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Watch Hot Shot as Alex de Minaur covers the court before ripping a forehand winner down the line against Taylor Fritz at the Next Gen ATP Finals.

Watch highlights as Alex de Minaur defeats Taylor Fritz to finish Group B with an undefeated 3-0 record. Photo credit: Julian Finney/Getty Images.

In this edition of the Challenger Vault, Dominic Thiem discusses the importance of the ATP Challenger Tour and reflects on one of the more scenic stops in Como, Italy.

Watch as Alex de Minaur discusses winning Group B with a 3-0 record and his pre-match conversation with Andrey Rublev, who also qualifies for the semi-finals in Milan following the Australian's victory.

Alex de Minaur arrived at the Fiera Milano on Thursday having already clinched his spot in the last four at the Next Gen ATP Finals. But the Aussie showed that he had no intentions of slowing down, beating Taylor Fritz 4-3(8), 4-1, 4-2 to win Group B.

And not only did the Aussie guarantee top spot in his group, but by winning the first two sets, he eliminated Fritz from semi-final contention, meaning 2017 runner-up Andrey Rublev will also move through to the knockout rounds. De Minaur has lost just one set this week, showing why he is the second seed.

“Whenever I step on court, I want to leave 150 per cent out there and today was no different,” De Minaur said. “I’m really proud of my effort and I’m looking forward to what’s next.”

De Minaur’s breakout season on the ATP World Tour continues to get better by the tournament. It’s just 10 months ago that the Aussie was No. 208 in the ATP Rankings. But a trip to the Brisbane semi-finals and the Sydney championship match — his first tour-level final — sent De Minaur soaring, and he has not looked back since.

The 19-year-old is currently World No. 31, the top-ranked player from his country. If De Minaur goes on to triumph in Milan, he will take home $407,000 thanks to his undefeated performance in round-robin play.

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The key to the match was the first set, as Fritz held six set points to take the lead. But the American could not convert, and De Minaur used the momentum to his advantage.

“I just had to dig deep. I was down and out there and I managed to scrap my way with a couple good returns and a couple long rallies,” De Minaur said. “I managed to get that one cheap point and was able to serve it out, so that first set was crucial.”

De Minaur then earned his first break of serve and used that to cruise through the second set to take a commanding lead and eliminate Fritz. The American was still stewing over his missed opportunities.

“It’s those chances in the first set man,” Fritz told coach David Nainkin over his headset after losing the second set. “I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing, I’ve just got to do it better.”

But De Minaur did not budge, and a final unforced error off the backhand wing gave the second seed his third victory of the week after 70 minutes. Fritz finished Group B play 1-2, coming out on top against childhood friend and Italian wild card Liam Caruana.

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This week, the stars of tomorrow of the ATP World Tour have descended on Milan, as the Next Gen ATP Finals enters its second edition. It marks the culmination of a successful season for these rising talents and gives them an exclusive stage to showcase their talents.

It was apropos that the week also featured the awards presentation for 2017 Challenger Tournaments of the Year. With many Milan qualifiers making great strides on the ATP Challenger Tour this year, the circuit is a true springboard to the next level. Three of its elite tournaments were honoured on Wednesday.

The NeckarCup in Heilbronn, Germany and the Odlum Brown VanOpen in Vancouver, Canada, were recognised after standout editions. The Sparkassen Open in Braunschweig, Germany, was celebrated for a fourth consecutive year, since the awards as voted by players were introduced. The trio of world-class tournaments were acknowledged for their passion and commitment to growing the game at the Challenger level.

The €127,000 event in Braunschweig enjoyed a 25th anniversary this year. Notable past champions include Gaston Gaudio (2000), Tomas Berdych (2004) and World No. 5 Alexander Zverev (2014). In 2017, Spanish teenager Nicola Kuhn lifted the trophy in just his second Challenger appearance. The event began with a small Centre Court and one catering tent, and the main stadium has since been upgraded to hold a capacity crowd of 2,000 patrons, with a big stage for the concerts and over 50 concession tents for catering and exhibitions.

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Drive less than five hours south and you'll arrive in Heilbronn, where players and fans have walked through the doors of the Tennisclub Heilbronn Trappensee for four years. The future of German tennis was on full display this year, with 17-year-old Rudolf Molleker becoming the youngest winner on the circuit in 2018.

"We're so happy that all our efforts resulted in this," said tournament directors Mine and Metehan Cebeci. "We do our job really passionately and the result is a high-quality event for the players and everyone visiting. After only four years, we've reached two of our objectives: make it possible to increase the prize money and be honoured as one of the best Challengers worldwide.

