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Carlos Alcaraz Assumes No. 1 Pepperstone ATP Ranking

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Carlos Alcaraz today becomes the youngest World No. 1 in Pepperstone ATP Rankings history (since 1973) after winning his first Grand Slam title at the US Open Sunday.  

Alcaraz entered the 2021 US Open as the World No. 55. With his win against 23-year-old Casper Ruud in the championship clash in New York, the 19-year-old is the first teenage World No. 1 and the fourth man from Spain to achieve the feat, joining his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, Carlos Moya, and Rafael Nadal.  

“It’s crazy for me. I’ve never thought that I was going to achieve something like that at 19 years old. So everything came so fast,” Alcaraz said. “For me it’s unbelievable. It’s something I dreamed since I was a kid, since I started playing tennis. Of course, lifting this trophy today is amazing for me.”
The Murcia-native arrived at Flushing Meadows as the No. 4 player in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. His leap to World No. 1 is tied for the biggest in history. Three other players have surged from No. 4 to No. 1 between one Pepperstone ATP Rankings release: Moya (15 March 1999), Andre Agassi (5 July 1999) and Pete Sampras (11 September 2000).   Alcaraz has rewritten the record books en route to the pinnacle of men’s tennis. Earlier this year he became the second-youngest player to win two ATP Masters 1000 titles (Miami and Madrid), only behind Nadal, who did so in 2005. Alcaraz also became the youngest ATP 500 titlist in series history in Rio de Janeiro and claimed another crown at that level in Barcelona.  

The 19-year-old leads the ATP Tour with 51 wins this season, moving him five victories clear of second-placed Stefanos Tsitsipas (46). With his US Open triumph, Alcaraz also climbed to first place in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin, putting him in pole position to become the youngest year-end World No. 1 in history.  

Andrea Gaudenzi, ATP Chairman, said: ‘Carlos’ rise to the top of the sport has been nothing short of phenomenal. His game has reached incredible levels this year, capturing ATP Masters 1000 titles in Miami and Madrid, and now capped off with a first Grand Slam title and becoming the youngest ever No. 1. His fearless tennis, work ethic and sportsmanship make him an inspiration for many and has raised the bar for tennis’ next era. Like so many of our fans, I’m excited to watch his incredible journey continue.’  

Alcaraz became the first player to reach the top of men’s tennis’ mountain the Monday after the US Open since his coach, Ferrero, ascended to No. 1 after the 2003 tournament. Alcaraz’s final against Ruud was the first men’s singles championship match at a Grand Slam in which both players who had never been World No. 1 were competing for the top spot.  

Alcaraz is the 28th player to reach World No. 1, making him the sixth active player to climb to the top spot. The teen joins Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Nadal, Andy Murray and Daniil Medvedev, whom he replaced at the pinnacle.   Alcaraz (19) and Ruud (23) are the second-youngest Top 2 in the history of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, only trailing World No. 1 Jimmy Connors (22) and World No. 22 Bjorn Borg (18) in 1975. This is the first year since 2003 there have been two new World No. 1s in the same season (Medvedev and Alcaraz).  

Carlos Alcaraz Persists To Win 2022 U.S. Open

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Carlos Alcaraz won his first major singles title beating Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (1), 6-3 in the final of the U.S. Open, becoming the event’s second youngest men’s singles champion and in the process becoming the youngest man to clinch the world No. 1 ranking.

Alcaraz, at age 19 years, 4 months and 6 days, is only three months older than Pete Sampras, when he won the U.S. men’s title in 1990 at the age of 19 years, 28 days. However, Alcaraz is well over a year younger than Lleyton Hewitt as the youngest world No. 1, Hewitt assuming the top ranking in 2001 at the age of 20 years and 268 days.

