13 & Counting, 2018's First-Time Titlists' List Continues To Grow
23 October 2018 04:34
Two days ago, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Kyle Edmund both reached a milestone moment in their careers by clinching their first ATP World Tour titles at the Intrum Stockholm Open and European Open, respectively. Not only did those two victories provide fans with a glimpse into the future, they added to the hefty list of first-time tournament winners this season.
No season since 2004, when Rafael Nadal won his maiden trophy in Sopot, has seen this many first-time champions. Tsitsipas and Edmund's triumphs lifted this year's total to 13, with three regular season events still to be contested in Basel, Vienna and Paris. Overall, players attempting to capture their first trophy own a 13-18 record in championship matches this year.
2018 First-Time ATP World Tour Champions
Player
Age
Tournament City
1) Daniil Medvedev
21
Sydney
2) Roberto Carballes Baena
24
Quito
3) Mirza Basic
26
Sofia
4) Frances Tiafoe
20
Delray Beach
5) Marco Cecchinato
25
Budapest
6) Taro Daniel
25
Istanbul
7) Marton Fucsovics
26
Geneva
8) Mischa Zverev
30
Eastbourne
9) Matteo Berrettini
22
Gstaad
10) Nikoloz Basilashvili
26
Hamburg
11) Yoshihito Nishioka
23
Shenzhen
12) Stefanos Tsitsipas
20
Stockholm
13) Kyle Edmund
23
Antwerp
This year also marks the first time since 2006 that nine first-time champions were aged 25 or under. #NextGenATP stars Frances Tiafoe and Stefanos Tsitsipas are the youngest maiden titlists this year, with each triumphing at the age of 20. Both men have already qualified for the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan, to be held from 6-10 November.
2004 First-Time ATP World Tour Champions
Player
Age
Tournament City
1) Antony Dupuis
30
Milan
2) Joachim Johansson
21
Memphis
3) Vincent Spadea
29
Scottsdale
4) Fernando Verdasco
20
Valencia
5) Filippo Volandri
22
St. Poelten
6) Santiago Ventura
24
Casablanca
7) Michael Llodra
24
's-Hertogenbosch
8) Rafael Nadal
18
Sopot
9) Ricardo Mello
23
Delray Beach
10) Tomas Berdych
19
Palermo
11) Robin Soderling
20
Lyon
12) Jerome Haehnel
24
Metz
13) Feliciano Lopez
23
Vienna.readfullarticle