"Many thanks to the ATP as well as to the players for the appreciation. We're really proud of this award and it's a pleasure to work with everyone. This award is still a motivation to improve and give our very best. 

"Milan is a great city, but to be here for this reason and see the 'Next Gen', which are our guys from the Challenger Tour, makes us feel very special and proud."

For 13 years, Hollyburn Country Club has set the standard in Vancouver. With former pro Rik de Voest leading the charge, the hard-court event is thriving on the circuit. Players visiting Hollyburn have not only been treated to a world-class and opulent facility, but a relaxing retreat during the hectic summer hard-court season.

"We continuously take feedback from everyone in involved - the players, supervisor and staff - and always strive to do better," said De Voest. "We've definitely raised the bar again this year and it shows by the amount of crowds we've had and the support. So far it's been so successful. We're hoping to continue to grow even more next year."

The Australian Institute of Sport is today launching a talent program to find Australia's next cohort of female sport executives and high-performance coaches, with the hope of changing what it describes as a "gross underrepresentation".

Improving the performance of the Australian men's team requires a focus on the junior and club levels rather than just shifting the deckchairs in Cricket Australia's front office, writes Richard Hinds.

Five-time former champion Novak Djokovic, the 2018 year-end No. 1 in the ATP Rankings, six-time former titlist Roger Federer, Alexander Zverev, Marin Cilic and first-time participant all practised on Thursday on Centre Court at The O2 ahead of the Nitto ATP Finals.

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Singles – Group Guga Kuerten
[1] Novak Djokovic (SRB)
[3] Alexander Zverev (GER)
[5] Marin Cilic (CRO)
[8] John Isner (USA)

Singles – Group Lleyton Hewitt
[2] Roger Federer (SUI)
[4] Kevin Anderson (RSA)
[6] Dominic Thiem (AUT)
[7] Kei Nishikori (JPN)

Eight different countries are represented in the elite eight-man singles field for the third consecutive year, with Group Lleyton Hewitt matches beginning on Sunday, 11 November. Group Guga Kuerten matches are scheduled to begin on Monday, 12 November. Gustavo Kuerten won the 2000 season finale, when the event was held in Lisbon, while Lleyton Hewitt won two titles in 2001 (in Sydney) and 2002 (in Shanghai).

Karen Khachanov, who beat Djokovic for his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title on Sunday at the Rolex Paris Masters, and Borna Coric are first and second alternates respectively in the singles field.

Doubles – Group Knowles/Nestor
[1] Oliver Marach (AUT) / Mate Pavic (CRO)
[3] Lukasz Kubot (POL) / Marcelo Melo (BRA)
[5] Mike Bryan (USA) / Jack Sock (USA)
[8] Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) / Nicolas Mahut (FRA)

Doubles – Group Llodra/Santoro
[2] Juan Sebastian Cabal (COL) / Robert Farah (COL)
[4] Jamie Murray (GBR) / Bruno Soares (BRA)
[6] Raven Klaasen (RSA) / Michael Venus (NZL)
[7] Nikola Mektic (CRO) / Alexander Peya (AUT)

Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic, who have clinched the year-end No. 1 ATP Doubles Team Ranking and have a 4-5 record in tour-level finals in 2018, lead Group Knowles/Nestor, which begins play on 12 November. Colombians Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah, the second seeds, headline Group Llodra/Santoro that starts on 11 November. Henri Kontinen and John Peers, winners of the Nitto ATP Finals title for the past two years, will serve as first doubles alternates at the season finale. Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau, winners of the 2015 edition, are second doubles alternates.

Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor won the 2007 year-end doubles title, while Frenchmen Michael Llodra and Fabrice Santoro picked up the 2005 trophy.

Watch highlights as Andrey Rublev defeats Liam Caruana in straight sets to end Group B with a 2-1 record. Photo credit: Peter Staples/ATP World Tour.

For tennis people in South Africa, and even across the whole of Africa, Kevin Anderson has shown this year how it is possible to achieve the unthinkable. How a young kid from Southern Africa, from a continent with very limited tennis resources, can end up playing on the biggest tennis stages of all, including here at The O2.

After appearing in his first Wimbledon final this year – where he was the runner-up to Novak Djokovic – Anderson is having another career highlight in London this week, after qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time. This is truly a historic moment for Anderson, who is the first South African to play singles at the season finale since Wayne Ferreira in 1995, when the tournament was in Frankfurt. The tennis Anderson played at Wimbledon – coming from two sets down to defeat Roger Federer in the quarter-finals, and taking six and a half hours to beat John Isner in the semi-finals, with a 26-24 fifth set – had such a profound and far-reaching effect. Thanks to Anderson, tennis is once again part of the South African psyche.