The young Spaniard persisted at the end of the tournament in what four-time U.S. Open champion John McEnroe called “one of the all-time great efforts you will ever see to win an event.” He won three straight matches in five sets, including two that finished after 2 am, to reach the final, a feat last achieved by Stefan Edberg in 1992, who famously came back from a service break in the fifth set in the fourth round, quarterfinals and semifinals. Alcaraz trailed by a service break in the firth set against 2014 U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic in the fourth round before winnign 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in three hours and 54 minutes in a match that ended at 2:23 am. He then saved a match point in his quarterfinal epic win against Jannik Sinner, which he won 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-7 (0), 7-5, 6-3 in five hours and 15 minutes, the second longest U.S. Open match of all time, that finished at 2:50 am, the latest finish in U.S. Open history. In the semifinals, he again persisted in his five-set 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 (5), 6-3, fighting against a roaring U.S. crowd.

Alcaraz spent a total of 23 hours, 40 minutes on court in the tournament.

Carlos Alcaraz

Iga Swiatek Wins U.S. Open; Jabeur “Will Not Give Up”In Major Title Quest

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World No. 1 Iga Swiatek defeated Tunisian Ons Jabeur 6-2, 7-6(5) to win her first U.S. Open title and second major tournament victory of 2022 and third overall.

The 21-year-old Pole spent just one hour and 51 minutes to beat the No. 5 seed Jabeur, also the runner-up Wimbledon. Despite being the world No. 1, many did not believe Swiatek would be the last player standing in New York, due to the unpredictability in women’s tennis and the fact that Swiatek was only 2-2 on hard courts leading into the U.S. Open.

Swiatek was off to a 3-0 lead before Jabeur hit five clean winners to help pull back to 3-2. Swiatek kept her dominating style, breaking Jabeur twice more to win the first set. The second set opened much alike the first with Swiatek taking the first three games and Jabeur pulling two back before it was dragged into tiebreak where the Pole won on her first match point on Jabeur’s forehand unforced error.

“It’s part of tennis, winning or losing is part of it,” said Jabeur, who was looking to win her first major title and become the first Muslim player to win a major singles title. “I struggled to win my first WTA title. It took me time. So I believe this will take me time. The most important thing is accepting it, learning from the finals that I lost. I’m not someone that going to give up.”

Swiatek becomes the first Polish player to win the U.S. Championships, achieving what 1937 U.S. women’s runner-up Jadwiga Jedrzejowska was not able to do.
After winning the French Open as an unseeded player in 2020, Swiatek was immediately thrust into the top of women’s tennis upon the retirement of dominant No. 1 Ash Barty in March of this year. She won the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells in March which clinched the No. 2 ranking, but was placed at No. 1 after Barty asked to be taken off the WTA rankings after her retirement announcement. She had a 37-match win streak that included her second title at Roland Garros. She struggled a bit since winning in Paris, losing in the third round at Wimbledon at the top seed and then going only 2-2 in U.S. summer hard court events leading into the U.S. Open.

Latest And Second-Longest! Alcaraz vs. Sinner Match Makes U.S. Open History

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The US Open set a record for its latest-ever finish early Thursday morning when 19-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz defeated 21-year-old Italian Jannik Sinner, 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-7(0), 7-5, 6-3, in a quarterfinal final men’s singles match that officially ended at 2:50 a.m.

The match lasted 5 hours, 15 minutes — the second-longest US Open match ever — and surpassed the previous record for latest finish of 2:26 a.m., set three times, most recently in 2014. The record for longest match is 5:26, set by Stefan Edberg and Michael Chang in 1992. Alcaraz, the No. 3 seed, will now play American Frances Tiafoe in the semifinals on Friday. Earlier on Wednesday, Tiafoe defeated Andrey Rublev, 7-6(3), 7-6(0), 6-4, to become the first African-American man to reach the semifinals of the US Open since Arthur Ashe in 1972

U.S. Open Celebrates 15 Years Of Sustainability

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The United States Tennis Association (USTA) celebrates the 15th year of its US Open sustainability initiative, continuing the tournament’s decade-plus commitment to reducing the environmental impact of the US Open and helping to create a more sustainable future for our planet.

Since the program’s inception in 2008, working with environmental consultant eco evolutions llc, these initiatives have allowed the US Open to reduce its harmful greenhouse gas emissions by more than 130,000 metric tons. More than 6,500 tons of waste generated during the US Open has been diverted from landfills, saving over 6,400 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of 1,390 passenger cars being driven for a year. Through composting leftover organic matter, nearly 830 tons of food waste has been converted into nutrient-rich compost for gardens and farms, along with more than 185 tons of food being donated to local communities. 

