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First-Time Winner Spotlight: Jack Draper

It was "third time lucky" for Jack Draper on Sunday, when he won his first ATP Tour title in his third tour-level final. The 22-year-old beat Matteo Berrettini to triumph at the BOSS OPEN in Stuttgart, a result that also set him up for a debut as British No. 1 and a career-high PIF ATP Ranking of No. 30.

The sixth seed's 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 victory against two-time Stuttgart champ Berrettini provided the perfect start to his grass-court campaign. Draper will next bid to carry that momentum forward to home events on the lawns of The Queen's Club and Wimbledon — the latter of which he will likely be seeded at thanks to his rise in the PIF ATP Rankings.

ATPTour.com caught up with Draper to discuss his title breakthrough, those who helped him reach that milestone, and more.

What does it mean to you to win your first ATP Tour title?
Honestly it means the world to me. I've been working for this moment for a very long time. Lots of ups and downs, lots of injuries, lots of setbacks. To come through today and win, and the way I've been playing, I'm really, really proud of myself. Hopefully it's a testament to all my hard work and I can keep going.

How did your previous ATP Tour finals in Sofia and Adelaide help you today?
I don't know. I think third time lucky, really. In those matches I think I was a little defensive and allowed them to win the match. Today against Matteo I had to be aggressive, I had to win the game on my own terms. I think the experiences of losing a lot of matches where the opponent has taken it from me, I think that helped me a lot.

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Draper defeats Berrettini to win first ATP Tour title in Stuttgart

Jack Draper is an ATP Tour champion.

The British lefty overcame Italian Matteo Berrettini 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 on Sunday to win the BOSS OPEN title.

"It's incredible. Just thank you so much for the support," Draper said. "It was a really, really tough match. But I'm really happy to win my first title. It means so much to me."

An unforgettable week for @jackdraper0@boss__open | #BOSSOPEN pic.twitter.com/AqYqujh6HN

— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 16, 2024

Draper, who was competing in his third tour-level final, battled hard against Berrettini in the pair’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting. The sixth was two points from defeat in the second-set tie-break, but rallied to level the match and then won 89 per cent (17/19) of his first-serve points in the third set according to Infosys ATP Stats to triumph at the ATP 250 grass-court event in Stuttgart.

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De Minaur eases past Korda for ‘s-Hertogenbosch crown

Alex de Minaur added a second title to his stellar 2024 season on Sunday, when the top-seeded Australian dispatched Sebastian Korda 6-2, 6-4 to triumph at the Libema Open.

De Minaur produced some trademark elite defence and counterpunching to nullify Korda’s power on the ‘s-Hertogenbosch grass. With his ninth ATP Tour title, the 25-year-old on Monday will rise two spots to a career-high No. 7 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

“It achieves a new career-high for me, so that’s always a great little bonus,” said De Minaur in his on-court interview. “My first week on grass couldn’t have gone any better, so I’m looking forward to next week at Queen’s and the whole grass-court season with a smile on my face. I’m glad I was able to get a win here in Holland.”

???????? ???? ???????? ? ✅@alexdeminaur is taking home the ? after a 6-2 6-4 victory over Korda.@LibemaOpen | #LibemaOpen pic.twitter.com/w9egm2K4jl

— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 16, 2024

Competing as the top seed at an ATP Tour event for the first time this week, De Minaur did not drop a set en route to the title at the Dutch grass-court ATP 250. Against Korda, he reeled off six straight games from 2-2 to seize control of the match. De Minaur ultimately prevailed after breaking his opponent’s serve three times in the second set.

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Sinner reveals advice Federer gave him in Halle

In June 2019, a 17-year-old Jannik Sinner was walking around the players’ on-site hotel at the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, where he was competing as a wild card in qualifying. Suddenly he was intercepted by Severin Luthi, the coach of then nine-time Halle champion Roger Federer.

“I remember Luthi stopping me on the on the stairs of the hotel and asking me if I could warm [Federer ] up for his match,” Sinner told ATPTour.com on Saturday prior to this year's edition of the grass-court ATP 500. “I said, ‘Of course, yes.' It was a very good feeling, a special feeling.”

