By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, November 17, 2023
The Turin baseline is a generational crossroads.
The ATP Finals semifinal showdown pits veteran champions and rising younger stars pushing to supplant them atop the game.
Extra: Alcaraz Sweeps Into Djokovic Rematch in Turin
Twenty-year-old Carlos Alcaraz faces world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in a single semifinal, and 22-year-old residence hero Jannik Sinner performs 27-year-old Daniil Medvedev in a bid to develop into the primary Italian man to succeed in the singles remaining within the 54-year match historical past.
Requested to evaluate the evolution of the game, Medvedev cited 5 “tremendous younger” stars he envisions battling for the highest spot sooner or later: No. 2 Alcaraz, No. 4 Sinner, 20-year-old Holger Rune, US Open semifinalist Ben Shelton and 19-year-old Frenchman Arthur Fils.
“For certain proper now we are able to name them Subsequent Gen. I imply, they’re already right here, however they’re nonetheless tremendous younger,” Medvedev instructed the media in Turin after bowing to Alcaraz 6-4, 6-4. “Jannik, Holger and Carlos at this second on the prime. For certain Ben Shelton, Arthur Fils, guys like this, they’ll additionally come there.
“I feel as a result of they’re on the prime, there’s not a lot distinction between me, even Novak, and them. The distinction is that Novak has 24 Grand Slams. After they play one on one, as we noticed, he can lose. So there’s not a lot completely different.”
Wimbledon winner Alcaraz made his mark because the youngest year-end No. 1 in ATP historical past final yr.
World No. 2 Alcaraz is the youngest man within the Turin discipline,which confirmed the energy of this youth motion. With 20-year-old skills Alcaraz and Rune within the discipline it marked the primary time for the reason that 2000 Lisbon ATP Finals—Lleyton Hewitt (19) and Marat Safin (20)—there are two 20-and-under gamers within the discipline.
Corridor of Famer John McEnroe has referred to as Alcaraz probably the most full 20-year-old champion he’s ever seen.
The third-ranked Medvedev says this NextGen star class personal extra mature video games than he did on the similar age—although whether or not they can present the identical endurance stays to be seen.
“If I evaluate to myself, the distinction is I began taking part in prime tennis possibly at 23, I feel I used to be. 2019,” Medvedev mentioned. “They began doing it at, like, 19. Fairly spectacular.
“At 19 I used to be in all probability 600 on the earth. That is spectacular. That is additionally why I like my journey. I used to be not like them. I needed to slowly, slowly dig my method up. Now I am right here and I am actually joyful.”
Photograph credit score: Matthew Calvis
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