In 2019, the US Open became one of the first major North American organizations to sign the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework, joining a group of international sports properties that have committed to drive climate awareness and action. As part of the US Open’s continued commitment to climate-intelligent humanitarian initiatives, returning in 2022 is a carbon offset program that provides improved cookstoves in Uganda. The US Open will offset the estimated carbon generated to run the event as well as from player travel to compete in the event, employee travel to work the event and fan travel for Finals Weekend. This equates to approximately 10 million miles traveled by airplane, car or subway. This initiative provides strong environmental benefits as the reduced consumption of biomass will result in emission reductions and decrease deforestation. 

Also returning in 2022 is the US Open’s collaboration with reforestation non-profit One Tree Planted, which is an initiative that was introduced at last year’s tournament. Working with One Tree Planted, the USTA will make a donation to ensure a tree is planted for every player that will be competing in the US Open, amounting to approximately 650 trees. The trees will be planted as part of ongoing reforestation projects in California to help replenish U.S. National Forests that have been impacted by recent forest fires.

US Open sponsors and partners are also making significant contributions to sustainability at the US Open. For example, evian is on a mission to make all its bottles from 100 percent recycled plastic by 2025 (excluding cap and label) the brand is Certified Carbon Neutral by the Carbon Trust.  This helps the US Open recycle nearly seven tons of plastic during the event and divert 97% of waste from landfill.

Continuing its commitment to sustainability, the Polo Ralph Lauren ball crew Polos will be made from yarn derived from recycled plastic bottles. The fabric will also have functional performance features, like stretch & moisture-wicking properties, all constructed for active play. In addition, tennis ball cans used at the US Open will feature Wilson’s Eco Overcap, which reduces the amount of plastic by half and leaves a smaller footprint on the environment after it has been used.

The US Open is proud to have earned LEED Silver certification for Louis Armstrong Stadium, which premiered at the 2018 US Open. LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a green-building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices. A number of sustainable design elements were incorporated into Louis Armstrong Stadium, including fixtures that use 40% less water than standard buildings, landscape that is designed to use 55% less water than traditional landscaping and low-emitting paints and finishes. In addition, during construction, 95% of waste was recycled. This is the third LEED certified structure at the home of the US Open, the others being the Grandstand Stadium and VIP/Transportation Building.

Additional components of the US Open sustainability initiative include:

