After last year’s US Open, Sam Groth had every intention to gear up for a strong finish to 2017 and start 2018 on the best note possible in Australia.

But something changed inside Groth. The 6’4” Aussie, who possessed one of the biggest serves on the ATP World Tour, lacked the same desire to improve as he had shown throughout his career.

So after talking with Lleyton Hewitt and others close to him, Groth decided that he would retire in 2018, and he’d do it at home, at the Australian Open.

“I just don’t think my heart was in it to keep going,” Groth said. “I wanted to be able to go out at home as well.”

The 30-year-old partnered with his friend and former World No. 1 Hewitt in doubles at the Australian Open earlier this month. Groth/Hewitt upset third seeds and reigning US Open champions Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau in the second round.

But the Aussies’ run ended in the quarter-finals against eventual finalists and 11^th seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah.

Among his career highlights, Groth counts his 2015 season, which saw him reach the third round at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, where he took a set off Roger Federer, and at the US Open. Groth also achieved his career-high ATP Ranking of No. 53 that year and received Australia’s Newcombe Medal, which is given annually to the country’s most outstanding tennis player.

“That year 2015 was really special for me,” Groth said.

The right-hander celebrated two ATP World Tour doubles titles during his career as well, winning both 2014 Bogota and 2016 Dell Technologies Hall of Fame Open with countryman Chris Guccione.

In a way, this is Groth’s second retirement from tennis. He picked tennis instead of Aussie Rules football when he was 16. But in 2011, Groth switched back to football and played for the Vermont Eagles in Melbourne, before returning to tennis for good in 2012. The Aussie is engaged to be married in November.

Before he reached the Australian Open semi-finals last week, it had been the breakout week of his career. South Korea’s Hyeon Chung sped through the inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan in November, going 5-0 to claim the 21-and-under title.

But Chung, who turns 22 in May, won’t be able to defend his crown come 6-10 November 2018. Who might hoist the Next Gen ATP Finals “X” trophy instead? ATPWorldTour.com takes a look at some of the possible candidates.

TWO POTENTIAL RETURNERS

Andrey Rublev (Rank: 35; Age: 20): Tennis fans across the world should know Rublev’s name after his 2017. The Russian won his first title at the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag in July and became the youngest US Open quarter-finalist (l. to Nadal) since Andy Roddick in 2001.

Rublev has impressed early in 2018 as well, reaching the Qatar ExxonMobil Open final in Doha (l. to Monfils) and beating Spaniard David Ferrer en route to the third round of the Australian Open (l. to Dimitrov). Rublev, will, without a doubt, be one of the favourites to return to Milan. He was the top seed at the 2017 edition.

Denis Shapovalov (Rank: 48; Age: 18): Like Rublev, Shapovalov’s stock soared in the second half of 2017. In August, the Canadian became the youngest ATP World Tour Masters 1000 quarter-finalist at the Coupe Rogers in Montreal. The left-hander knocked off Juan Martin del Potro and Rafael Nadal before falling to eventual champion Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals.

Shapovalov proceeded to reach the fourth round of the US Open, beating then World-No. 8 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga en route. This week, the Canadian is at a career-high ATP Ranking of No. 48.

16 WHO COULD MAKE THEIR DEBUT

Taylor Fritz (Rank: 76; Age: 20): The California native was a trendy pick to make Milan in 2017, but the American struggled with injuries in the second half of 2016 and made the unique decision to take three months off during the 2017 season to work on his strength and fitness.

The start of 2018 has been more like what Fritz fans will expect to see throughout the year. The 6’4” right-hander won his fourth ATP Challenger Tour title on Sunday to move up to third place in the ATP Race To Milan.

