The second edition of the ATP Next Gen Finals serves off in Milan next week and the line-up of players is now complete.
The tournament runs from the November 6 to 10, and it features the top seven ranked players on the ATP Tour, who were born in the year 1997 or after, plus an Italian qualifier.
Hyeon Chung won the first edition last year, but due to his age, he will not be back to defend his title, where he beat Andrey Rublev three sets to one, after losing the first set.
The Next Gen competition includes matches being fought over a best of five scenario. However, there are a number of regulations that are involved in the five day extravaganza, that makes it an unique experience.
Instead of the sets ending in the first to six games, with a two game advantage, it is a first to four games set. A tie break will take place at three all and there are also no lets for the servers.
Other interesting rules include a 25-second shot clock, a regulated amount of time that coaches can interact with their players, the umpire being the only official at the match, with all other calls being made by the computer generated system Hawk-Eye and potential foot faults being judged by an on court camera.
It all sets up an intriguing set of matches.
The players qualified are Stefanos Tsitsipas from Greece, Alex de Minaur from Australia, American duo Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz, Andrey Rublev from Russia, Jaume Munar from Spain and Hubert Hurkacz from Poland as the top seven ranked, with the local player to be announced soon.
Alexander Zverev and Denis Shapovalov finished first and third in the rankings, but both will not be participating next week in Milan for differing reasons. The German Zverev, to focus on the ATP Masters Finals in London the following week, and the Canadian Shapovalov, through injury.
Things could get quite interesting in Milan as this next generation of tennis stars take to court for the second season of the ATP Net Gen competition.
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