Swiss legend Federer went on to lift his 10th and final title in Halle that year. Sinner this year competes as the top seed and, for the first time in his career, as the No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings. Even if the pair never got to face off in a competitive match, the 22-year-old Italian still retains the advice passed down to him by Federer.

“I didn't have the chance to play against Roger in an official match, and this is something that I will always miss, but I do remember the practice sessions with him,” reflected Sinner. “I didn't have many, so I do remember every single one, more or less. He gave me just kind of mental advice: Try to enjoy it and keep looking forward to working hard. That's the only thing he told me, and it was very nice to share a court with him.”

Sinner arrives in Halle having racked up a 33-3 record the season, a tally that includes his maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. Having cracked the major code at this year's Australian Open and now become the first Italian World No. 1 in history, could winning a maiden tour-level grass-court title be the next milestone the 22-year-old hits in 2024?

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Scouting Report: Sinner, Alcaraz headline at Halle, Queen's Club

The grass-court season continues with ATP 500 events at Halle and Queen’s Club. Many of the sport’s biggest stars, including World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz will be in action.

There is plenty at stake at the Terra Wortmann Open and the Cinch Championships. Who will battle through the loaded fields?

ATPTour.com looks at five things to watch at each tournament.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN HALLE
1) Sinner Makes Debut As No. 1: For the first time, Sinner will compete as the No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings. The Italian is the top seed in Halle, where he played in qualifying in 2019 as a 17-year-old and trained with Roger Federer. Sinner, who made the quarter-finals at the ATP 500 event last year, will begin his grass-court season against Tallon Griekspoor.

2) Zverev At Home: One week ago, Alexander Zverev was a set from winning the Roland Garros title. How will he bounce back as his grass season begins? The German made back-to-back Halle finals in 2016 and 2017 and the semi-finals last year. A semi-finalist in 2023, the second-seeded Zverev will try to make a good start against a qualifier.

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Murray among singles stars playing doubles at Queen's Club; Sinner partnering Hurkacz in Halle

The 2024 ATP Doubles Trial continues next week at the Cinch Championships, where there is a loaded draw full of top doubles teams and singles stars, including Andy Murray.

Murray is partnering Daniel Evans for the second time this year after competing together at Roland Garros. They will face fourth seeds and defending champions Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek in the first round.

View Queen's Club Doubles Draw

The former World No. 1 Murray won the Queen’s Club doubles title in 2019 alongside Feliciano Lopez.

Twelve of the Top 35 players in the PIF ATP Rankings are competing at Queen’s Club, and all but one first-round match pit doubles players against singles players. There is one match between two singles tandems: eighth seeds Taylor Fritz and Karen Khachanov play Francisco Cerundolo and Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

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Sinner's first opponent as World No. 1 in Halle is...

Jannik Sinner’s life as No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings will start with a first-round clash against Tallon Griekspoor at the Terra Wortmann Open.

The 22-year-old Italian will be wary of his first grass-court opponent of the year at the ATP 500 in Halle. Griekspoor won a tour-level title on grass in ‘s-Hertogenbosch last year, and the Dutchman was the only player to take a set off Sinner during his Miami title run in March.

Yet Sinner will still enter the match with a 4-0 Lexus ATP Head2Head series lead against Griekspoor. Should he pass his opening test on the German grass, the 13-time tour-level champion would take on Fabian Marozsan or Roman Safiullin. Sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas is a potential quarter-final opponent for Sinner, while Daniil Medvedev and defending champion Alexander Bublik are potential semi-final opponents.

A sweet welcome for the new No.1 in Halle ?@ATPHalle | #TerraWortmannOpen pic.twitter.com/k1EFdJrSXu

— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 13, 2024

Tsitsipas opens his campaign against home wild card Henri Squire. The third-seeded Medvedev, a finalist in Halle in 2022, plays Nuno Borges first, with Bublik starting his title defence against a qualifier.

