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Laureus Awards — Alcaraz, Sabalenka bag top honours; Yamal, Kroos also awarded

“We can’t just ‌sit back there and just ​hope that the Rafas (Nadal) or Rogers (Federer) will just happen to ⁠come out, right? You can’t depend on luck all your life,” ATP ‌chief executive Eno Polo told Reuters at the Madrid Open.

“This is a great programme to help accelerate that, and also because there’s a lot of places in ‌the world where they don’t have the ​support of the federations that have structures.”

The launch aligns ⁠with PIF’s 2026–2030 strategy, under which the $925 ⁠billion sovereign wealth fund plans to focus investment across six ‌key themes as it looks to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy ​beyond oil. 

Published on Apr 23, 2026

#ATP #Saudi #PIF #launch #programme #support #rising #talent"> ATP and Saudi PIF launch programme to support rising talent  The ATP and Saudi Arabia’s Public ​Investment Fund (PIF) launched the ATP Next ‌Gen Accelerator on Thursday, a programme ​aimed at supporting rising ⁠talent and widening opportunities for players from the Global South as they seek ‌to break onto the ATP Tour.Eligible players will gain ‌access to ATP Tennis IQ ‌Powered ⁠by PIF, an integrated performance ⁠technology platform, along with medical support, structured education and enhanced promotion across ATP platforms.The ​initiative seeks to ‌level the playing field for emerging players and provide greater stability for young professionals.ALSO READ | Laureus Awards — Alcaraz, Sabalenka bag top honours; Yamal, Kroos also awarded“We can’t just ‌sit back there and just ​hope that the Rafas (Nadal) or Rogers (Federer) will just happen to ⁠come out, right? You can’t depend on luck all your life,” ATP ‌chief executive Eno Polo told        Reuters at the Madrid Open.“This is a great programme to help accelerate that, and also because there’s a lot of places in ‌the world where they don’t have the ​support of the federations that have structures.”The launch aligns ⁠with PIF’s 2026–2030 strategy, under which the 5 ⁠billion sovereign wealth fund plans to focus investment across six ‌key themes as it looks to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy ​beyond oil. Published on Apr 23, 2026  #ATP #Saudi #PIF #launch #programme #support #rising #talent
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Laureus Awards — Alcaraz, Sabalenka bag top honours; Yamal, Kroos also awarded

“We can’t just ‌sit back there and just ​hope that the Rafas (Nadal) or Rogers (Federer) will just happen to ⁠come out, right? You can’t depend on luck all your life,” ATP ‌chief executive Eno Polo told Reuters at the Madrid Open.

“This is a great programme to help accelerate that, and also because there’s a lot of places in ‌the world where they don’t have the ​support of the federations that have structures.”

The launch aligns ⁠with PIF’s 2026–2030 strategy, under which the $925 ⁠billion sovereign wealth fund plans to focus investment across six ‌key themes as it looks to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy ​beyond oil. 

Published on Apr 23, 2026

#ATP #Saudi #PIF #launch #programme #support #rising #talent">ATP and Saudi PIF launch programme to support rising talent

The ATP and Saudi Arabia’s Public ​Investment Fund (PIF) launched the ATP Next ‌Gen Accelerator on Thursday, a programme ​aimed at supporting rising ⁠talent and widening opportunities for players from the Global South as they seek ‌to break onto the ATP Tour.

Eligible players will gain ‌access to ATP Tennis IQ ‌Powered ⁠by PIF, an integrated performance ⁠technology platform, along with medical support, structured education and enhanced promotion across ATP platforms.

The ​initiative seeks to ‌level the playing field for emerging players and provide greater stability for young professionals.

ALSO READ | Laureus Awards — Alcaraz, Sabalenka bag top honours; Yamal, Kroos also awarded

“We can’t just ‌sit back there and just ​hope that the Rafas (Nadal) or Rogers (Federer) will just happen to ⁠come out, right? You can’t depend on luck all your life,” ATP ‌chief executive Eno Polo told Reuters at the Madrid Open.

“This is a great programme to help accelerate that, and also because there’s a lot of places in ‌the world where they don’t have the ​support of the federations that have structures.”

The launch aligns ⁠with PIF’s 2026–2030 strategy, under which the $925 ⁠billion sovereign wealth fund plans to focus investment across six ‌key themes as it looks to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy ​beyond oil. 

Published on Apr 23, 2026

#ATP #Saudi #PIF #launch #programme #support #rising #talent

The ATP and Saudi Arabia’s Public ​Investment Fund (PIF) launched the ATP Next ‌Gen Accelerator…

Rybakina beats Muchova to win Stuttgart Open 2026

Fils won seven consecutive games before Rublev managed to hold serve early in the second set. The 28-year-old then saved seven break points in a prolonged game to stay level at 2-2.

The 21-year-old Fils broke again with a clever backhand drop shot to move 4-2 ahead. However, serving for the match at 5-3, he made three successive errors to allow Rublev back into the contest.

