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Novak Continuing Charge For No. 1
Novak Djokovic is the hottest player on the ATP World Tour. The Serbian has now won three ‘Big Titles’ in a row: the Western & Southern Open, the US Open and now the Rolex Shanghai Masters. But now, the Serbian will set his sights on returning to the top of the ATP Rankings.
Thanks to his efforts in Shanghai, where Djokovic claimed his 32nd ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown, the Serbian will move to within 215 points of World No. 1 Rafael Nadal on Monday. That means Djokovic will have an opportunity to regain the top spot before season’s end, which would make history. No player has climbed from as low as Djokovic was earlier this year — No. 22 on 21 May — to No. 1 in the same year. The closest was Andre Agassi, who soared from No. 14 in May 1999 to the top spot later that season.
So not only has Djokovic won 18 matches in a row and 27 of his past 28, but the 31-year-old has plenty more to play for as the excitement builds toward the end of the season. The 31-year-old can finish atop the year-end ATP Rankings for the fifth time in his career.
Look Out For Borna In 2019
If Borna Coric had not already proven himself this season, now he has. The Croatian reached his first Masters 1000 final this week, moving into third place on the ATP World Tour in wins at the elite level this year, with 18, which is ahead of the likes of World No. 1 Rafael Nadal, Juan Martin del Potro and Kevin Anderson.
It continues a year of firsts for the Croatian, who will climb to a career-best No. 13 in the ATP Rankings on Monday. Coric reached his first Masters 1000 semi-final at Indian Wells, claimed his first ATP World Tour 500-level title in Halle (d. Federer), cracked the world’s Top 20 for the first time in July and it seems to keep on getting better for the 2017 Next Gen ATP Finals qualifier.
Coric has already earned eight victories against Top 5 opponents in his career, including four this season. Could that success continue, leading to entry into the Top 10 in 2019?
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Kubot/Melo Finding Form At Perfect Time
One year ago, Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo finished atop the year-end ATP Doubles Team Rankings. They had only captured two tour-level titles this season prior to last week, compared to the five they earned by the end of Wimbledon in 2017. But the Polish-Brazilian duo has regained some of its best form.
After winning the China Open in Beijing, Kubot and Melo claimed their first Masters 1000 title of the season here in Shanghai, dropping just one set all week. Even more impressive is who they beat along the way. Kubot and Melo defeated second seeds Oliver Marach/Mate Pavic in the semi-finals and sixth seeds Jamie Murray/Bruno Soares in the final, and both of those teams have booked their spot at the Nitto ATP Finals. Thanks to their performance this week, Kubot/Melo not only guaranteed their own berth into the season finale, to be held at The O2 in London from 11-18 November, but they gained much-needed momentum with plenty of important matches still to come.
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Zverev Back To The O2
Fourth seed Alexander Zverev might have let slip his level in the semi-finals, but the second to last Masters 1000 event of the season was still a successful one. The 21-year-old German guaranteed on Friday his spot at the Nitto ATP Finals for the second consecutive year.
“It's great to finally officially make it and again be a part of the best eight, which is an elite group,” said Zverev. “It is a goal for everyone at the beginning of the season. I'm very pleased to be in London again and get another opportunity to play there for the second year in a row. I'm looking forward to the tournament.
Despite his loss to eventual champion Djokovic, Zverev now leads the ATP World Tour with 49 wins according to the FedEx ATP Performance Zone. Zverev also has more Masters 1000 wins than anyone else with 22, leading Djokovic (20) and Coric (18).
Wu A Star Of The Future For China
Sixteen players lost in the second round in Shanghai, but you should keep your eye on one of them in particular. Yibing Wu claimed his first match win on the ATP World Tour this week, defeating compatriot Zhe Li. But Wu also tested in-form Kei Nishikori, pushing the Japanese star to three sets.
The Chinese #NextGenATP player may very well throw his name into contention for a spot at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan next year after missing chunks of time this season due to injury. Wu, still only 18, became the first player from China to lift the US Open Boys’ singles trophy in 2017 before adding to his momentum by becoming the first Chinese teenager to triumph on the ATP Challenger Tour, doing so in Shanghai.
So while Wu lost to Nishikori, it was a good step in the right direction for perhaps the country’s greatest hopereadfullarticle