  • Recycling and Composting
    • New for the 2022 US Open, the USTA will be recycling the clean plastic wrap consumed by vendors throughout the site of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center during the event.
    • At the conclusion of the 2022 US Open, the USTA will be donating the metal lids from the tennis ball cans used during the event to the Ronald McDonald House in Valhalla, N.Y.  These metal lids will be recycled to benefit the Ronald McDonald House’s Pull Tab Collection Program for that home. 
    • The USTA collects the tennis balls used during the matches and players’ practices to reuse in USTA tennis programs and to donate to various community and youth organizations throughout the United States.  A large portion of the balls from the 2022 US Open will be donated as a part of Wilson’s initiative with Recycleballs.
    • More than 70 tons of food waste from the US Open kitchens will be collected to be process by an anerobic digester to produce renewable electricity.
    • Ballpersons are provided with reusable water bottles to reduce the use of single use plastic water bottles.
  • Construction and Grounds
    • The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is home to three LEED certified structures including: Louis Armstrong Stadium (LEED Silver); Grandstand Stadium; and the Transportation Building.
    • Louis Armstrong Stadium:
      • Louis Armstrong Stadium uses 40% less water than is used in standard buildings.
      • Landscaping around Louis Armstrong Stadium is designed to use 55% less water than traditional landscaping.
      • During construction of Louis Armstrong Stadium, 95% of the waste was recycled.
      • Louis Armstrong Stadium is designed to use nearly 30% less energy than is used in standard buildings.
      • More than 10% of the materials used in Louis Armstrong Stadium’s construction were made from recycled materials.
      • Louis Armstrong Stadium is located close to public transportation, encouraging fans to take mass transit and help reduce the carbon footprint.
      • Low-emitting paints and finishes were used in Louis Armstrong Stadium’s construction to reduce the emission of pollutants.
      • Waste generated in Louis Armstrong Stadium is recycled and composted to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.
    • Grandstand Stadium:
      • During the Grandstand’s construction, more than 80% of waste was recycled.
      • Primarily due to LED lights, the Grandstand uses 15% less energy than is used in standard buildings.
      • The Grandstand makes use of a rainwater treatment system to remove contaminants before the rainwater is discharged into the environment.
      • The Grandstand uses 40% less water than is used in standard buildings.
      • The Grandstand’s white roof reflects heat to keep the stadium cooler.
      • More than 10% of the materials used in the Grandstand’s construction were made from recycled materials.
      • Low-emitting paints and finishes were used in the Grandstand’s construction to reduce the emission of pollutants.
    • Foam glass, made from 1.3 million recycled glass bottles was used under the foundation of the new US Open broadcast building.
    • Refill water stations are located throughout the site to encourage re-use of water bottles.
    • LED court lights have been installed and will save a total of 90,000 kWh; 50% more efficient than regular stadium lighting. 
    • Vendors are provided with a US Open Green Cleaning Policy specifying preferred cleaning products to be used during the US Open.
  • Food Service
    • Paper or compostable straws will replace plastic straws across the site.
    • The majority of the service ware throughout the site is compostable, comprised of bio-based materials. 
    • US Open food concessionaire, Levy Restaurants, is locally sourcing approximately 20% of its produce and ingredients for the food offered on site.  In addition, Levy Restaurants offers 60% naturally-raised protein.
    • The US Open expects to donate almost 15 tons of food to the local community.
  • Paper Products
    • The 2.4 million napkins in the general concession area are comprised of 100% recycled material.
    • The US Open Daily is printed on paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and printed on machines with dual-printing capabilities. 
    • US Open tickets are exclusively electronic.
    • All US Open digital event cards are provided electronically in place of the over 48,000 plastic versions purchased in the past.
  • Transportation
    • The USTA will continue to welcome more than 50% of its fans via mass transit or through rideshare. 
    • The US Open will offset the estimated 3.5 million miles players travel to compete at the US Open; the 3.8 million miles employees travel to work the event; and the 2.7 million miles traveled by fans to attend Finals Weekend.
  • Fan Awareness
    • 2022 US Open Sustainability Initiatives are featured in the official 2022 US Open Program.
    • US Open Sustainability Program facts will be highlighted in-stadium.
    • Environmental facts related to the construction of Louis Armstrong Stadium and Grandstand are displayed throughout those areas.
  • US Open Merchandise
    • The US Open Collection will feature for sale a reusable tote made from 80% post-consumer waste.

Top American Tennis Star Jessica Pegula Signs With Ready

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Ready® Signs Top Ranked American Tennis Star

Ready®, one of the fastest growing sports nutrition brands in America, today announced the signing of WTA tennis star, Jessica Pegula–the 8th ranked player in the world and the top ranked American female–as a Ready® athlete.  She joins fellow Ready® team members NFL star and world champion Aaron Donald and NBA great and global basketball icon Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Pegula has been a steady riser on the WTA tour and Grand Slam circuit since her debut in 2011-12.  Her determination and effort to join the elite of women’s tennis has paid off in 2022 with her ascension to a career-high WTA singles ranking of No. 7 in singles and a career-high doubles ranking of No. 6.  Her and partner Coco Gauff will be one of the favorites for the double’s championship at The US Open.

The Buffalo native has won one WTA singles title and two WTA doubles titles, one WTA Challenger doubles title, and seven ITF doubles titles. She is a three-time Grand Slam singles quarterfinalist, having reached this stage twice at the 2021 and 2022 Australian Open and once at the 2022 French Open. She is also a Grand Slam finalist in doubles, achieving this feat at the 2022 French Open with Gauff.