Rublev saved three match points to hold serve for 5-5 and then broke Fils to lead 6-5. But Fils responded immediately, breaking back to force a tie-break, which he won comfortably 7-2.

“The way you are playing, it’s ridiculous. You’ve proved that you’re one of the best players on the Tour,” Rublev said.

Published on Apr 19, 2026

#Arthur #Fils #downs #Rublev #win #Barcelona #Open #secures #fourth #ATP #title"> Arthur Fils downs Rublev to win Barcelona Open; secures his fourth ATP title  Frenchman Arthur Fils continued his strong run of form since returning from an eight-month injury lay-off, beating Russia’s higher-ranked Andrey Rublev 6-2, 7-6(2) to win the Barcelona Open and claim his first title since 2024.Fils, who suffered a lower-back stress fracture last year, returned in February and reached the final of the Qatar Open and the semifinal of the Miami Open. He secured his fourth ATP title on Sunday, and his third on clay, with the French Open a month away.“It’s been a tough few months, struggling with the injury, but we’re back on court and winning the trophy, so I’m pretty happy about that,” Fils said at the presentation ceremony.Fils dropped serve in the opening game after missing the baseline with a couple of shots, but he responded quickly, breaking back in the fourth game to level at 2-2.Rublev struggled to match Fils thereafter, as the Frenchman sharpened his forehand returns, consistently finding the lines and pushing the fifth seed onto the back foot to take the first set in 31 minutes.ALSO READ: Rybakina beats Muchova to win Stuttgart Open 2026Fils won seven consecutive games before Rublev managed to hold serve early in the second set. The 28-year-old then saved seven break points in a prolonged game to stay level at 2-2.The 21-year-old Fils broke again with a clever backhand drop shot to move 4-2 ahead. However, serving for the match at 5-3, he made three successive errors to allow Rublev back into the contest.Rublev saved three match points to hold serve for 5-5 and then broke Fils to lead 6-5. But Fils responded immediately, breaking back to force a tie-break, which he won comfortably 7-2.“The way you are playing, it’s ridiculous. You’ve proved that you’re one of the best players on the Tour,” Rublev said.Published on Apr 19, 2026  #Arthur #Fils #downs #Rublev #win #Barcelona #Open #secures #fourth #ATP #title
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Rybakina beats Muchova to win Stuttgart Open 2026

Fils won seven consecutive games before Rublev managed to hold serve early in the second set. The 28-year-old then saved seven break points in a prolonged game to stay level at 2-2.

The 21-year-old Fils broke again with a clever backhand drop shot to move 4-2 ahead. However, serving for the match at 5-3, he made three successive errors to allow Rublev back into the contest.

Rublev saved three match points to hold serve for 5-5 and then broke Fils to lead 6-5. But Fils responded immediately, breaking back to force a tie-break, which he won comfortably 7-2.

“The way you are playing, it’s ridiculous. You’ve proved that you’re one of the best players on the Tour,” Rublev said.

Published on Apr 19, 2026

#Arthur #Fils #downs #Rublev #win #Barcelona #Open #secures #fourth #ATP #title">Arthur Fils downs Rublev to win Barcelona Open; secures his fourth ATP title

Frenchman Arthur Fils continued his strong run of form since returning from an eight-month injury lay-off, beating Russia’s higher-ranked Andrey Rublev 6-2, 7-6(2) to win the Barcelona Open and claim his first title since 2024.

Fils, who suffered a lower-back stress fracture last year, returned in February and reached the final of the Qatar Open and the semifinal of the Miami Open. He secured his fourth ATP title on Sunday, and his third on clay, with the French Open a month away.

“It’s been a tough few months, struggling with the injury, but we’re back on court and winning the trophy, so I’m pretty happy about that,” Fils said at the presentation ceremony.

Fils dropped serve in the opening game after missing the baseline with a couple of shots, but he responded quickly, breaking back in the fourth game to level at 2-2.

Rublev struggled to match Fils thereafter, as the Frenchman sharpened his forehand returns, consistently finding the lines and pushing the fifth seed onto the back foot to take the first set in 31 minutes.

ALSO READ: Rybakina beats Muchova to win Stuttgart Open 2026

Fils won seven consecutive games before Rublev managed to hold serve early in the second set. The 28-year-old then saved seven break points in a prolonged game to stay level at 2-2.

The 21-year-old Fils broke again with a clever backhand drop shot to move 4-2 ahead. However, serving for the match at 5-3, he made three successive errors to allow Rublev back into the contest.

Rublev saved three match points to hold serve for 5-5 and then broke Fils to lead 6-5. But Fils responded immediately, breaking back to force a tie-break, which he won comfortably 7-2.

“The way you are playing, it’s ridiculous. You’ve proved that you’re one of the best players on the Tour,” Rublev said.

Published on Apr 19, 2026

#Arthur #Fils #downs #Rublev #win #Barcelona #Open #secures #fourth #ATP #title

Frenchman Arthur Fils continued his strong run of form since returning from an eight-month injury…