The field of the best eight U-21 players of the season is complete. Leader Alexander Zverev will be the winner of the ATP NextGen Finals (07. till 11. November) in Milan – the role of favourite will be reassigned.
Alexander Zverev (ATP #5) canceled his start at the tournament in Italy with a view to the ATP finals in London:”I talked to my team and we decided that the best way to prepare for the ATP finals in London is to cancel the start in Milan,”said the 20-year-old from ATP. Even without the top star from Hamburg, the field offers excitement and top-class youngsters.
Andrey Rublev (ATP #34) is one of the hottest candidates for the overall victory. The 20-year-old Russian rider is looking forward to a sensational second half of the season and celebrated his first victory on the ATP Tour in Umag, Croatia. Equipped with a crackling and explosive forehand, he played his way into the last sixteen at the US Open. His temperament alone is still standing in the way of bringing even the very big ones to Bredouille.
Behind Rublev, his compatriot Karan Khachanov (ATP #42) joins the closer circle of favourites. The 21-year-old convinces above all with his enormous physical form and develops a fabulous tempo on the forehand.
The Canadian Denis Shapovalov (ATP #49) is more of a backhand aesthetic. With his one-handed backhanded whip, he scored his biggest coup to date in Montréal with a victory over Rafael Nadal and has been causing a sensation ever since. The youngster born in Tel Aviv, at the age of 18, is the youngest participant to take part.
With Jared Donaldson (ATP #50) a largely unknown US-American goes to the start in Milan. With a constant seasonal performance, he secretly pushed himself into the top eight. The performance of the man from Rhode Island will be a wonderful bag with a possible surprise effect.
Borna Coric (ATP #54), on the other hand, has been on the tour for several years and is only 20 years old. With the most experience of all participants, the Croatian is a dangerous opponent for the seven competitors. A representative from Asia will also be present in the northern Italian city.
With Hyeon Chung (ATP #57) fans can look forward to the “strongest legs of Korea”. Gael Monfils awarded the 21-year-old a tremendous running speed and one of the strongest leg muscles of the tour at the BMW Open in Munich. The Korean is not only physically on an extremely high level. Together with his coach Hyunyoon Suk, Chung is working meticulously on his punches and his menstrual condition – a negative reaction from the Japanese on court is a rarity. An absolute insider’s tip on the title in Milan.
Daniil Medvedev (ATP #67) qualified for the finals as third Russian. The 21-year-old scored the points he needed to qualify for the Challenger tournaments with a few appearances. Medvedev is more of an old-school player and sets the shots more flat than with a lot of top-spin.
The eighth participant will be the winner of a U21 tournament in Italy.