“We’re very selective on who we sign as members of our Ready® Team Roster,” said Pat Cavanaugh, Ready® founder and CEO.   “We look for people who take more pride in their hard work than their talent. Beyond athletic excellence, we love seeing someone be relentless in their journey to make their best, better. Jess’s grit and determination over the last 10 years to grind and improve her game to reach her goals and her current world ranking is a great testament to her mentality and the kind of mindset that defines our Ready® Brand.”

“I am really excited to partner with Ready®, a sports drink and nutrition company that helps me stay prepared on and off the court,” said Pegula.  “I put tremendous pride into my team, my training, and what I put into my body.”

When I first tried Ready®, the products stood out to me above everything else out there.  As Pat and I continued conversations, we shared philosophies on hard work and determination to continue moving forward no matter what life throws at us.  Seeing the athletes that Ready® is currently working with, Aaron Donald and Giannis Antetokounmpo, it’s an honor to join two champion athletes and be the first female athlete partner of Ready®.”

Ready® sports nutrition products will continue to fuel Pegula that she’s been using for the past year in her workouts and training. She will promote the Brand and its portfolio of scientifically formulated, performance products in her various online and non-digital platforms.

About Ready® (www.teamready.com)                                                                 

Ready® was founded in 2012 by former University of Pittsburgh basketball team captain and Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Hall of Fame member, Pat Cavanaugh. Ready® is a fast-growing sports nutrition company that specializes in supporting athletes achieving their goals. The company’s all-natural portfolio includes their super fruit based sports drinks, protein bars, protein water, plant based functional snacks and protein powder.  Its products are currently available in over 17,000 retail outlets across the United States.  Over 200 college and university athletic programs provide their student-athletes with Ready® products with the brand currently being the Official Protein of UCLA athletics.  Ready® is also the Official Sports Drink of seven NCAA Division I Conferences along with highly respected Gonzaga athletics and its nationally renowned basketball program.  World Champion and NFL great Aaron Donald along with world basketball icon and NBA two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo are co-owners in the company.  Ready® has also been chosen as the Official Sports Drink of The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), the largest athletic organization in the United States with over 700,000 athletes that compete in 41 sports.

Jessica Pegula

US Open Says “Put On La Roche-Posay Sunblock!”

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The USTA and La Roche-Posay are excited to announce that La Roche-Posay has signed on to become the official sunscreen partner of the US Open.

Beginning with this year’s US Open, La Roche-Posay will have a sun safety education booth in the South Plaza of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, with two additional product sampling kiosks on the grounds. La Roche-Posay will be featured and sold in US Open Collection stores, and will also provide product for players.

“La Roche-Posay is proud to be the Official Sunscreen of the US Open. In 2010, La Roche-Posay introduced the SOS – Save Our Skin campaign to inform the public about the dangers of UV rays and the importance of practicing sun safe behaviors in order to prevent skin cancer. La Roche-Posay has strategically partnered with the US Open to advance our mission and promote sun safe behaviors on and off the court with complimentary sunscreen and skin education available to all attendees at the US Open.” – Guillaume Monsel, Vice President of Marketing, La Roche-Posay USA.

“La Roche-Posay is an industry leader, committed to producing the best and most advanced sunscreen products,” said Deanne Pownall, Managing Director, Corporate Partnerships, USTA. “It is fitting that they are the first ever official Sunscreen Partner of the US Open. Our fans and players will benefit from having La Roche-Posay products available to protect them while they are on-site or on-court.”

The 2022 US Open begins with Fan Week on August 23. The main draw runs August 29-September 11.

La Roche-Posay is offering a sweepstakes to win four (4) free courtside tickets to attend the 2022 US Open on Thursday, September 8, for the Women’s Semifinals. Click here to enter.

