Jack Draper reaches uncharted territory and is the last Brit standing in the men’s draw.
Draper dropped his first set of the tournament but still put in a wonderfully controlled and mature performance to beat Micheal Mmoh 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 and now plays Andrey Rublev for a place in the quarter finals.
Powerful lefty Draper sneaked the first set after breaking serve when 5-4 ahead, but stormed to a 4-0 lead in the second set. With his eyes set on the fourth round for the first time it was perhaps inevitable the 20-year-old would have a lapse in concentration somewhere, and Mmoh, ranked 89th, broke early in the third and held throughout.
But the young Brit regrouped well and trusted his powerful serve and forehand to put his American opponent under constant pressure, and won the fourth with 52 winners overall to close out the contest in just over three hours.
After the match Draper admitted he was proud with his performance, “I was proud of the way I went out there,” Draper said in her press conference.
“I don’t think I played my best tennis necessarily, but, I mean, I guess that’s what tennis is about, trying to get over the line when you’re not quite at your best. But like I said, he made it really difficult for me.
“He came out firing in the third set, and luckily, you know, I took my chance in the fourth. I’m glad with the win. To come here this week and to play the way I have and to compete the way I have and for my body to hold up has been, it’s been pretty special for me, really.”
Meanwhile British number two Dan Evans put up a brave performance but went down fighting in a 2-6, 3-6, 6-4, 3-6 loss to world number one Carlos Alcaraz.
The first set alone took 47 minutes as Evans defended multiple breakpoints against his Spanish net-rushing opponent. Defending champion Alcaraz, who held a 2-0 head-head record with wins on the Barcelona clay earlier this year as well as the indoor hard courts in Vienna two years ago, played aggressively again in the second set and broke three times and took a two-set lead.
But the third set was where the real battle took place and neither man could break serve – until the mammoth seventh game which also featured a contender for point of the tournament with tweeners and deft volleys. Evans held his emotions together and broke serve and soon after only just crept over the line with his fifth set point to take the set 6-4.
But the world number one was not to be denied, and stayed tough to come through and now plays Italian Matteo Arnaldi for the first time in the next round.
Cameron Norrie, out on Court 17 on a packed Saturday schedule, failed in his bid to play Alcaraz in the fourth round by losing in straight sets to 16th seeded Arnaldi.
Norrie’s failure to convert his breakpoints along with a huge unforced error count cost him dearly and though he played well in parts, it ultimately wasn’t enough in a disappointing 3-6, 4-6, 3-6 defeat.
Arnaldi, who has never before reached the fourth round of any Grand Slam, covered the court effortlessly with skids and slides to all parts, and displayed superb variety to nullify Norrie’s baseline game – and now picks up the biggest pay cheque of his fledgling career.
After losing the first four editions of the Laver Cup, Team World look set to win the event for a second time as the event reaches its conclusion tomorrow.
Team World Captain John McEnroe was thrilled with the day’s results but warned against complacency: “We’re just going to keep doing what we’re doing. The job’s not done but we’re pretty close.”
American duo Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe both earned straight sets wins over Andrey Rublev and Hubert Hurkacz, while Felix Auger-Aliassime and Ben Shelton beat Hurkacz and Gael Monfils.
“I want to play well for the guys,” said Tiafoe after his singles victory. “I played really well tonight. Just being in a team environment is so foreign to us as tennis players, it’s such an individual sport.”
After winning his third singles match in three appearances at the Laver Cup, Fritz was also motivated to do well:
“Yesterday, all the guys played really well. I felt that and wanted to come out on court and show what I can do. That definitely motivated me. Any type of team environment, I feel like it always elevates my game. I feel like my record in team events is really strong because I have a team cheering for me. I get pumped up. I’m excited to play for them. It just adds more pressure and fire to it. I think I play better in those situations.”
