In a few weeks, the #NextGen-Masters for the best players of the ATP-Tour, 21 years old or younger, will take place for the second time. The recent results of the final candidates were not intoxicating.
Alexander Zverev plays in a league of his own, as much was already clear in 2017, when the German number one had led the U-21 players’ annual ranking superiorly, but decided not to participate in the competitions at the #NextGen-Masters in Milan. A short flying visit to Northern Italy, an even shorter show fight, that was it for Zverev, who concentrated on his first participation at the ATP Finals in London.
In the current year the situation is very similar, again Zverev a quarter of its points would be sufficient, in order to qualify nevertheless for the annual accounts of the coming generation. Which primarily speaks for the native Hamburger. But also against the other youngsters.
Stefanos Tsitsipas still has the best run, the Greek is in second place in the Race to Milan. But for weeks he has been looking for mental and physical freshness and playful success, in Shenzhen the first match against Pierre-Hugues Herbert was already over. The same goes for Denis Shapovalov, who won a match in China but lost his second appearance in Shenzhen against Yoshito Nishioka in three sets.
Alex de Minaur and Frances Tiafoe also have a good chance of qualifying. Both played for their national teams a couple of days ago, both delivered great fighting performances on Sundays, both lost against Dominic Thiem and Borna Coric respectively.
Andrey Rublev, defeated last year in Milan in the final by Hyeon Chung, is not in good shape after his back injury, but would have a place for the moment. Remains Taylor Fritz, who is struggling this week in Chengdu. There the US-American defeated the Taiwanese Hsun Sin Tseng in round one. After a success against Mikhail Kukushkin he is now in the last eight.
And maybe even Félix Auger-Aliassime has a strong finish in him. The Canadian Lucky Loser has won two games in Chengdu and is now in the quarter-finals to catch up with Jaume Munar, who is currently eighth in the Race to Milan, but not even a tournament win at the ATP World Tour 250 tournament would be enough: Auger Aliassime missing 256 points on Munar.
Here is the current status in the Race to Milan