# # #

The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level — from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, one of the highest-attended annual sporting events in the world, and launched the US Open Series, linking seven summer WTA and ATP World Tour tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns approximately 120 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S. and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA’s philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships in addition to supporting tennis and education programs nationwide to benefit under-resourced youth through the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network. For more information about the USTA, go to USTA.com or follow the official accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

About LA ROCHE-POSAY

Recommended by 90,000 dermatologists worldwide[i], La Roche-Posay’s mission is to offer life-changing dermatological skincare. Created by a French pharmacist in 1975, the brand is now available in over 60 countries. It offers a unique range of daily skincare developed for every skin type to address various skin concerns and complement prescription treatments. At the center of the brand is the exclusive selenium-rich La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water, a core ingredient in its skincare formulas known for its soothing and antioxidant properties that is sourced from its Thermal Center in France, the first Dermatology Center in Europe. The products are developed using a strict safety and formulation charter with a minimal number of ingredients and are formulated at optimal concentrations. Additionally, La Roche-Posay products undergo stringent clinical testing for efficacy and safety with over 750+ studies and 25 years of extensive research, even on sensitive skin. The key La Roche-Posay product ranges are: Lipikar (dry skin), Anthelios (photoprotection), Effaclar (acne) and Toleriane (sensitive skin).

Althea Gibson’s Legacy To Be Honored In Harlem

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New York City will honor the legacy of International Tennis Hall of Fame champion and pioneering sports hero Althea Gibson by renaming West 143rd Street in Harlem, where she lived with her family, in her honor as “Althea Gibson Way.”

The renaming ceremony will be conducted on the late tennis icon’s 95th birthday on August 25th from noon to 2 p.m. at West 143rd Street between Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevards. Gibson family members as well as former pro Leslie Allen and other VIPs from the world of tennis are scheduled to appear at the event.

Gibson broke the color barrier in tennis when she first played in the U.S. Championships at Forest Hills in 1950. She became the first black player to win a major title at the French Championships in 1956 and won Wimbledon and the U.S. Championships in both 1957 and 1958.

Gibson is one of the most iconic and talented female athletes of all time, breaking the color barrier in tennis and becoming the first black player to play and win at Wimbledon and the U.S. Championships. After becoming the first black player to participate in the U.S. Championships (the modern-day U.S. Open) in 1950 (three years after Jackie Robinson integrated baseball), she won the first of her back-to-back titles there in 1957, also winning singles titles at Wimbledon in 1957 and 1958. After her tennis career, she also became the first black person on the LPGA Tour in golf. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1971 and died in 2003. She was an athlete, coach, leader, activist, singer, actor and one of the most illustrious and celebrated tennis players in history.

In 2019, the United States Tennis Association honored Gibson with a statue in her honor on the grounds of the Billie Jean King USTA National Tennis Center, where the U.S. Open is played. In 2022, Althea Gibson’s autobiography “I Always Wanted To Be Somebody” was re-released and can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1937559971/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_9QYX67JWHF6F6Z50TGQD

“I Always Wanted To Be Somebody” is the intimate and candid story of a girl who grew up in the asphalt environs of Harlem, skipping school, drinking hard liquor, stealing and fist-fighting, but went on to break the color barrier in tennis and achieving the pinnacle of the sport by winning Wimbledon and the U.S. Championships and becoming an inspiration for many future champions.

Hall of Fame tennis legend and pioneer Billie Jean King, who said she used to sleep with “I Always Wanted To Be Somebody” under her pillow as a girl, contributed the foreword to the new edition, writing, “Althea was our Jackie Robinson of tennis, and the barriers show broke down and the doors she opened have paved the way for generations of tennis players. Her contributions to our sport and to our world are many. Without Althea, there may not have been an Arthur Ashe, Leslie Allen, Zina Garrison, James Blake, Chanda Rubin, Mal Washington, Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Coco Gauff, Frances Tiafoe or Naomi Osaka.”

Althea Gibson

FILA Signs Young American Upstart Bruno Kuzuhara

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FILA announced today the signing of 18-year-old sensation Bruno Kuzuhara, one of the brightest young stars climbing through the global tennis ranks. Fresh off of winning the 2022 Australian Open Junior singles and doubles titles in January, Kuzuhara is currently the No. 3 ranked junior tennis player in the world as he joins FILA’s roster of high-profile ATP and WTA Tour players.

Kuzuhara burst onto the scene earlier this year, with a dream run to the Boys Singles title in Melbourne as the top seed in the draw. Kuzuhara’s win at the Australian Open made him just the fourth American man to win the title in the Open era, joining elite company in Andy Roddick, Sebastian Korda and Donald Young. The American complemented his singles title with a win in the doubles event as well, becoming the first player to sweep both victories since 2011.

