Six tennis players inaugurated their ATP title showcases in this 2020 marked by the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, if it hadn’t been for the stoppage and the reduction of tournaments, many more would have celebrated.
However, that achievement was only for the following lucky ones: Jannik Sinner, Ugo Humbert, Casper Ruud, Thiago Seyboth Wild, Miomir Kecmanovic y John Millman.
After making his debut at the Next Gen Finals in Milan in 2019, Ugo Humbert quickly made his mark in 2020 by triumphing at the Auckland ATP 250, in the second week of January. The Metz-born surpassed Norwegian Ruud in his debut, to later stand in the final, beating Marco Cecchinato, Denis Shapovalov and John Isner consecutively. In the title match, Humbert defeated compatriot Benoit Paire in a tight final 7-6 (2) 3-6 and 7-5 (5). Months later and after the resumption of the circuit, the Frenchman would repeat the celebration in Antwerp, which earned him to finish the year among the 30 best in the world.
Nordic Casper Ruud made history for his country by becoming the first Norwegian winner of an ATP tournament at the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires. He overwhelmed Pablo Andújar, Roberto Carballés and Dusan Lajovic to reach the semifinals, where he needed to come back vs. Juan Ignacio Londero and reach his second final on the circuit. With great authority, he brought down the Portuguese Pedro Sousa in two sets to lift the title.
Luckily for him, the pandemic was slow to reach South America. Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild set foot in Santiago de Chile with only three professional wins. In one week, he achieved more celebrations than in the rest of his career, achieving the title of champion crossing the mountain range. Seyboth Wild beat three Argentine players on the way to their first final. There he met Ruud, the aforementioned champion of Bs. As., And celebrated in a big way.
Returning to business and fourteen months after falling within one point of the title in his first ATP Tour final in Antalya, Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic achieved three consecutive wins against Kei Nishikori, Federico Delbonis and Marc-Andrea Huesler for his second chance in Kitzbuhel. In the final, he ended the hopes of German Yannick Hanfmann, from the qualifying round, to add his first ATP crown.
At the inaugural Astana Open (Nur-Sultan), John Millman became the fifth player to win a title in 2020 after lifting match point. In the quarterfinals, Millman did it twice against American Tommy Paul. Millman also needed to come back against Frances Tiafoe in the semi-finals to reach his third ATP final. At 31, the Australian endured the pressure of playing vs. Adrian Mannarino to become the season’s oldest debutant ATP champion.
One year after winning the 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan, Jannik Sinner capped off an impressive 2020 season with his first big celebration in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia. The Italian gave up just one set on the way to the final. In the quarterfinals he came back a set to overcome Alex de Miñaur in the reissue of the decisive duel in Milan 2019. In the final, the young wonder was demanded until the tiebreaker of the third set by Vasek Pospisil. Sinner became the youngest ATP champion since Kei Nishikori (18 years old) won at Delray Beach in 2008.
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