Read More: Fritz Fires To Fourth Challenger Title

Stefanos Tsitsipas (Rank: 83; Age: 19): The Greek right-hander was an alternate in Milan last year, and was only matches away from making the inaugural field. Tsitsipas surged into contention at the European Open in Antwerp in late October, when he upset eventual Nitto ATP Finals runner-up David Goffin to reach his first ATP World Tour semi-final. The 19-year-old Tsitsipas qualified a tour-leading eight times in 2017. To start 2018, he made the quarter-finals in Doha, falling to top seed Dominic Thiem.

Read More: Tsitsipas Shares His 2018 Goals

Watch Now: The Family Behind #NextGenATP Tsitsipas

Frances Tiafoe (Rank: 93; Age: 20): The American, like Tsitsipas, was a few wins away from playing in Milan last November. Tiafoe finished one spot away from qualifying in the ATP Race To Milan, which determined seven of the eight finalists. But expect Tiafoe, who nearly upset Roger Federer in the first round of the 2017 US Open, to continue making gains in the ATP Rankings in 2018.

Read More: Federer’s Encouragement Spurs on Tiafoe

Watch Now: Tiafoe Returns To His Roots  

Casper Ruud (Rank: 121; Age: 19): Ruud rose 86 spots in the year-end 2017 ATP Rankings after finishing No. 225 in 2016. The 2017 season was his debut year on the ATP World Tour, and it was highlighted by a semi-final showing at the Rio Open presented by Claro in February (l. to Carreno Busta). Ruud has already earned a career milestone to begin 2018. He picked up his maiden Grand Slam victory in Australia (d. Halys).

Watch Ruud Uncovered

Alexander Bublik (Rank: 131; Age 20): Off the court, Bublik conducted one of the funniest interviews of the 2017 season. The 6’6” right-hander posed some playful questions to some of the game’s best, including Andy Murray and Roger Federer.

Watch Bublik Interview Murray, Federer: 

On the court, Bublik won two ATP Challenger Tour titles (Aptos, U.S.A.; Morelos, Mexico) and made his second ATP World Tour quarter-final (l. to Berankis) at the VTB Kremlin Cup in Moscow in October (also Moscow 2016).

Alex de Minaur (Rank: 139; Age: 18): For the second consecutive season, de Minaur was one of the best stories of the Australian summer. The 18-year-old Aussie, who won his first two tour-level matches last year Down Under, made the semi-finals at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp (l. to Harrison) and reached his first ATP World Tour final at the Sydney International (l. to Medvedev) earlier this month.

Read More: Belief, Hewitt’s Advice, Propel de Minaur To Early Success

Akira Santillan (Rank: 148; Age: 20): The Aussie, who used to play under the Japanese flag, appears ready to continue his success from 2017. The right-hander won his first ATP Challenger Tour title in Winnetka, U.S.A., and picked up his first tour-level win at the Dell Technologies Hall of Fame Open in Newport. Santillan also learned a valuable lesson: How to best schedule his season.

Read More: Six Things To Know About #NextGenATP Santillan

Tommy Paul (Rank: 149; Age: 20): Paul is one of a number of American up-and-comers who have the red, white and blue dreaming of a return to the top of the ATP World Tour, a la the days of Sampras, Agassi, Courier and Chang. Paul showed promised in 2017, earning his first Top 20 win against then-World No. 17 Lucas Pouille and reaching the quarter-finals of the Citi Open in Washington, D.C.

Watch Uncovered: Paul Finds His Way On The ATP World Tour

Corentin Moutet (Rank: 150; Age: 18): French tennis fans have enjoyed a winning stretch with the generation of Gilles Simon, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet and Gael Monfils. Will Moutet lead the next great generation of French tennis players?

The left-handed teenager was the second-youngest player in the year-end Top 200 of the ATP Rankings. He won his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title in Brest, France (d. Tsitsipas) in October.

10 ATP Challenger Tour Players To Watch In 2018

Stefan Kozlov (Rank: 155; Age: 19): The American celebrated the biggest win of his career in 2017, beating compatriot and then-World No. 25 Steve Johnson at the The Queen’s Club Championships in London. Kozlov, a former junior World No. 2, thrives on the grass, where he has earned all five of his tour-level wins.