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With Anderson here competing at the most exclusive event on the calendar, he is once again raising tennis’ profile back home, where rugby, football and cricket have historically dominated the headlines. When you watch Anderson competing this week, take a moment to reflect on his journey. Qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals is Anderson’s reward for a stellar season that has been filled with memories that he will enjoy in his rocking-chair years, many moons from now. But this season has been many years in the making for Anderson, who was born in Johannesburg.

While Ferreira’s professional life took off soon after leaving high school – within three years of joining the ATP World Tour, he was entrenched in the Top 20 – it has taken Anderson, who turned 32 this year, a little longer to reach his peak. Anderson’s achievements in 2018 can be traced back to the three years he spent playing for an American college – he grew his game in a highly competitive environment that he could never have found at home. Anderson’s father, Michael, has also been hugely influential – he helped to build discipline in all areas of his son’s game, which has been the cornerstone of his son’s success, including winning this year’s New York and Vienna titles.

Anderson’s victory over Djokovic at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 in Miami in 2008 was big on two fronts. It showed he was on the right path with his disciplined training, but it also illustrated he had the tools to beat the very best on tour. And when you have the combination of those two elements early in your pro career, it’s massive. But it took him another two years to cement his place in the Top 100. That wouldn’t have been easy, but it is at times like those that you develop mental strength.

Winning a first title in Johannesburg in 2011, during that brief period when the city staged an ATP World Tour tournament, was a major step forward. With that win, Anderson gained new respect in the locker room, and he also encouraged South Africans to take a renewed interest in tennis – they realised he was a real contender on the international stage.

Anderson, who is 6’8”, and has ambitions of becoming this tournament’s tallest ever champion, is known for his big game: for his huge serve, his gargantuan forehand and a backhand that is a major weapon in its own right. But this wasn’t always the case; he has worked hard to get where he is today. But, throughout his tennis life, Anderson’s discipline, and his will to improve each and every day, remains undiluted. It’s a big reason why he’s now one of the best tennis players on the planet.

Much of that work has been done on the physical side. Some of that progress has been slow and measured, as he painstakingly improved his footwork and movement around the ball. Those are aspects of the game that don’t come naturally to him. He’s become a more efficient mover, something that’s tough for a man of his size. And of course, his endurance – seen at the All England Club this summer, in the second longest match in Wimbledon’s history – is unquestionable.

The wisest thing that Anderson has done has been to invest regularly in himself, be it with coaches, fitness trainers, physios or even sports psychologists. When you come from a country like South Africa with limited financial resources, it’s very tempting to want to hold on to every dollar you make and not spend anything on your team, because they can cost a lot. But he has never fallen into that trap.

It was at last year’s US Open that he played in his first Grand Slam final, where he was the runner-up to Rafael Nadal. And 2018 has been another year of improvement and progression for Anderson. He epitomises the growth mindset of trying to be just a little bit better each and every day. It’s hard to do that over and over for years and years, day in and day out. When you suffer crushing losses, it’s easy to feel sorry for yourself. But one of Anderson’s strengths is his ability to bounce back from adversity.

We saw that on the grass courts of Wimbledon this year, where Anderson was down two sets to love against Federer, and serving at 4-5 in the third set, facing a match point. Then Anderson achieved the unthinkable. He came back to beat Federer on his beloved surface, winning 13-11 in the fifth set. And then, just two days later, he had that epic match against Isner.

And if that was not enough, the class with which he handled himself after that win almost surpassed the victory itself. In this day and age, when athletes can often be so self-absorbed, and especially so after historic moments, the empathy Anderson had for Isner that afternoon resonated with fans around the sporting world. In South Africa, it raised his profile to dizzying heights. People who rarely talk about tennis wanted to know every detail about Anderson. Tennis wasn’t just on the back pages of all South African newspapers; it was on the front pages as well.

Watch as Andrey Rublev reflects on his mentality after beating Liam Caruana in straight sets and looks towards the final Group B match between Alex de Minaur and Taylor Fritz.

Andrey Rublev has showcased his talent at the Next Gen ATP Finals before, thrilling fans at the Fiera Milano one year ago with his run to the championship match. And on Thursday afternoon, he maintained his hopes of advancing to the semi-finals this time around, beating Italian wild card Liam Caruana 4-3(7), 4-1, 4-2.