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Defending champion Alcaraz faces tough draw at Queen's Club

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz faces a tough draw at the Cinch Championships, his first tournament since winning the Roland Garros title.

The No. 2 player in the PIF ATP Rankings will open his grass-court season against a Top 30 opponent in Argentine Francisco Cerundolo. They played in 2019 at an ITF World Tennis Tour event in Palmanova, Spain, when Alcaraz was 15, and Cerundolo triumphed 6-2, 6-4.

Should Alcaraz advance, his path will not get easier. The Spaniard would face Jack Draper, who could claim his first ATP Tour title Sunday in Stuttgart, or 2024 breakthrough star Mariano Navone. The first seeded opponent the 21-year-old could play is fifth seed Tommy Paul, who has won two of their four Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings.

Alcaraz is on a 12-match grass-court winning streak following his titles at Queen’s Club and Wimbledon last year.

[ATP APP]

Second seed Alex de Minaur, who will play in the ’s-Hertogenbosch final on Sunday, faces a tricky opening test against Italian Lorenzo Musetti, who reached the Stuttgart semi-finals. The Australian made the final last year at Queen’s Club.

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Predictor Picks: Could Sinner, Medvedev & Fritz be great grass picks?

The grass-court season continues with ATP 500 events at Halle and Queen’s Club, with many of the biggest stars in the sport in action.

New World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings Jannik Sinner headlines the field at the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, while Roland Garros champion Carlos Alcaraz returns to action at the Cinch Championships.

Before each tournament week, ATPTour.com looks at three players who might be good selections for fans in the PIF ATP Rankings Predictor.

Make Your Picks Now!

Jannik Sinner — defending 90 points
The Italian arrives in Germany as the 29th No. 1 in the history of the PIF ATP Rankings. He will try to make a splash in his first week at the pinnacle of men’s tennis.

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Berrettini back in Stuttgart final; Will he defeat Draper for the title?

Matteo Berrettini is back in a big way.

In his first tournament since Monte-Carlo in April, the former No. 6 player in the PIF ATP Rankings is into the Stuttgart final. The Italian defeated countryman Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-0 Saturday to reach the championship match of the BOSS OPEN.

“When you win like this, it's better,” Berrettini said of his 66-minute victory. “You just burn less energy. I think I played enough during the week. So today, it was really good to play an hour and six minutes.”

The final is set in Stuttgart ?@boss__open | #BOSSOPEN pic.twitter.com/a1glBOt4um

— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 15, 2024

Berrettini has thrived on grass throughout his career. The 2021 Wimbledon finalist has triumphed in Stuttgart twice before and is one win from claiming a hat-trick of crowns at the German ATP 250.

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Korda ends Griekspoor’s title defence with semi-final win in ‘s-Hertogenbosch

Can Sebastian Korda snap his three-year wait for a second ATP Tour title in ‘s-Hertogenbosch?

The American charged into the championship match at the Libema Open on Saturday afternoon with a 6-2, 6-4 triumph against home favourite and defending champion Tallon Griekspoor. Korda converted three of four break points he earned, according to Infosys ATP Stats, while he did not face a break point on his own serve in his 64-minute semi-final win.

“Overall, I’m very happy with today,” said Korda in his on-court interview. “It was super tricky, super windy, and obviously Tallon is an unbelievable player and he won here last year. It’s a nice confidence boost for me and hopefully I can win another match tomorrow.”

Through to his 7th Tour final ?@SebiKorda's dominant performance against Griekspoor, 6-2 6-4, secured him a spot for a chance at the title.@LibemaOpen | #LibemaOpen pic.twitter.com/sJnWIXiXi3

— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 15, 2024

Korda now holds a 2-0 lead in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with his good friend Griekspoor. The 23-year-old American is 1-5 in tour-level finals, with his sole victory coming on clay in Parma in 2021.

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Types of Grips

Tennis grips are fundamental to a player's performance, influencing how they hit different strokes and manage the racquet. Here's an overview of the main types of tennis grips and their applications: 1. Continental GripHow to Hold It: Place the base knuckle of your index finger on the second bevel of the racquet handle.Common Uses:Serves: Provides ...

