Next Gen ATP American Ernesto Escobedo cracked the Top 100 in the Emirates ATP Rankings for the first time this month, jumping well over 200 spots since April 2016. The 20-year-old California native talks about the best gift he ever received, the first professional tennis match he ever watched and when he knew he loved the sport.

First moment I realised I loved tennis
When I was about eight years old and started to play in tennis tournaments. I loved being on the court being myself or competing with someone else. I played basketball and soccer, but tennis was always in my heart.

First tournament I played
It was five minutes from my house in West Covina at a club called Pacific Palms. I was eight years old. I played Deiton Baughman and it was the first match I ever played. He won 10-8 in the third-set tie-break and it was just a crazy match.

First coach and most important lesson he/she taught me
My first coach was Fernando Chavez. He taught me how to hit the ball and also just have fun on the court. I found it very stressful to be on the court by myself as a kid and he taught me how to just enjoy the game.

First pinch-me moment on the ATP World Tour
When I won my first-round match last year at the US Open. I couldn’t believe it. It was my first Grand Slam main draw and to get the win there was really special. I had about 15 friends and relatives there cheering me on, so it was just a great moment.

First professional tennis match I ever watched
The first match I ever watched was when Andy Roddick won the US Open in 2003. I watched it from the first point to the last and it gave me so much inspiration to play tennis. Thanks, Andy! [Smiles].

First celebrity crush
I know this one… she was on iCarly, Drake & Josh (Miranda Cosgrove).

First pet
My first pet was a dog we got about five years ago. I had always wanted a dog and my sister just brought him home, without permission. [Laughs]. It was probably one of the best presents ever.

First time I flew business class
It was this year flying back from the Australian Open. It was really fun to be in business class, flying in such a big plane. Just a great experience.

A LOOK BACK

Verrazzano Open (Sophia Antipolis, France): Aljaz Bedene cruised to his second ATP Challenger Tour title of 2017 (Irving, U.S.A.) without dropping a set. The Brit needed just 69 minutes to dismiss top seed Benoit Paire 6-2, 6-2 in Sunday’s final.

A rejuvenated Bedene, who is now 10-0 on the Challenger Tour in 2017 and improves to a staggering 13-2 in career Challenger finals, rises to World No. 76 in the Emirates ATP Rankings.

World No. 1 Andy Murray helped present the trophy to his countryman Bedene. Murray has been training at the tournament venue, the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy, ahead of his return to the ATP World Tour at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters later this month.

Great week in Sophia-Antipolis @mouratoglouacademy. Nice to receive the trophy from royalty in @andy_murray as well ?? pic.twitter.com/wOrIOpr5C5

— Aljaz Bedene (@AljazBedene) April 9, 2017

Visit Panama Tennis Cup (Panama City, Panama): Tennis returned to Panama on the ATP Challenger Tour following a two year absence. 2012 champion Rogerio Dutra Silva won his ninth Challenger title and second of the season (Santiago, Chile) with a commanding 6-2, 6-4 triumph over Peda Krstin.

His reward is a 14-place jump to a career-high ranking of No. 69 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, becoming the Brazilian No. 2, just four spots behind his countryman Thomaz Bellucci. The 33 year old is one of six players with multiple titles this year, joining Bedene, Adrian Mannarino, Jurgen Melzer, Yuichi Sugita and Janko Tipsarevic.

WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID

“It was a perfect week for me,” said Bedene. “This tournament is at the ATP World Tour level, that’s for sure. I feel great winning this title and I was consistent throughout the tournament, so it’s a good sign for the future.”

A LOOK AHEAD

Two clay court tournaments are scheduled on the Challenger Tour this week. Barletta in Italy hosts the €43,000 Open Citta’ Della Disfida.

The event, first held in 1997, has Gastao Elias playing as the top seed. 2011 and 2012 champion Bedene will target more Challenger success following his trophy haul in Sophia Antipolis. Defending champion Elias Ymer (d. Pavlasek) represents the #NextGenATP contingent along with Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Over in Mexico for the $50,000 San Luis Open and Facundo Bagnis enters as the top seed, ahead of No. 2 Gerald Melzer and #NextGenATP player Stefan Kozlov.

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ATP CHALLENGER TOUR ON TWITTER: The ATP Challenger Tour has launched a dedicated Twitter account for the latest news and information about players and events. Follow @ATPChallengerTour at twitter.com/ATPChallengerTour.

BELGIUM 3, ITALY 1
Spiroudome de Charleroi, Charleroi, BEL (hard – indoor)

World No. 14 David Goffin wasted no time in sending Belgium to the Davis Cup semi-finals, ousting Paolo Lorenzi 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 in just one hour and 52 minutes on Sunday.

In front of the partisan Belgian crowd in Charleroi, Goffin sent the host nation back to the semis for the second time in three years, improving to 13-1 in his last 14 singles rubbers. The 2015 runners-up will welcome Australia in September.

“When you see the score it was comfortable, but inside it was not,” said Goffin. “You have to stay focused. Especially when you win the first two sets and you think it’s the end, but it’s not. I’m really happy with how I finished.

“I just give my best on the court. I just want to play for my team and my country. I love to play at home, with the atmosphere in front of my own fans.”

Goffin fired a forehand winner – his 29th of the match – to claim victory on Sunday. It was his second straight-set singles win of the tie, having defeated Andreas Seppi 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 on Friday.

FRANCE 4, GREAT BRITAIN 1
Kindarena, Rouen, France (Indoor Clay)

A day after taking an unassailable 3-0 lead, France completed a 4-1 victory over Great Britain. Jeremy Chardy downed Kyle Edmund 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday, after the Brits got on the board with a 6-1, 6-2 win for Daniel Evans over Julien Benneteau.

SERBIA 4, SPAIN 1
Aleksandar Nikolic Arena, Belgrade, Serbia (Indoor Hard)

Spain narrowly avoided a whitewash at the hands of Serbia, with Albert Ramos-Vinolas claiming the dead rubber victory over Nenad Zimonjic 6-2, 6-1. Earlier in the day, Dusan Lajovic rallied past Jaume Munar 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Nick Kyrgios guided Australia back into the Davis Cup semi-finals with a 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-4 victory over Sam Querrey on Sunday.

The World No. 16 fired down 21 aces to secure an unassailable 3-1 lead for Lleyton Hewitt’s side at the Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane.

The United States swapped Jack Sock for Querrey, a move that could have been prompted by the towering 29 year old’s win over Kyrgios en route to taking the Abierto Mexicano Telcel title in February. However, Kyrgios dictated play, fighting back from a 1-4 deficit in the third set to clinch the tie on home soil.

“It’s a lot of relief we got through, a tough third set out there,” said Kyrgios, who won both singles matches this weekend in straight sets against Top 30 opponents. “Obviously a lot of emotions close to the finish line, I’ve been looking forward to this tie for a long time now.”

Later on Sunday, John Isner overcame Sam Groth 7-6(5), 6-3 in the dead fifth rubber.

Australia last made the semi-finals in 2015, losing to eventual champions Great Britain in Glasgow. “There is no greater honour than wearing the green and gold,” said Australia’s captain Hewitt. “I couldn’t be prouder of my boys. They’ve put so much hard work and effort into this campaign. They did absolutely everything we asked of them. The coaching staff too, so many sacrifices made. That’s what representing Australia is all about.”