The doubles was a typically dynamic and feisty affair, and after the match Shelton was full of praise for his partner:
“It’s amazing, when you play with a guy who serves and returns like Felix, is as athletic as him, and goes back for the overhead as strong as him, it’s a fun time,” said Shelton. “We call him ‘Laver Cup Felix’ because he turns into something special this week, just glad I got to share the court with him at least once.”
Auger-Aliassime returned the compliments: “The best comes out of me when I’m playing not only for myself but for team-mates. Ben carried me through the end of that match, it was tough for me to get it done.”
Casper Ruud, meanwhile, beat Tommy Paul for Europe’s only points so far.
Matches on the final day are worth three points each – meaning that Team Europe would have to win all four remaining matches to prevent Team World from winning the trophy.
Results: T. Fritz def A. Rublev 6-2, 7-6 F. Tiafoe def H. Hurkacz 7-5, 6-3 F. Auger-Aliassime & B. Shelton def H.Hurkacz & G. Monfils 7-5, 6-4 C. Ruud def T. Paul 7-6, 6-2
After the US Open the Serbian champion reclaims top spot. Alexander Zverev is back in the Top 10
By Roberto Ferri
“Don’t ever underestimate the heart of a champion”
Rudy Tomjanovich coined this maxim just after his Houston Rockets won the NBA championship in 1995. He was paying homage to Akeem Holajuwon. It perfectly suits the heart of Daniil Medvedev, who proved 99% of tennis fans in the world to be wrong, convinced as they were that he would lose the semifinal to former No 1 Carlos Alcaraz.
But his dream to win a second US Open, after his triumph in 2021, was shattered by another champion, whose heart and class is even greater: that’s Novak Djokovic, who affixes his seal on his return to No.1, equalling Margaret Court Smith’s record of 24 majors.
Djokovic dethroning Alcaraz is not the only change in the top 20: Sascha Zverev is back in the top 10 after almost one year and Ben Shelton, great protagonist of the Us Open, debuts in the top 20 best players in the world.
TOP 20
Position
Player
Country
Pts
+/-
1
Djokovic
Serbia
11795
1
2
Alcaraz
Spain
8535
-1
3
Medvedev
Russia
7280
4
Rune
Denmark
4710
5
Tsitsipas
Greece
4615
2
6
Rublev
Russia
4515
2
7
Sinner
Italy
4465
-1
8
Fritz
USA
3955
1
9
Ruud
Norway
3560
-4
10
Zverev
Germany
3030
2
11
Tiafoe
USA
2690
-1
12
de Minaur
Australia
2685
1
13
Paul
USA
2660
1
14
Auger-Aliassime
Canada
2340
1
15
Khachanov
Russia
2135
-4
16
Hurkacz
Poland
2035
1
17
Norrie
GB
1985
-1
18
Musetti
Italy
1925
19
Shelton
USA
1735
28
20
Dimitrov
Bulgaria
1735
-1
A few comments:
Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrei Rublev and Alexander Zverev gain 2 positions.
Ben Shelton devours 28 positions.
Sinner, Tiafoe, Norrie and Dimitrov lose one.
Casper Ruud and Karen Khachanov, runner up and semi-finalist respectively at the 2022 US Open, drop 4 positions.
One step forward for Fritz, de Minaur, Paul, Auger-Aliassime and Hurkacz.
ATP NITTO FINALS
From 12 to 19 November the 8 best players of the ranking based on the points earned in the ongoing solar season will be playing the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.
Will Novak Djokovic succeed in winning a second straight title? He appears to be heading in the right direction.
Rank
Player
Country
Pts
+/-
1
Djokovic
Serbia
8945
1
2
Alcaraz
Spagna
8175
-1
3
Medvedev
Russia
6590
4
Sinner
Italia
4365
5
Rublev
Russia
3640
1
6
Tsitsipas
Grecia
3570
-1
7
Rune
Denmark
3055
8
Zverev
Germania
3030
9
Fritz
USA
3010
10
Ruud
Norway
2625
Thanks to his triumph at the US Open the Serbian overtakes Alcaraz also in the Race to Turin.
