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Sinner's Vienna Voyage: Tracing the Italian's evolution at the ATP 500

Few tournaments chart Jannik Sinner’s evolution quite like the Erste Bank Open in Vienna.

The Italian paid his first visit to Vienna as an 18-year-old wild card in 2019, when he made his maiden ATP 500 main-draw appearance. Six years later, Sinner returns to Vienna for his sixth appearance and as a former champion, having lifted the trophy in 2023.

Flashback to 2019 and Sinner’s Vienna outing marked an important milestone in his teenage breakthrough. Beyond the viral moment of him casually munching on a carrot during a changeover, Sinner notched a first-round win over respected veteran Philipp Kohlschreiber — his seventh tour-level victory — to secure his place in the Top 100 of the PIF ATP Rankings.

Sinner arrived in Austria following a semi-final run at the ATP 250 in Antwerp and then after Vienna, he won the 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF and an ATP Challenger Tour event in Ortisei, Italy.

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10 Years On: Federer's streak-starting win vs. Nadal in the 2015 Basel final

Ten years ago in the Swiss Indoors Basel final, Roger Federer made the most of his hometown advantage to notch a 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 win against Rafael Nadal — a pivotal result in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series that snapped Federer's five-match losing streak against the Spaniard and started a five-match winning run of his own.

Adding further significance to the match, it was the great rivals' first clash in nearly two years, since the 2014 Australian Open semi-finals. They would not meet again until the 2017 Australian Open final, making their Basel showdown their only match across the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

"Six hundred-plus days have gone by, so a lot of things have happened,'' Federer said, noting his long wait to face Nadal. "Definitely I had the right game plan today.''

Late breaks decided the second and third sets in a closely contested final at the Basel event where Federer was once a ball boy. Nadal forced a final set with a break at 5-5 in the second, but Federer clinched the decisive break to lead 5-3 in the third with a series of groundstroke winners — a display of power that encapsulated a stellar attacking performance over the course of two hours.

a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/roger-federer/f324/overview'Roger Federer/a
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What is the Vienna tennis schedule?

The 2025 Erste Bank Open kick-starts on Monday with Top 10 star Alex de Minaur among those in action at the indoor hard-court ATP 500 in Vienna.

The third-seeded De Minaur, who is seventh in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin and well-placed to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the second consecutive year, takes on home wild card Jurij Rodionov in his Vienna opener. Fifth seed Karen Khachanov and eighth seed Alexander Bublik will also be in action on Monday in the Austrian capital.

View Monday’s full schedule below…

ORDER OF PLAY - MONDAY, 20 OCTOBER 2025
Center Court - start 13:30
Luciano Darderi (ITA) vs Brandon Nakashima (USA)
Alejandro Tabilo (CHI) vs [8] Alexander Bublik (KAZ)

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Sinner, Fritz, Shelton headline Vienna & Basel fields in potentially crucial week in Live Race

As the 2025 ATP Tour season nears a thrilling conclusion, the race to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals is reaching fever pitch. There are valuable points on offer this week at ATP 500 events in Vienna and Basel.

Jannik Sinner is the top seed at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, joined by Alexander Zverev, while Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton lead the charge at the Swiss Indoors Basel. ATPTour.com looks at five things to watch at each tournament.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN VIENNA:
Top Seed Sinner: After being forced to retire in the third round of his Shanghai title defence, Sinner returns to Vienna eager to reset. The 2023 champion, who opens against Daniel Altmaier, owns a 12-4 tournament record, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

Turin Tussle: Alex de Minaur and Lorenzo Musetti will both look to strengthen their push to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals. De Minaur is seventh in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, while Musetti — chasing his debut at the season finale — sits just 60 points behind in eighth.

Medvedev’s Momentum: Fresh off a title run in Almaty and consecutive semi-finals in Beijing and Shanghai, Daniil Medvedev continues his late-season surge. Though 12th in the Live Race, the former World No. 1 still has the chance to qualify for his seventh straight appearance at the year-end championships. Andrey Rublev, 14th, and Karen Khachanov, 18th, also hunt crucial points in Vienna.

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Harrison & King move closer to Turin with Brussels triumph

Christian Harrison and Evan King won their third ATP Tour title of the season on Sunday at the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open in Brussels, where their victory carried double weight.

The Americans edged top seeds Hugo Nys and Edouard Roger-Vasselin 7-6(10), 7-6(5) in the final to strengthen their push to qualify for the Nitto ATP FInals for the first time. Harrison and King are eighth in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings and extended their lead over ninth-placed Nys and Roger-Vasselin to 300 points. If the Frenchmen emerged victorious, they would have cut the gap to just 100 points.