"Today was a completely different performance. My attitude, I think, was the best attitude out of these three matches. I was focused. I was not complaining. I was trying to fight for every point because I know that every point for me costs a lot," Rublev said. "I was just trying to win each point, every point, doesn't matter the score. And I won in three sets, so now we'll see how it's going to happen later."

Coming out on top in straight sets may prove key for Rublev, as it forces Taylor Fritz to defeat second seed Alex de Minaur in three or four sets. If Fritz takes down the Aussie in five sets, Rublev will join De Minaur from Group B in the semi-finals.

It took Rublev four set points to close out the opener, as the inspired Italian tried to earn a victory for his home fans on Next Gen Arena. But the Russian hit a heavy backhand that Caruana could not handle to take the lead, and he would never look back.

"When the score started to be 6/6, 7/7, I feel that I just needed to make one ball inside and probably he's going to miss, and then this happened. And then I think he did two mistakes with the first shot, and I won the set," Rublev said. "I played aggressive but I was lucky and twice I broke him in the first game, second and third set."

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After the first set, Rublev’s coach, Fernando Vicente, utlised the prestigious tournament’s headset innovation to tell his charge to simply reduce his errors, continue moving his feet and be wary of serving too much to Caruana’s forehand, as the eighth seed was routinely blocking it back.

“We need to return more balls. That’s all. You are playing good,” Vicente said. “You stressed a little bit at the end of the set, but you are playing good. Trust in yourself.”

Rublev did just that, losing just three service points in the second and third sets combined. The 2017 Umag champion won 75 per cent of second-serve return points in those sets, ultimately earning his second win of the week in one hour and two minutes.

Caruana did well to win three qualifying matches in three days last week to earn his spot in the Next Gen ATP Finals. And while he did not earn a victory, the Italian provided plenty of memories for the fans, and he will use the experience as he continues his ascent up the ATP Rankings.

Caruana did well to win three qualifying matches in three days last week to earn his spot in the Next Gen ATP Finals. And while he did not earn a victory, the Italian provided plenty of memories for the fans, and he will use the experience as he continues his ascent up the ATP Rankings.

Watch highlights as Jaume Munar defeats Frances Tiafoe in straight sets to keep his hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive in Milan. Photo credit: Julian Finney/Getty Images.

Watch as Jaume Munar discusses his three-set win over Frances Tiafoe and his hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals at the Next Gen ATP Finals.

To give himself a chance to qualify for the semi-finals of the Next Gen ATP Finals, Spaniard Jaume Munar had to beat Frances Tiafoe on Thursday. And Munar did just that, defeating the American 4-1, 4-3(3), 4-1 to earn his first victory of the tournament.

With the triumph, Munar will advance to the last four in Milan so long as top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas beats Polish No. 1 Hubert Hurkacz. Munar’s efficiency in dismissing Tiafoe in straight sets was important, as now it does not matter how many sets it takes for Tsitsipas to beat Hurkacz for him to qualify.

"I did what I had to do, and it's not in my hands anymore. Maybe we can buy a Greek flag or whatever for support," Munar said, cracking a smile. "But it's not in my hands anymore. At least I felt like I was a good tennis player out there today, so this is important for me. At least I will live with that sensation."

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Munar was coming off a devastating five-set defeat against Hurkacz on Wednesday. In that match, he came from two sets down, only to fall short in a decider. But this year’s Kitzbuhel semi-finalist came out firing and never lifted his foot off the gas, beating Tiafoe in 56 minutes.

"It was another match for me," Munar said. "I knew I had to play a little bit better tennis." 

Through two matches, Tiafoe paced the field in second-serve points won. And in 2018, before this event, the American was 20th on the ATP World Tour by claiming 52.7 per cent of those points. But the 20-year-old managed to win just 35 per cent of his second-serve points against Munar, ultimately leading to his downfall. The Spaniard broke serve once each in the first and third sets, and never looked back after grabbing an early lead in the second-set tie-break.

Munar protected his serve well, losing just five service points. The Spaniard also saved both break points he faced.

Tiafoe finishes the Next Gen ATP Finals with a 1-2 record. The American thrilled the crowd on Tuesday, defeating Hurkacz. The World No. 40 won 28 tour-level matches in 2018, and he captured his maiden ATP World Tour title at the Delray Beach Open.

Follow #NextGenATP American Taylor Fritz on match day at the Next Gen ATP Finals, from pre-match routines to the match and post-match discussion.