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#NextGenATP Fonseca receives wild card for Halle

Can Joao Fonseca add grass-court success to his breakout year on the ATP Tour?

The #NextGenATP Brazilian will next week compete as a wild card at the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, the tournament announced Friday. It will be the 17-year-old’s first tour-level appearance on grass.

Fonseca began the year outside the Top 700 of the PIF ATP Rankings, but is currently at a career-high No. 224 after a strong six months. He has racked up an 11-7 record on the ATP Challenger Tour in 2024, while his 5-5 ATP Tour record this season includes quarter-final runs as a wild card in Rio de Janeiro and Bucharest.

[ATP APP]

Currently sixth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, Fonseca will hope to take advantage of another wild card opportunity at tour-level on the lawns of Halle. He has already notched a grass-court milestone this month: Nine days ago, Fonseca beat former World No. 14 Kyle Edmund in his first ATP Challenger Tour match on the surface in Surbiton. This week, the Brazilian is into the second round at another Challenger event in Nottingham.

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Doubles trial at Queen's Club: Less time between points, 'time extensions' & more

The first tournament that participated in the 2024 ATP Doubles Trial was the Mutua Madrid Open. Now, the Cinch Championships at Queen’s Club will trial a set of changes — with some new tweaks — during next week’s ATP 500 event.

By trialing more changes, the ATP continues to innovate, with foci including in-match time reduction and creating an elevated on-site fan experience.

Changes at Queen’s Club will include less time between points, adjustments to time allowances during changeovers, the use of “time extensions” and more.

Tournament director Jamie Murray, the former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Doubles Rankings, said: “I'm excited to see the ATP continue to try to test ways to figure out things to try to improve the doubles product and unlock more value for all the different stakeholders: players, fans, tournaments, streaming, TV and broadcasters. We were excited to be a part of that and hopefully, it's a positive experience for the players and fans that are coming to watch it at Queen's this week.”

[ATP APP]

There will be 18 seconds between all points (15+3) and 60-second changeovers with time called after 40 seconds. Each team may request one time extension per set to discuss tactics.

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Draper hits 31 aces to battle past defending champ Tiafoe in Stuttgart

Jack Draper continued to impress on the lawns in Stuttgart on Friday when he clawed past last year’s champion Frances Tiafoe 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(1) to reach the semi-finals at the BOSS OPEN.

The lefty, who is up seven spots to No. 33 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, produced an explosive display on serve at the ATP 250 event. Draper fired 31 aces, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and backed up pinpoint deliveries with fierce groundstrokes to advance to his sixth tour-level semi-final after two hours and 13 minutes.

"I am incredibly happy," Draper said. "My last three tie-breaks in the third set I have lost them all, so to come through today is amazing and I am really proud of my level. I am really happy with how I served and it was a really high-quality match."

What a match! ?

Jack Draper hits 31 aces on his way to defeating Tiafoe 5-7 6-4 7-6(1) to reach his 6th ATP Tour SF!

@boss__open | #BOSSOPEN pic.twitter.com/a9XJuCYMeo

— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 14, 2024

Draper is aiming to win his maiden ATP Tour title this week and has looked comfortable on the grass in Germany. The 22-year-old arrived in Stuttgart off the back of three consecutive defeats on clay, but has refound the winning formula this week to improve to 16-12 on the season.

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Korda sinks Paul in 's-Hertogenbosch to reach second SF of season

Sebastian Korda reached his second ATP Tour semi-final of the season on Friday at the Libema Open, where he defeated fellow American Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-2.

The 23-year-old produced a dominant display on the lawns in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, where he struck 18 winners and won 84 per cent (27/32) of his first-serve points according to ATP Infosys Stats to earn victory after 67 minutes.

[ATP APP]

With his 18th tour-level win of the season, Korda improved his impressive Lexus ATP Head2Head record against Paul to 4-1, with this their first meeting on grass.