Since making their ATP Tour debut in Montpellier in January, Harrison and King have become a consistent threat deep in tournaments. They have captured titles on hard courts in Dallas, Acapulco and now Brussels.

Erler/Miedler win first team title in Stockholm
Alexander Erler and Robert Galloway capped a dream run at the BNP Paribas Nordic Open in Stockholm, where they did not drop a set en route to their first title together.

The Austrian-American duo defeated Vasil Kirkov and Bart Stevens 6-3, 6-2 in a clinical championship match. Their campaign in Stockholm included impressive wins over third seeds Yuki Bhambri and John Peers in the first round and top seeds Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori in the semi-finals.

It All Adds Up
a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/theo-arribage/a0e5/overview'Theo Arribage/a, a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/albano-olivetti/o411/overview'Albano Olivetti/a
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Ruud rules in Stockholm, defeats Humbert in final

Casper Ruud became the first Norwegian to triumph at the BNP Paribas Nordic Open in Stockholm on Sunday, when he brushed aside Ugo Humbert 6-2, 6-3 in the title match.

The second seed was dominant throughout the 68-minute final. He played with great intensity to rush Humbert and was impressive on serve. Ruud dropped just three points on serve in the match and struck 22 winners to 12 unforced errors, improving to 3-3 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

"I would like to congratulate Ugo for his week and sorry about today. I think I played the best match of the year against you, so I am sorry. I am really happy but sorry Ugo," Ruud said. "I know that against you, if I don't play well, you will destroy me. So I knew I had to wake up and play well.

"I am really happy to win here in Stockholm and it is a little bit of a childhood dream as it is close to Norway and all the legends have played here in the past. Federer, Nadal, Borg, McEnroe, you name it. So it is an honour to get a title here."

Ruud is now a 14-time tour-level champion, with his triumph in Stockholm his second this year. In April, the 26-year-old won his maiden ATP Masters 1000 crown in Madrid.

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Medvedev ends 882-day title drought in Almaty

Daniil Medvedev’s title drought is over! Eight hundred and eighty-two days after triumphing in Rome, the 29-year-old returned to the winner’s circle at the Almaty Open on Sunday, when he beat Frenchman Corentin Moutet, who was chasing his maiden tour-level title.

Since his victory in the Italian capital in 2023, the former World No. 1 Medvedev had lost finals at the US Open, Beijing, Vienna, Australian Open, Indian Wells and Halle. However, he ensured there would be no more final heartbreak in Almaty and is now just the second active male player to win 19 hard-court titles, joining Novak Djokovic (71).

"I want to thank my family, my beautiful wife, my two daughters. It is the first time I have been at a tournament with my two daughters and wife together, so to get a title is really nice," Medvedev said during the trophy ceremony. "I honour this title to my second daughter Victoria, because the first title I got when my first daughter Alisa was born was for her, so this one is for Victoria."

In an entertaining final at the ATP 250 event, Medvedev coped with Moutet’s wizardry and moved forward effectively to back up his flat groundstrokes and close out points. With his hard-fought, two-hour, 29-minute 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 victory, Medvedev captured his 21st tour-level crown. All of Medvedev’s titles have come at different events.

"It is great. I was not super happy with how I played in some moments of the match, but to win feels amazing. In the most important points I played good," Medvedev said. "The last game was incredible and I am happy to win the title. It continues my funny story of 21 titles in 21 different cities."

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Rune confirms Achilles injury, upcoming surgery: 'See you as soon as possible'

Holger Rune has confirmed he suffered an Achilles injury during his semi-final clash on Saturday in Stockholm. The Dane was forced to retire at 2-2 in the second set against Ugo Humbert and was helped off court by an ATP physio.

“It’s gonna be a while before I can step on court again,” Rune wrote on Instagram on Sunday. “It’s tough. I had so much joy on court in Stockholm and it’s unbearable to think that I will not feel this energy for some time now.

“My Achilles is full broken on the proximal part meaning I need operation already next week and from here rehabilitation. Thank you for all your support now and always. Without you nothing would be the same. See you as soon as possible.”

Rune ends his season holding a 36-22 record, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. The 22-year-old’s best result in 2025 came in Barcelona, where he defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the title match.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Auger-Aliassime sets Lehecka final in Brussels

Felix Auger-Aliassime advanced to his fourth ATP Tour final of the season on Saturday at the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open, where he ended the run of Belgian wild card Raphael Collignon in Brussels.

The Canadian was solid throughout his 7-6(2), 6-4 win and has now earned 40 tour-level victories in 2025. Auger-Aliassime’s best year came in 2022, when he recorded 60 victories and qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals.

