5 Big Things To Know Ahead Of The Next Gen ATP Finals

De Minaur’s relentless retrieving and fiery competitiveness have led to plenty of other special tournaments this year, but finishing his season with a title in Milan would be particularly memorable. But true to his character, he’s not getting ahead of himself. The Aussie brushed off any expectations fans may have of him as the top seed and said he’s solely focussed on his next match against Davidovich Fokina.

“Every match is completely different,” De Minaur said. “There’s been lots to learn from, but now I’m here in Milan and have to get ready for the match tomorrow. I’ve just been taking it day by day this year.”

Alex de Minaur used his runner-up finish at last year’s Next Gen ATP Finals as a springboard to even greater success, clinching three ATP Tour titles and cracking the Top 20 of the ATP Rankings this year. He returns to Milan as the top seed and looks to go one step further at the 21-and-under season finale. He begins his campaign on Tuesday against Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in Group A.

The Aussie has proved his mettle indoors by finishing runner-up two weeks ago in Basel (l. to Federer), but he now faces the pressure of being the favourite to take the title. He’ll need to bring his best against Davidovich Fokina, who captured his first two ATP Challenger Tour crowns in the past two months. The crafty Spaniard thrives on a rowdy atmosphere and said that playing in Milan will be the highlight of his year.

“I’m so lucky to be here,” Davidovich Fokina said. “I’m happy to be here, play against the other guys and have some fun.”

Read More: Scouting Report: The Next Gen ATP Finals Field

Fellow Group A competitors, Norwegian Casper Ruud and Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic, kick off this year’s event as the opening match at the Allianz Cloud. The two #NextGenATP stars enjoyed success as one of the world’s top junior doubles teams in 2015 and 2016 before turning their attention to the pros.

Kecmanovic won their only previous FedEx ATP Head2Head match two months ago in Zhuhai after Ruud was forced to retire after dropping the first set. Although the 21-year-old Ruud has primarily excelled on clay — reaching his first ATP Tour final this April in Houston (l. to Garin) — he believes he’s ready for a big run on a faster surface.

“Most of our matches on Tour are against guys who are much older, so it’s fun to measure our powers against each other,” Ruud said. “Everybody here can beat each other with the [unique] scoring system, so it’s something we should be prepared for. One set can just be a difference of one or two points, so it will be a fun event.”

Read More: Ruud: ‘This Is The Week All Of Us Have Been Waiting For’

Twelve months ago, Jannik Sinner was watching the Next Gen ATP Finals from the stands. This year, he’s playing in them. The 18-year-old Italian will take part in the night session against second-seeded American Frances Tiafoe in Group B action.

Sinner defeated Tiafoe in their only previous FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting three weeks ago in Antwerp. The victory was especially poignant because Sinner took in last year’s event in Milan specifically to see “how the players like Denis Shapovalov and Frances Tiafoe are playing, especially in the important points”.

The Italian’s rise up the ATP Rankings is the most pronounced of anyone in the draw. He began this season at No. 551, but is now the youngest player inside the Top 100. His breakout year has included a maiden ATP Tour semi-final in Antwerp, first ATP Masters 1000 main draw win in Rome and a pair of ATP Challenger Tour titles.

Read More: Sinner: ‘The Young Generation Is Growing’

Tiafoe started his season on a high by reaching his first Grand Slam quarter-final at the Australian Open and advancing to the last eight in Miami, but admitted struggling to handle the expectations that came with those results. The 21-year-old has bounced back in recent weeks, recording another quarter-final in Antwerp. He is now embracing the pressure that comes with being one of the rising stars in tennis.

”I think it’s a privilege to have pressure, to be in a unique position,” Tiafoe said. “To play on a big stage with high stakes, you could be in a much worse situation.”

Group B competitors Mikael Ymer of Sweden and Ugo Humbert of France will also square off in the evening session. Both men have excelled indoors in recent weeks, with Humbert advancing to the semi-finals in Antwerp and Ymer scoring back-to-back ATP Challenger Tour crowns in Orleans and Mouilleron le Captif.

ORDER OF PLAY – TUESDAY, 5 NOVEMBER 2019
Stadium Court start 2:00pm
[1] Alex de Minaur (AUS) vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP)

Start 4:00pm
Casper Ruud (NOR) vs Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB)

Start 7:30pm
Ugo Humbert (FRA) vs Mikael Ymer (SWE)

Start 9:30pm
[2] Frances Tiafoe (USA) vs Jannik Sinner (ITA)

Frances Tiafoe has a knack for lighting up any room he enters.

The Next Gen ATP Finals launch party this Saturday was a perfect example of the 21-year-old in his element. He posed for photos with fans, chatted with the media in attendance and led the ongoing banter with his fellow competitors in Milan. Tiafoe thrives on a festive atmosphere off the court, which extends to his love on the court for packed stadiums at ATP Tour events worldwide.

”I’ve always liked the spotlight,” Tiafoe said ahead of his second appearance at this event. “You can always count on me playing my best tennis on a big court. The crowd getting into it is what makes it fun. That’s when all the work you’ve done in the dark comes out.

”I think it’s a privilege to have pressure, to be in a unique position. To play on a big stage with high stakes, you could be in a much worse situation.”

Read More: Tiafoe Lives For The Biggest Moment

A vocal crowd is just one of the reasons that Tiafoe looked forward to returning to Milan. Tiafoe relished the unique format of this event last year, utilising the in-match coaching option and feeding off the fan-friendly environment. Although he didn’t advance out of Group B, he still looked back on the week with fond memories.

Tiafoe also enjoyed how the event provideed an opportunity to spend time away from the court with his #NextGenATP peers. The affable American is one of the most well-liked players in the locker room, and it’s evident when he walks around the Allianz Cloud. When he’s not preparing for his first match on Tuesday against Jannik Sinner, he’s cracking jokes with other players or mingling with tournament staff, buzzing around the complex with the vigour of a seasoned politician.

”I’m really close with Alex de Minaur. Miomir Kecmanovic is a good friend of mine,” Tiafoe said. “I’ve seen Mikael Ymer around since the juniors. I don’t know a lot of the other guys here as well. It’s a new group for me, so I’m looking forward to getting to know them.”

Read More: 5 Things To Know About Milan-Bound Tiafoe

Tiafoe has no problem getting down to business when a match starts, though. The American’s intensity was on full display when he kicked off this season with his maiden Grand Slam quarter-final at the Australian Open. He celebrated victories with roars of approval, ripped off his shirt and even mimicked the chest-thumping celebrations of NBA star LeBron James.

The 21-year-old believes the intensity he brings to a match is a sign of respect for his opponent. But once a match is over, he’s able to leave it on the court.

“You want to respect their time. When you’re playing them, it’s still a job,” Tiafoe said. “There’s money on the line, [ATP Rankings] points, opportunity… For those two or three hours, we’ll compete, but then I promise you we’ll be friends after. Some people take [losing] personally, but I’ll talk to you in the locker room 10 minutes later.”

Tiafoe is known for being a class act after tough losses, offering a hug or hearty handshake to his opponents. Maintaining relationships has always been a high priority for him. But if the reception he’s gotten from his peers this week is any indication, losing those connections isn’t something he needs to worry about.

”I think togetherness is a big thing. You hope to have these relationships forever,” Tiafoe said. “You’re playing against each other, but they’re also your colleagues for the next 15 or 20 years. I’m competitive, but I also want the best for everyone.”