New Generation Clean Up the Silverware

It was a big victory for the new generation this weekend as Kyle Edmund, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Karen Khachanov claimed ATP Masters victories in Antwerp, Stockholm and Moscow.

Kyle Edmund by Tatiana Ian licensed under CC BY 2.0

In Moscow, Kyle Edmund defeated a resurgent Gael Monfils 3-6 7-6 7-6 to take home his first ATP title, continuing the impressive progress he has made throughout 2018.

Edmund got off to a shakey start in his second final of the year and was soon 3-0 down against his more experienced opponent, and he was not able to recover the break, losing the first set 6-3.

Edmund was not perturbed though, and continued to fight back, taking victory after two tiebreak sets, and earning him a title that would bring him to tears.

Edmund told BBC Sport, “it’s a great feeling, just overall, the bigger picture is the overriding emotion, like so many years putting in the work, on and off court.”

Over in Stockholm, a similar scenario was playing out, as 20 year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas took on 30 year-old Ernest Gulbis.

The young Greek, who beat number two seed Fabio Fognini to make his third major final of the year proved too strong for Gulbis and lifted the trophy after a 6-4 6-4 victory.

Tsitsipas has safely qualified for the ATP Next Gen tournament in Milan next month, and in this kind of form will be a strong favourite to win the ATP’s showcase tournament for players 21 years and under.

This victory once again highlighted the huge potential Tsitsipas has, and he will surely be a player to keep a close eye on in 2019.

His opponent Gulbis will be upset not to have managed to claim victory in Stockholm, but ultimately he will be pleased with a finals appearance that is a great improvement on his recent form.

It wasn’t to be for the veterans in any of the finals this weekend as Frenchman Adrian Mannarino was outclassed by home favourite, Karen Khachanov 6-2 6-2.

Khachanov, 22 won his second title of the year after victory in Marseille earlier this year and has now broken into the top 20 for the first time in his career.

The tour now moves on to Vienna for the Vienna Masters 500, and once again, there is a stellar field to keep an eye on.

Fresh from his victory in, Antwerp, Edmund faces a difficult match against Diego Schwartzman in the first round, while fellow Brit, Cameron Norrie will take on America’s John Isner.

Number one seed, Dominic Thiem, and Wimbledon finalist Kevin Anderson will be the big draws this week, but this is a field sprinkled with stars throughout.