Read More: Kozlov Claims Second Challenger Crown In Las Vegas

Felix Auger-Aliassime (Rank: 163; Age: 17): The 6’3” Auger-Aliassime was the youngest player to finish inside the Top 200 of the ATP Rankings in 2017, doing so on the back of two ATP Challenger Tour titles (Seville, Spain; Lyon, France). Only three players have made their Top 200 debut at a younger age than Auger-Aliassime (17 years, 1 month, 5 days): Richard Gasquet (16 years, 1 month); Rafael Nadal (16 years, 6 months); and Lleyton Hewitt (16 years, 10 months).

Read More: Felix Joins Elite Company With Top 200 Breakthrough

Watch Now: Fun In London With Auger-Aliassime

Michael Mmoh (Rank: 175; Age: 19): Mmoh, another American scaling the ATP Rankings, captured his second ATP Challenger Tour title in August, beating Aussie veteran John Millman in Lexington, U.S.A. The 6’1” right-hander secured his first tour-level win earlier this month in Brisbane (d. Delbonis) before reaching the quarter-finals (l. to de Minaur).

Watch: Mmoh Reflects On First Tour-Level Win

Soonwoo Kwon (Rank: 178; Age: 20): Kwon of South Korea will try to follow in Chung’s footsteps and make his way to Milan. The 5’11” right-hander went 27-17 on the ATP Challenger Tour in 2017, including two finals (Yokohama, Japan; Seoul, South Korea).

Jaume Munar (Rank: 182; Age: 20): “Jimbo” picked up his play in the second half of the 2017 season, winning the ATP Challenger Tour tournament in Segovia, Spain, in August, defeating de Minaur. In the final week of the year, the Spaniard, who trains at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, reached the final of the Rio de Janiero ATP Challenger Tour event (l. to Berlocq).

Read More: Courtside and Beyond, Nadal Supports #NextGenATP Munar

Carlos Taberner (Rank: 188; Age: 20): Taberner, Munar’s countryman, broke into the Top 200 on 25 September after reaching his second clay-court ATP Challenger Tour final in Sibiu, Romania (l. to Stebe). Earlier that month, Taberner reached the title match at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Reilly Opelka (Rank: 197; Age: 20): Opelka, who is 6’11”, is one of the tallest players on the ATP World Tour, and he brings a lethal serve like the other flamethrowers of the ATP World Tour, including 6’11” Ivo Karlovic and 6’10” John Isner. Opelka reached the semi-finals of the Newport Beach Challenger last week, falling to eventual champion Fritz.

Read More: Triple Towers Dish On Life As Big Men

ONE-AND-DONES
The following players qualified for the inaugural tournament but will turn 22 in 2018: Chung, second seed Karen Khachanov, fourth seed Jared Donaldson, fifth seed Borna Coric, seventh seed Daniil Medvedev and Italian wild card Gianluigi Quinzi.

The ATP has released the 2019 ATP World Tour calendar, a tournament schedule that will feature 63 tournaments in 31 countries across six continents, in addition to the four Grand Slams.

The 2019 calendar offers a continuation of the existing tournament structure and schedule that, since 2009, has so successfully served as a global platform for the world’s greatest men’s professional tennis players, leading to record growth for the Tour, tournaments and players over the past decade.

In addition to the four Grand Slams, the 2019 schedule will feature nine leading ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments, 13 ATP World Tour 500 events, and 39 ATP World Tour 250 tournaments, with all roads leading to the spectacular season-ending Nitto ATP Finals at The O2 in London, as well as the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan.

View 2019 ATP World Tour Calendar (PDF)

The announcement of the 2019 calendar comes on the back of a record-breaking year for the ATP World Tour in 2017. More than 4.5 million fans attended ATP World Tour tournaments last season, an all-time record, while 995 million fans tuned into the action on television and online.