Aiming to return to the prestigious year-end event this season, the 25-year-old has boosted his hopes with his run in Brussels. Auger-Aliassime is ninth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin on 3,070 points, trailing eighth-placed Lorenzo Musetti by 415 points. The Italian currently occupies the final qualification spot.

Auger-Aliassime struck the ball aggressively off both wings to quiet the vocal Belgian crowd and end the Collignon resistance. He will compete for his eighth tour-level crown and third of the season on Sunday.

"I had a great opponent in front of me and he was inspired by playing at home," said Auger-Aliassime, who won the ATP 250 event when it was held in Antwerp in 2022. "I knew it could be the toughest challenge of the week so far. He has been playing great for the past few weeks and months. It was really fun to play, high intensity. It was a pleasure to be a part of that and this week and we have one more to go tomorrow."

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Tennis Tips - Excel at the Net

Mastering net play can significantly elevate your tennis game, turning defense into attack and closing out points with precision. This guide offers essential tips to help you dominate at the net. Positioning for Success Your position at the net is crucial. Always aim to be roughly midway between the service line and the net, slightly off-center tow...

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Strategic Play

Understanding Your Opponent Before you even step onto the court, take a moment to understand your opponent. Are they right-handed or left-handed? What are their strengths and weaknesses? Observing these elements can give you a significant advantage. Serve Strategy Your serve is often the first point of attack. Don't just aim for power; consider pla...

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Practice Drills

This document outlines a series of effective tennis practice drills designed to improve various aspects of your game, from fundamental strokes to strategic play. These drills are suitable for players of all levels looking to enhance their skills. Warm-Up Drills A proper warm-up is crucial to prevent injuries and prepare your body for the intensity ...

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Krawietz/Puetz win Shanghai, snap 33-year wait for German M1000-winning pair

Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz etched their names onto an exclusive list in German tennis history on Sunday at the Rolex Shanghai Masters.

With their 6-4, 6-4 championship-match victory against Andre Goransson and Alex Michelsen in China, Krawietz and Puetz became just the second all-German duo to win a doubles title in ATP Masters 1000 series history (since 1990). The players they have joined on that list? A pair of illustrious singles stars in former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings Boris Becker and former World No. 2 Michael Stich, who won the 1992 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters doubles crown together.

German engineering at its finest ???

Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz defeat Goransson/Michelsen 6-4 6-4 to capture their maiden ATP Masters 1000 crown as an all-German team.@SH_RolexMasters | #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/umnG6NsRxt

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 12, 2025

“Let's not put us in any way in the same category as these two,” said the 37-year-old Puetz after lifting his second Masters 1000 crown (he also won the Rolex Paris Masters in 2021 alongside New Zealander Michael Venus. “[My first Masters 1000 title] was very special. Actually, Michael Stich sent me a text message after the first one. I didn't know him at all, and it was very, very nice of him. He sent me a really nice message after I won in Paris.

“It's not nicer with Kevin, but it's definitely different winning it with a countryman… We're actually genuinely friends, also with our teams. We go see each other, even when we don't have tournaments. So it's very, very nice to share that. Obviously, victories are nice, but also to share in defeats. I think all in all we're just happy with this phase of our careers and our lives to be together in those moments.”

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Inside Rinderknech & Vacherot's journey from college tennis to the Shanghai final

In 2018 the Texas A&M University men’s tennis team suffered a heartbreaking 4-3 loss in the semi-finals of the NCAA Championships to Wake Forest University. Arthur Rinderknech played No. 2 singles for A&M while his cousin, Valentin Vacherot, competed at No. 4 singles. Their matches were side by side on that difficult day, which marked the end of Rinderknech’s accomplished college tennis career.

Head coach Steve Denton, the two-time Australian Open finalist, still remembers what Rinderknech said to him in the aftermath of that loss.

“When Arthur left to go out to try to go play [professionally], I remember him saying to me, ‘Steve, make sure that you take care of my cousin like you took care of me’," Denton told ATPTour.com. “I said, ‘Absolutely, I'll do that’.”

Denton has maintained his relationship with the cousins, who on Sunday will meet for ATP Masters 1000 glory in the final of the Rolex Shanghai Masters. They each defeated a former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings — Rinderknech ousted Daniil Medvedev and Vacherot beat Novak Djokovic — in the semi-finals.

“This is a dream come true for these two guys,” Denton said. “They've taken the road maybe not traveled as much, obviously, and unless you're a freak like a [Jannik] Sinner and [Carlos] Alcaraz, a lot of players have to go through all these things in order to get to where they are.”

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How much prize money will the Shanghai champion, Rinderknech or Vacherot, earn?

Surprise Rolex Shanghai Masters finalists Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot have said they already consider themselves winners at the ATP Masters 1000 event because the cousins have made the final together.