“I am honored to join the FILA family of sponsored ATP and WTA Tour athletes,” said Kuzuhara. “This stage of my tennis career is especially exciting, as I work towards going pro. I am grateful for FILA’s support on this journey and I look forward to working with the brand for the rest of this season and beyond.”

While his two Grand Slam junior titles in January marked the highlight of his young career thus far, Kuzuhara is no stranger to success, with six total ITF World Tennis Tour titles already to his name. The phenom scored his first career title on the ITF Junior Circuit when he was just 13 years old. His early success has been defined by his ability to thrive on clay, as three of his first four titles prior to the Australian Open breakthrough came on the surface.

“FILA is thrilled to welcome Bruno to our roster of global tennis athletes,” said Gene Yoon, Global Chairman at FILA. “Bruno is a hard worker with an immense passion for the sport, and he is well poised for continued success. After a stellar start to the season, we are excited to see what the future holds and we are proud to support him every step of the way.”

About FILA

FILA has a long and distinguished history in the world of tennis that includes endorsements of ATP Tour and WTA athletes, tennis tournaments and organizations. FILA is a sponsor of the BNP Paribas Open, the Infosys Hall of Fame Open, National Bank Open & Omnium Banque Nationale, the Western & Southern Open, the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, the Argentina Open, the Cordoba Open, the Rio Open, the Rakuten Japan Open, the China Open, the FILA Easter Bowl and the Junior Orange Bowl International Tennis Championship. In addition to event partnerships, FILA is an official supplier to Tennis Canada, the Argentine Tennis Association (AAT) Junior Tennis Champions Center, Van der Meer Tennis and John Newcombe Tennis Ranch.

FILA® is now a leading sport and leisure footwear and apparel brand that is distributed worldwide. FILA has achieved world-class recognition in tennis by marketing high design and style content products that are endorsed by professional athletes from around the world.

Novak Djokovic Beats Nick Kyrgios For Seventh Wimbledon Title

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Novak Djokovic continues to be the King of Wimbledon

The top seed from Serbia beat the mercurial and unseeded Nick Kyrgios 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (3) to win his seventh Wimbledon title and his 21st career major singles title.

The seventh title draws Djokovic even with his idol Pete Sampras, who also won seven titles at the All England Club, and one behind the pro tennis era leader Roger Federer, who won eight titles. It also marked Djokovic’s fourth straight title and his 39th straight match wins on Centre Court, which celebrated its 100th anniversary this year.

Djokovic is one major title away from Rafael Nadal’s men’s record of 22 majors and one clear of Roger Federer, who now is in third place with 20 majors.

“I’m at a loss for words for what this tournament and this trophy means to me,” said Djokovic in his post-match trophy ceremony comments. “It always has been and will be the most special one in my heart.”

Entering the final, Djokovic held an 0-2 career record against the No  40-ranked Kyrgios and had not even won a set against the Australian. Kyrgios kept that trend going by taking the first set and appeared to perhaps be poised to post on the great upsets in Wimbledon final history. Djokovic, however, clamped down and continued his aggressive and error-free play, making only 17 unforced errors the entire match.

The win is especially important for Djokovic who encountered much disappointment (by his standards!) in the last 12 months since he last won a major tournament at Wimbledon 12 months earlier. Djokovic won Wimbledon a year ago beating Matteo Berrettini of Italy in the final to give him a third leg of a potential “Golden Grand Slam.” However, Djokovic finished a disappointing fourth at the Olympic Games in Toyko (also finishing fourth in mixed doubles, having to default the bronze medal match), then falling one match short of the Grand Slam, losing to Daniil Medvedev of Russia in the final. He was not able to defend his Australian Open title in January of this year, being deported due to his unvaccinated status against the COVID-19 virus. He was limited to where he can play events due to his unvaccinated status, not being allowed to play in the United States. He lost in the fourth round of the French Open to Nadal and now faces the prospect of not being able to play the U.S. Open and the Australian Open in 2023 due to his vaccine status.

Novak Djokovic