With Roland Garros, the second Grand Slam of the year less than a week away, the #NextGen stars of the ATP world tour would hope to make a lasting impact and maybe even break through to the top tier of the game. These 5 new faces on the ATP tour have already established themselves as “the next big things” and are itching to add some solid results to their resume.
As the wall around the top players of the game starts to falter, these "young guns” would grab any opportunity to take over their positions at the top of the game. Here are the 5 people to watch out for at the championships:
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1. Nick Kyrgios
Last year’s French Open result: 3rd round (L. Murray).
The fiery young Australian, who is the highest ranked among the #NextGen stars, is already a winner on the ATP world tour this year at Open 13 Marseille. He thundered his way past two of the world top 10 – Richard Gasquet and Tomas Berdych – and clinched a nail-biting final against 4th seed and world number 12 Marin Cilic.
He also made two semifinal runs at Dubai (Retd. to Wawrinka) and Estoril (L. Almagro), a place where he made the finals last year (L. Gasquet). He broke into the top 20 for the first time, and is now looking to cement his place there.
Kyrgios is looking to go deep in this year’s French Open and is desperate to prove a point. He is 14-4 on the season so far.
2. Borna Coric
Last year’s French Open result: 3rd round (L. Sock).
The young Croatian tennis star has been pegged as the next big thing in tennis by fellow countryman and 2001 Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic. Already seeing a podium finish this year, at the Chennai Open (L. Wawrinka), Coric has come a long way up the rankings.
He played an extraordinary rubber against Kimmer Coppejans of Belgium to take Croatia past last year’s runners-up in the Davis Cup 1st round, after which he was considered a local hero. Coric will likely be seen in the second week of this year’s event challenging the top players. He is 11-11 on the season so far.
3. Taylor Fritz
Last year’s French Open result: Absent.
With legends like Jim Courier calling him the future of American tennis, this young talent has a point to prove. Having made a final in Memphis this year (L. to Nishikori), Taylor Fritz has already shown the world he can dominate his opponents with amazing technique.
Fritz has won three Challenger level titles and is bidding to make it to the latter stages in the second Major of the year. He is 7-6 on the season so far.
4. Hyeon Chung
Last year’s French Open result: Absent.
Many people remember him as Novak Djokovic’s first victim en route to his 6th Australian Open title. The 19-year-old South Korean has got a game that scares his opponents. With his best results coming on the ATP Challenger tour, this youngster has silently but efficiently risen up the rankings and is now at No. 84.
Chung was voted as the tour's most improved player in 2015 by his peers. He is bidding to get his first main draw win of 2016 in Grand Slam tennis at the French Open. Chung is 7-10 on the season.
5. Alexander Zverev
Last year’s French Open result: Absent.
The German No. 2 and World No. 49 has not failed to impress this season, with an impressive run at Indian Wells followed by a defeat of World No. 13 (David Goffin) at the BMW Open at Munich. Zverev is already doing wonders for the sport, perhaps the brightest start of the #NextGen group of players.
The teenager is looking to better his result at Roland Garros and enter the second week of the competition. Zverev is 13-10 on the season so far.
As the competition heats up in this year’s event, these five guys will surely be looking to do some serious damage and maybe even lift the crown.
