Nitto ATP Finals
The information & tips Alcaraz has given the Nitto ATP Finals hitting companions
Study concerning the three rising stars practising with the qualifiers in Turin
November 13, 2024
Andrew Eichenholz/ATP Tour
Juan Carlos Prado Angelo, Andres Martin and Nicolai Budkov Kjaer are this yr’s hitting companions on the Nitto ATP Finals.
By ATP Workers
All eyes are on the perfect gamers on the planet this week on the Nitto ATP Finals. The longer term is in Turin, too.
An annual custom on the season finale is that the hitting companions for the gamers are a few of the greatest rising stars within the sport. The ATP selects one participant from the Subsequent Gen Accelerator, one from the Faculty Accelerator inside it, and the No. 1-ranked junior participant on the planet.
This yr’s hitting companions are former school standout Andres Martin, 19-year-old Bolivian Juan Carlos Prado Angelo and 18-year-old Norwegian Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, the world’s No. 1 junior.
“It has been a very cool expertise. You are surrounded by the highest eight guys on the planet and even Stefanos [Tsitsipas] and [Grigor] Dimitrov, who’re simply pretty much as good as all these guys, are strolling round actually casually,” Martin mentioned. “It is very nice, you get a sense, you see the extent. You see what these guys are doing off the court docket, on the court docket. It is actually cool to observe and perhaps attempt to take somewhat little bit of bits and items of men’ video games and apply it to your self.
“It’s actually an unbelievable studying course of for me. I am actually honoured to be right here, and it is actually cool to observe all people and be part of it.”
Martin discovered particularly useful conversations he had with Carlos Alcaraz, the youngest No. 1 in PIF ATP Rankings historical past.
“I used to be asking questions on my state of affairs, and he was telling me some private issues about him. So I feel it was actually cool to have that one-on-one interplay. I feel it is actually cool how different gamers take curiosity in upcoming gamers. I assumed that was actually particular, simply how good these guys are,” Martin mentioned. “They’re actually serving to, and even [Jannik] Sinner, irrespective of [who] I ask a query, they’re actually desirous to reply, and I feel it is very nice.”
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Picture: Andrew Eichenholz/ATP Tour
The previous Georgia Institute of Expertise star requested Alcaraz a number of questions on his sport and located the Spaniard’s solutions insightful.
“He was similar to, ‘The largest factor is to grasp your identification as a participant. As soon as you work that out, then you may exit and actually simply attempt to be that individual each time you step on the court docket’,” Martin mentioned. “So I feel that is one thing to take with me for the long run.”
Budkov Kjaer gained the Wimbledon boys’ singles title this yr and has already grown to know a few of the sport’s greatest gamers. The teenager has had a prime instance in countryman Casper Ruud.
Even so, it has been a particular week for a participant making an attempt to be taught what it takes to succeed as an expert.
“It is an important expertise and a reminiscence you’ll carry via your complete life,” Budkov Kjaer mentioned. “It isn’t on daily basis you get the prospect to play with a few of the greatest gamers on the planet. And naturally, I am extraordinarily completely happy to have the prospect to be right here.”
Prado Angelo is at a career-high No. 274 within the PIF ATP Rankings, however he had solely performed one hard-court occasion in 2024 when he arrived in Turin.
“I’m not used to enjoying these circumstances indoor arduous,” Prado Angelo mentioned. “In South America, we’re not used to however I’m making an attempt to play extra low. They’re like making an attempt to show me some suggestions.”
The Bolivian expressed his thanks for all of the gamers. “Alcaraz, for the language, for me, was the best one, as a result of we communicate each Spanish. De Minaur too speaks Spanish, however they’re all good,” Prado Angelo mentioned. “They had been type with me, and I similar to everybody.”