ATP: Evans, Ruusuvuori, Brooksby - the biggest surprises in 2021
"One Hit Wonder" would be a little too harsh. But there were still some surprise winners on the ATP tour in 2021. In individual matches.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Dec 24, 2021, 08:09 am
Take stock before the new season kicks off in Australia at the beginning of January. The ATP, which has published a list of the biggest surprises in 2021 on its website, is in for a splash. Regarding individual matches, mind you. A purely subjective view. Because some upsets are missing in the list - towards the end of the year Andy Murray was unlikely to win against Hubert Hurkacz in Vienna. Or a few days later in Antwerp against Jannik Sinner.
In any case, the ATP has listed the following surprises ...
Number 5: Miami, second round, Emil Ruusuvuori beats Alexander Zverev
This was basically not to be expected, Zverev came to Miami as one of the big favorites after his strong performance at the US Open and the tournament victory in Acapulco. When playing against Ruusuvori, the German number one played a trick on the health of the German number one, Zverev had to take medication before the match, he wasn't himself. The Finn won with 1: 6, 6: 3 and 6: 1.
Number 4: Stuttgart, second round, Dominik Stricker beats Hubert Hurkacz
Ok, that was really unpredictable, after all, with his triumph in Miami, Hurkacz had indicated where he could go this season (in the end up to the ATP final in Turin). On the other hand: the best-of-three on grass brings great potential for surprises. Stricker took advantage of this and won 7: 6 (5) and 7: 6 (5). Hurkacz then returned the favor to another Swiss man - he defeated Roger Federer in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon.
Number 3: Washington, third round, Jenson Brooksby beats Félix Auger-Aliassime
Oh, Felix. Another season over in which the Canadian failed to win his first tournament. The fact that Auger-Aliassime finished the year just outside the top ten is of course a sign of quality. The imagination for an attack on the absolute top positions is currently a little lacking. Brooksby, on the other hand, comes across as a mixture of Florian Mayer and Miloslav Mecir and also caused great joy at the US Open. In Washington he had no problems with the 6: 3 and 6: 4 against "FAA".
Number 2: Rome, third round, Lorenzo Sonego beats Dominic Thiem
Rome and Dominic Thiem did not go together very well in the past few years. In 2019 he lost to Fernando Verdasco right at the start after a few rainy days, a year later the Austrian skipped the tournament immediately after his US Open victory, and in 2021 he finally lost a match against Sonego that he should have won. But that's how it went for Thiem more often in the spring. Local hero Sonego held against it, prevailing 6: 4, 6: 7 (5) and 7: 6 (5).
Number 1: Monte Carlo, third round, Daniel Evans beats Novak Djokovic
Short drum roll for Dan Evans. At the Monte Carlo Country Club he grabbed the chance that Novak Djokokic, who was indisposed on that day, opened up for him. Seldom enough that the industry leader is no longer interested in winning and helps out with simple mistakes. How it works when he's serious, Djokovic showed at the French Open. In the principality, however, Evans prevailed with 6: 4 and 7: 5.