Jannik Sinner holds fourth spot while Andrei Rublev overtakes Stefanos Tsitsipas and is now fifth.
The eighth position is occupied by Alexander Zverev.
Last year runner up, Casper Ruud is currently 10th. This means he would feature in Turin as a reserve.
ATP NEXT GENERATION FINALS
The Next Gen Finals, dedicated to the best under 21s, (8 effectives and 2 reserves) of the season will take place this year in Gedda, Saudi Arabia.
The 2022 winner, Brandon Nakashima, will not be defending his title, since he was born in 2001.
Position
Player
Country
Pts
YOB
ATP rank
1
Alcaraz
Spain
8175
2003
2
2
Rune
Denmark
3055
2003
4
3
Shelton
USA
1455
2002
19
4
Musetti
Italy
1300
2002
18
5
Fils
France
953
2004
44
6
Van Assche
France
597
2004
69
7
Stricker
Switzerland
576
2002
90
8
Michelsen
USA
492
2004
117
9
Medjedovic
Serbia
485
2003
121
10
Cazaux
France
455
2002
130
11
Cobolli
Italy
405
2002
132
12
Llamas Ruiz
Spain
370
2002
133
Taking for granted that Alcaraz and, most likely Rune, will be playing the ATP Finals, we have included in the chart the 12 current top under 21s.
BEST RANKING
Besides Ben Shelton, other 11 players have achieved their career highest this week.
We tribute a double applause to the four players who are making their debut in the top 100.
The 25-year-old Croatian Borna Gojo, 22-year-old Australian Rinky Hijkata and the Swiss next gen Dominic Stricker all reap the reward for their brilliant runs at the US Open. Seyboth Wild, the Brazilian who stunned Medvedev in the first round of Roland Garros leaps to No.76 after winning the Challenger in Como last week.
No tennis player has ever been better than Novak Djokovic.
Even Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer have to take their hats off to Novak, and admire him.
Now that Rafa and Roger have left Djokovic on his own stage at least for now, tennis fans love Novak.
DJOKOVIC WENT ONE STEP FURTHER
Djokovic’s performance on Sunday evening in the U.S. Open final was simply amazing. Daniil Medvedev also played his heart out, but Djokovic went one step further. He was sensational.
It was a thrill-a-minute three-set match. It lasted well into the night after starting at mid-afternoon. The second set alone lasted 104 minutes.
Djokovic was the winner, 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3, but New York still loves 2021 champion Medvedev.
A FOURTH AND 24TH TITLE, AND A 24 TRIBUTE
At 36, the oldest U.S. Open men’s champion ever, Djokovic obviously has a special place in his heart for the number four. It’s the number of times he has won this tournament and the 24th time he has won a Grand Slam title.
The number 24 also was displayed prominently on the white jacket. Novak, his team members and family wore for the victory celebration as a tribute to the No. 24 jersey of deceased friend Kobe Bryant.
Djokovic lost his footing at least three times in the tight second set, stumbling to the surface once, apparently due to the length of the rallies.
Djokovic could look like he was almost completely wiped out of it physically one minute, and then play like Superman the next minute.
THREE POINTS MAY HAVE BEEN DECISIVE
Both men played great tennis, especially in the thrill-a-second second set in which Medvedev gained one set point in the 12th game before Djokovic recovered to force a tiebreaker.
Medvedev appeared to be in charge after out-playing Novak to win one of his drop shots to take a 5-4 lead in the tiebreaker. The match may have been decided on the next three points, all won by Djokovic on errors by the 6-6 Russian.
The big question now is what happens next January in the Australian Open. Right now, Djokovic probably wants to play . . . and win what has been his favorite tournament as far as success. But things can change quickly for players in their mid-30s. Just ask Roger or Rafa.
—
James Beck was the 2003 winner of the USTA National Media Award. A 1995 MBA graduate of The Citadel, he can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com.