ATP NextGen Race: Where are the young guns from Germany and Austria?
The season finale for the U21 players, the #NextGen Masters in Milan, has long since established itself as a showcase for upcoming top talent. However, without any significant participation of German or Austrian players.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Mar 27, 2023, 10:01 am
After all, the 2023 season is already a quarter old, so it's worth taking a look at the Race to Milan, the annual ranking of the U21 players, the best eight of which will meet in the junior masters. Which is not entirely true: Carlos Alcaraz will definitely not play again in Milan. For one thing, he already won the title there in 2021. On the other hand, Alcaraz has long had higher ambitions. Last year he missed the ATP Finals in Turin due to an injury, he should be there in 2023.
Holger Rune, currently a distant second in the race behind Carlos Alcaraz, probably has similar ambitions. Rune has also had #NextGen Masters experiences.
Rehberg best German - as number 73
But good: That also means that there could be two more places for all other aspirants, so that tenth place in the annual balance sheet is enough. That would be a good chance for German-speaking players to finally qualify for Milan. After Jannik Sinner, who, as a South Tyrolean, of course speaks German, and Alexander Zverev, who at one point preferred to play with the adults, there is a big hole.
The prospects for 2023? For Germany and Austria rather so semi. Switzerland have two solid contenders in Dominic Stricker (who was there last year too!) and Leandro Riedi, both of whom would have qualified for Milan as of now and assuming Alcaraz and Rune don't play. However, you have to search a long time for the best German youngster: Max Rehberg is in 73rd place in the race. With 13 ATP points earned so far. Lukas Neumayer, the best-placed Austrian, got six fewer. That's enough for position 97.
For comparison: Italy has nine players in the top 70.