However, there is still plenty to play for in Shanghai, including prize money. The champion will leave China having earned US $1,124,380.

Entering the tournament, Vacherot had earned $594,077 for his career. The Monegasque player, who had only claimed one career ATP Tour match win entering Shanghai according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, has exceeded that total just by making the final. He is guaranteed to earn at least $597,890.

View the full prize-money breakdown and the PIF ATP Rankings points at stake at the Rolex Shanghai Masters below.

2025 Rolex Shanghai Masters Singles Prize Money

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What were the Shanghai tennis results?

It was a stunning semi-finals day at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, where two former No. 1 players in the PIF ATP Rankings fell, while their conquerors set a fairytale finale.

View all the Saturday Shanghai results below:

Results - Saturday, 11 October 2025

Men's Singles - Semi-finals
[Q] Valentin Vacherot (MON) d [4] Novak Djokovic (SRB) 63 64
Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) d [16] Daniil Medvedev 46 62 64

Men's Doubles - Semifinals
[3] Kevin Krawietz (GER)/Tim Puetz (GER) d [Alt] Guido Andreozzi (ARG)/Manuel Guinard (FRA) 63 76(8)

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When is the Shanghai tennis final?

The Rolex Shanghai Masters comes to a conclusion Sunday with the singles and doubles finals.

Cousins Arthur Rinderknech and qualifier Valentin Vacherot will meet in a fairytale championship clash. Third seeds Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz face Andre Goransson and Alex Michelsen in the doubles final.

View the full Sunday order of play below.

ORDER OF PLAY - SUNDAY, 12 OCTOBER 2025

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Cousins Rinderknech & Vacherot living 'undreamable dream': Who will win Shanghai final?

Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot are family, first and foremost. The cousins just happen to share a sport they have played together “thousands of times”, from when they were juniors to teammates in college at Texas A&M University, and plenty since then. But never did they imagine what they will do together on a tennis court Sunday.

One day after they each upset a former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings — Vacherot stunned 100-time tour-level titlist Novak Djokovic and Rinderknech rallied past Daniil Medvedev — they will meet for an ATP Masters 1000 title in the final of the Rolex Shanghai Masters.

“[It is] the dream undreamable. Is that okay? It was undreamable,” Rinderknech said. “Even in the biggest dream we couldn't have dreamt about this, so it's a dream that couldn't even exist at the beginning.

“I don't even know where it comes from, how it happened. I guess we must have done some good things to the people around us to deserve to experience something like this, because it's incredible.”

Rinderknech and Vacherot have followed similar, but different paths to this point. The Frenchman, Rinderknech, is just more than three years older than his cousin, Vacherot of Monaco. But they spent two seasons together in college before later beginning their professional journeys.

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Rinderknech upsets Medvedev to set final against cousin Vacherot, turning Shanghai into Hollywood

The story of the 2025 Rolex Shanghai Masters is fit for a Hollywood script.

Two cousins, Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot, will play for the penultimate ATP Masters 1000 title of the season. After Vacherot stunned record four-time champion Novak Djokovic earlier Saturday, Rinderknech clawed past 2019 Shanghai winner Daniil Medvedev 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 to make the final a family affair.

“In the best dreams, we couldn't have dreamt about this, so I can't even say it's a dream, because I don't think even one person in our family dreamt about it,” Rinderknech said. “So it wasn't a dream, it's just a dream that came out of nowhere. We started believing it, I would say, in the quarters, maybe…

“Now we are here, we fought through so many matches and somehow we are the [two] guys standing at the end, so it's just incredible.”

The scene after Medvedev hit a double fault to end the match was unforgettable. Rinderknech fell to the court in celebration and Vacherot, who returned to centre court to watch the end of the match, held his head in shock. Vacherot then walked on court for an emotional hug with his cousin.

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Vacherot's unforgettable Shanghai run: Five jaw-dropping facts

Valentin Vacherot at the Rolex Shanghai Masters has crafted one of the most memorable runs in ATP Tour history.

A qualifier who entered the tournament No. 204 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Vacherot has introduced himself to the tennis world in stunning fashion, reaching the final of the ATP Masters 1000 event with an upset of 100-time tour-level titlist Novak Djokovic on Saturday.

ATPTour.com looks at five stunning facts about the Monagesque star’s tournament.

Vacherot is lowest-ranked finalist in ATP Masters 1000 series history
Entering Shanghai, the lowest-ranked finalist in Masters 1000 history (since 1990) was Andrei Pavel, who made the championship match at the 2003 Rolex Paris Masters. The Romanian was World No. 191 when he pushed eventual champion Tim Henman to a final-set tie-break before falling short.

Vacherot is the first player outside the Top 200 to make a Masters 1000 final.

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