Six players to look forward to in 2023
It doesn't have to be the storm to the top of the world, like Carlos Alcaraz did in 2022. In any case, here are six ATP professionals whose rackets we would like to look at often in the coming season.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Dec 15, 2022, 12:42 pm
Jiri Lehecka (CZE, ATP number 81)
If it's true that you learn a lot more from defeats than from victories, then Jiri Lehecka took an incredible amount with him from the Generali Open 2022 in Kitzbühel. Actually, the Czech already had his quarter-final match against Roberto Bautista-Agut in his pocket. Only to then experience a brilliant comeback of the later tournament winner at close range. But the fact that the 21-year-old is among the top 100 players in the world despite such setbacks also shows that Jiri Lehecka has the basis for a strong career. At the #NextGen Finals in Milan, he reached the final at the end of the season. But anyone who has seen him live knows that Lehecka still lacks real weapons.
Filip Misolic (AUT, ATP number 149)
The tournament week in Kitzbühel will also be remembered by Filip Misolic forever. Especially since Roberto Bautista Agut was also the man the 21-year-old was allowed to congratulate. But that was already in the final, in which Misolic had played thanks to his grandiose backhand and an irrepressible fighting spirit. The Styrian started the 2022 tennis year as number 354 in the world, more than halving this ranking. It would be presumptuous to demand this for the coming season as well. But with even more consistent performances, Misolic could actually be closer to a double-digit ranking.
Ben Shelton (USA, ATP number 96)
Away from the big tennis scene, Ben Shelton has played quietly and deservedly among the top 100 professionals in the world. The left-hander won the last 15 matches of the year in Charlottesville, Knoxville and Champaign and thus three titles on the ATP Challenger Tour in a row. Shelton showed in Cincinnati with his second-round win against Casper Ruud that the son of ex-professional Bryan Shelton can sometimes keep up with the greats.
Leandro Riedi (SUI, ATP number 158)
The 20-year-old Swiss almost made the Shelton at the end of the season, but then "only" two Challenger titles (in Helsinki from the qualifiers and in Andria) came about. At this point one could also have cited Riedi's compatriot Dominic Stricker. He beat Riedi in the junior final at the French Open 2020. But the bottom line: the Swiss are suddenly in a good position again. And are allowed to travel to Trier with confidence for the Davis Cup meeting with Germany in early February.
Max Hans Rehberg (GER, ATP number 424)
Rehberg was allowed to get a taste of the really big ATP air twice this year, in Munich and Hamburg the 19-year-old was given a wildcard each. But the biggest performance was at the ATP Challenger tournament in Ismaning. There the local hero made it to the final after victories over Robin Haase or Vasek Pospisil, finally losing to Quentin Halys. Rehberg has often had to accept health setbacks in recent years. If he can play fit through 2023, he should be able to jump into the top 200 players in the world.
Holger Rune (DEN, ATP number 11)
What? Rune in this category? Hasn't he already won a 1000 in Paris-Bercy in the final against Novak Djokovic? But yes. And of course we look forward to what Holger Rune has to offer us in the coming season. In a playful way, the Danish teenager finds more and more ways to win matches. Perhaps over the winter the fuse lengthened until the next emotional explosion.