The old tennis guard of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic are all over 30. The Grand Slam champions will not be on tour for the next five years and the new blood will take over. Here are four youngsters looking to make their mark on the ATP tour.
Taylor Fritz
The 20-year-old only turned pro in 2015 but has already made a name for himself on the ATP tour. The youngster made the quarterfinal at Delray Beach in early February, his best result this season.
The 6’4 American has won and reached a Challenger Tour event this year, as he looks to makes the leap onto the main ATP tour. Fritz’s best win of the career was defeating US Open champion Marin Cilic at Indian Wells last year. While the world #77’s best grand slam performance was reaching the second round of the US open in 2017.
Fritz is the second-fastest American ever to reach an ATP tour final, aged just 18. He has the game to fly up the rankings. Hopefully this year he will.
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Frances Tiafoe
Another American that is making moves on the ATP tour. The 20-year-old won Delray Beach in February, the first ATP tour title of his career. On route to glory, he defeated Juan Martin Del Potro, Hyeon Chung and Denis Shapovalov to show a glimpse of the raw talent Tiafoe holds.
The 6’2 American also reached the quarter-final in New York last month. The world #61 has reached the second round of both Wimbledon and the Australian Open. While his best result at a 1000 Masters event was in Cincinnati, losing in the third round to John Isner.
With one ATP tour title already this year he now has the confidence to do battle with the very best.
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Karen Khachanov
The Russian is another on this list to already have an ATP tour title under his belt. An impressive weeks performance in Marseille earned him notable victories over Lucas Pouille and Tomas Berdych.
The 21-year-old also reached the quarterfinals in Auckland and Montpellier, further demonstrating the potential the world number #41 has at his disposal.
Khachanov has the best grand slam result on the list. He reached the fourth round at Roland Garros, beating both big hitters John Isner and Berdych, before losing in straight sets to Andy Murray.
With two ATP tour titles now, Khachanov needs to push on up the rankings to reach his full potential.
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Denis Shapovalov
Probably the most well known name on the list, as well as the youngest. The 18-year-old has started the ATP tour in mixed fashion this year. An opening round defeat in Brisbane to Kyle Edmund, hinted the Canadian was not going to be able to improve on last years results. However, reaching the last-64 in the Australian Open and the semi-finals of Delray Beach have shown otherwise.
At Delray Beach, the world #45 dispatched Ivo Karlovic, Jared Donaldson and Taylor Fritz to show the raw talent he has on offer.
Shapovalov reached the fourth round of the US Open last year, becoming the youngest man to do so since Michael Chang in 1989. As a qualifier, he defeated Jo-Wilfred Tsonga and Kyle Edmund to put his name on the lips of the tennis world.
The left-handed Israeli-born star has not won a title yet. However, he has reached the Rogers Cup semi-final, defeating Juan Martin Del Potro and Rafael Nadal en route.
The youngster has been tipped to win a grand slam one day and with how he plays, it’s undeniable. Age is on his side and could easily finish the year in the top #20.
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