Chris Kermode, ATP Executive Chairman & President, said: “Our calendar has yielded strong results for the Tour over the past 10 years, attracting record audiences and leading to triple digit increases in prize money during that period. We’re pleased to extend the existing calendar through to 2019 as we look to continue the sustainable growth that has underpinned the Tour over the past ten years.”

Total on-site prize money on the ATP World Tour this season is set to reach US$137.5 million (excluding Grand Slams), an increase of more than 110 per cent since 2008, when numerous structural changes were made to the Tour.

He has the same “I-can-win-any-match” attitude. He pounds his chest with similar enthusiasm after big wins, and Alex de Minaur’s tennis still thrives best when saturated with emotion.

But the 18-year-old Aussie, who, for the second year in a row, delighted his home fans during the Australian summer, believes he’s a different player than he was in 2017, when he earned his first tour-level wins in January.

De Minaur is stronger – physically and mentally – than he was 12 months ago, and he carries with him the experiences of his first full season as a professional tennis player, a year that saw him start strong in his home country but not win another tour-level match after January.

“I think it’s more of just believing in myself. I have been bringing out this level but just not sustaining it. Now I have seemed to find my way and am sustaining it and playing a lot of good matches in a row,” said de Minaur, who started 2018 7-3 in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

“It’s all about maintaining that. At the end of the day, I’m just going to get out there and on court, give it my all, and that’s what I want to do every day. That’s what I want to be known for, and that’s what I want other players to know about me, that I’m never going to give up.”

The 18-year-old has convinced a continent of that. He checked off a trifecta of accomplishments last year in Australia that can take years for some players to achieve. De Minaur qualified for his first tour-level tournament (Brisbane International presented by Suncorp); he earned his first tour-level win (Sydney International, d. Paire); and at his home Grand Slam, the Australian Open, he celebrated his maiden Slam victory (d. Gerald Melzer).

This year, while facing the pressure of trying to back up those results, de Minaur improved at almost every tournament. The 5’11” right-hander made the semi-finals in Brisbane, beating two-time ATP World Tour titlist Steve Johnson before sweeping former World No. 3 Milos Raonic, the 2016 Brisbane champion (d. Federer). In Sydney, de Minaur played for his first ATP World Tour title, falling to Russian Daniil Medvedev in three sets.

Read More: With Hewitt By His Side, #NextGenATP de Minaur Is Full Of Confidence

“It’s great to see that I’ve got the level to beat these guys, and make back-to-back great results. That’s something I was really trying to work on from last year, and to be more consistent, and I felt like I proved myself there in that aspect these two weeks,” he said.

A countryman who knows everything about belief and self-confidence has aided de Minaur’s maturation. Former World No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt has been a steady voice for de Minaur, helping the teenager navigate day-to-day life on the ATP World Tour.

“He’s obviously been through everything that tennis has to offer, so he knows how to deal with so many different scenarios… how to deal with expectations and pressures and, just playing big guys. It’s all there. He gives me a lot of advice, and the only thing I do is take it all in,” de Minaur said.

The Aussie also credited his coach, Adolfo Gutierrez. The two train together in Alicante, Spain, where de Minaur views every practice as a chance to improve his evolving game. “Every day is another chance to get better,” he said.

If the Sydney native can keep improving, he will find himself among the ATP World Tour’s elite 21-and-under players at the end of the season. De Minaur, with 240 points, is currently second in the ATP Race To Milan, which will determine seven of the eight players who compete at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan. Last year’s champion, Hyeon Chung of South Korea, just reached the semi-finals at the 2018 Australian Open (ret. v. Federer).

See Who’s Leading The ATP Race To Milan

“It’s still very early but I’m just focusing match by match, point by point. I don’t really want to get too ahead of myself,” de Minaur said.

“It’s all about me believing… I think that’s finally happening and I’m very proud of even all the work I’m doing off court as well. That’s, I think, really helping me on court and you can see the results now.”