Korda, who also advanced to the last four on grass at the Queen’s Club in 2023, is chasing his first ATP Tour title since 2021, when he won his maiden trophy at this level in Parma. The seventh seed will play defending champion Tallon Griekspoor after the sixth-seeded Dutchman clawed past Aleksandar Vukic 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) to reach the semi-finals.

"I am very happy to be through," Griekspoor said. "It was a very tough match once again. I think Aleksandar played unbelievable grass-court tennis, so it wasn't easy and I am really happy to find my way in the third set... I am enjoying the crowd, the atmosphere and the whole tournament."

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Annacone on the 'big improvement' that could help Sinner cut it on the grass

Jannik Sinner enters the 2024 grass-court season atop the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time. After winning his first Grand Slam title and debuting at World No. 1 last Monday, can he add his maiden grass-court title to his incredible calendar year?

The 22-year-old owns a 12-8 record on the surface, with his best result a Wimbledon semi-final run last season. He will begin his 2024 grass campaign at the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, where he reached the quarter-finals last season in his tournament main-draw debut before retiring with an adductor muscle injury.

Five years ago, Sinner first played the ATP 500 event in the 2019 qualifying draw at the age of 17. While he did not pick up a win in the play-in tournament, he gained an invaluable experience by practising with 10-time Halle champion Roger Federer at the event.

A sweet welcome for the new No.1 in Halle ?@ATPHalle | #TerraWortmannOpen pic.twitter.com/k1EFdJrSXu

— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 13, 2024

Sinner has made great strides since he last competed on grass, and there is no doubt that he has all the tools for success on the unique surface. Paul Annacone, who has coached two of the most accomplished grass-court players of all time in Pete Sampras and Federer, analysed the Italian's game and grass-court tennis in general ahead of Sinner's return to the lawns of Halle.

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Sinner & Alcaraz: From #NextGenATP champs to the world's Top 2

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are two of the six players who have won the prestigious Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF. This week, they are the No. 1 and No. 2 players in the world, respectively.

Sinner, 22 and Alcaraz, 21, are the first pair of 22-and-under players to hold the top two spots in the PIF ATP Rankings since Roger Federer and Andy Roddick in August 2004. On 8 August 2004, Federer turned 23.

Sinner is the first Italian to reach the singles pinnacle, man or woman, since computerised rankings began in 1973. He is the 29th man to climb to the top of the sport.

Aged 19, Alcaraz became the youngest No. 1 in PIF ATP Rankings history following the 2022 US Open. He was also the first teen to accomplish the feat.

This is the first week the duo has occupied the top two spots in any order. The stars met for the ninth time in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series in the semi-finals of Roland Garros, where Alcaraz won in five sets. The Spaniard later lifted the trophy at the clay-court major for the first time.

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Humbert defeats fellow Frenchman Fils in 's-Hertogenbosch

Ugo Humbert earned his way back into the win column with a strong start to his Libema Open campaign on Wednesday. The third-seeded Frenchman picked up his first victory since Madrid with a 6-3, 7-6(1) result against fellow Frenchman Arthur Fils at the ATP 250 in 's-Hertogenbosch.

Humbert began his grass-court campaign with a dominant serving performance. He won 82 per cent of his first-serve points and saved the only two break points against him, according to Infosys ATP Stats. The victory improved him to 2-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head with his countryman and 9-2 overall against French opponents since the start of 2023.

"It was not easy to play against a friend," Humbert said of FIls. "We'll play together at the Olympics in doubles. It was nice to play against him.

"I'm super happy with my first win on the grass, my first match on the grass. I felt really comfortable."

[ATP APP]

Humbert will next meet Dutchman Gijs Brouwer after the home favourite's 6-3, 6-3 upset of Adrian Mannarino. Brouwer broke the fifth seed's serve four times on seven chances to advance to his fourth ATP Tour quarter-final and his first on grass. The win against the No. 21 in the PIF ATP Rankings was the second Top 30 win of his career (def. Ruud in Rotterdam 2023).

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