Serena Williams, Leonardo DiCaprio & Steph Curry; Nitto ATP Finals stars pick their champions | ATP Tour

Nitto ATP Finals

Half 1: Serena, DiCaprio, Curry & Hewitt; Nitto ATP Finals stars decide their champions

Sinner, Medvedev, Fritz and De Minaur select three champions every

November 10, 2024

Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, and Alex de Minaur every know what it takes to turn out to be champions on the court docket. Collectively, they boast 54 ATP Tour titles, and this week, they may vie for the final word prize after they compete within the Ilie Nastase Group on the Nitto ATP Finals.

However who has impressed them to turn out to be the champions they’re in the present day? Throughout Thursday’s media day, every star revealed their idols, celebrating their optimistic qualities and sharing recollections.

“I wish to begin with my dad, who at all times did his finest to make me really feel comfy,” mentioned Sinner, who this 12 months turned the primary Italian to achieve No. 1 within the PIF ATP Rankings. “He cared for our household alongside my mother, so he’d be my first selection.

“The second could be Steph Curry, whom I met this 12 months. He’s remodeled basketball and is such a pleasant man. Third, I’d select Usain Bolt. I don’t normally watch races, however watching him run was at all times thrilling.”

Sinner’s first opponent on the Nitto ATP Finals can be Alex de Minaur. The 25-year-old Australian is the primary from his nation to qualify for this prestigious year-end occasion since Lleyton Hewitt in 2004. De Minaur had the possibility to play doubles with Hewitt in Estoril in 2018 and Brisbane in 2019, even successful a match with him in Portugal.

“In tennis, Lleyton Hewitt could be my champion,” De Minaur shared. “Rising up, each Aussie child needed to be like him. I’ve discovered a lot from watching him play, and he’s additionally been my Davis Cup captain.”

“My favorite reminiscence with Lleyton was taking part in doubles alongside him. Watching him win Grand Slams on TV and turn out to be the world’s finest was inspiring. Quick ahead 20 years, and I obtained to share the court docket with him — it was a full-circle second.”

Taylor Fritz, who claimed the Indian Wells title in 2022 and broke into the Prime 5 in 2023, has maximised his profession with relentless laborious work and a champion’s mentality. His efforts have secured him a spot on the Nitto ATP Finals for a second time. Reflecting on his champions, the 27-year-old emphasised the significance of mindset.

“For tennis, I’d say Serena Williams. Exterior of tennis, I’d select Ronaldo and Kobe Bryant. It’s not only one second that conjures up me; it’s their excessive work ethic and aggressive spirit. Every of them embodies these qualities.”

In the meantime, Medvedev, the 2020 Nitto ATP Finals champion, mirrored on his favorite recollections and the feelings introduced by his chosen champions.

“One in tennis could be Nikolay Davydenko,” Medvedev mentioned. “It’s a detailed selection between him and Safin, however I used to be older after I watched Davydenko play, and I beloved his depth. Watching him win the Nitto ATP Finals was unimaginable. He beat Roger Federer, and I understand how laborious that’s. It was superb to see.

“Exterior of tennis, I’d select Leonardo DiCaprio, who’s a champion in his personal discipline. DiCaprio conjures up me as a result of I like his motion pictures; he’s a tremendous actor. My third decide is Bastian Schweinsteiger. He was a champion on the sector and in life. I do know him personally, and he’s an incredible man. His successful penalty in opposition to Actual Madrid in 2012 was unforgettable.”

Keep tuned for Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev’s picks on Monday.