December 4, 2024

By: Simon Higson (ATP)

The 'New Balls Please' generation graduated in 2003 to become the established stars of the ATP circuit. So who now are the unheralded young players ready to make their mark in 2004?

Thierry Ascione (FRA)

Ascione had an outstanding season in 2003, climbing an astonishing 455 places to No. 89 in the ATP Entry Rankings. It was the biggest jump of any player who finished in the Top 100. The 22-year-old from Boulogne-Billancourt, France, compiled a 20-12 match record in Challenger events and won titles in Helskinki (d. Andreev) and Andrezieux (d. Beck). He also reached the second round of three ATP tournaments (Bangkok, Metz, TMS Paris), as well as making his Grand Slam debut at Roland Garros, where he lost in the first round to Albert Portas. Ascione, who first started playing tennis at age eight, comes from a sporting background - one of his uncles was European boxing champion and another was World military boxing champion.

Dmitry Tursunov (RUS)

This young Russian hit the spotlight at this summer's US Open, pulling off a shock first round five-set win over Gustavo Kuerten. Tursunov didn't stop there however, winning his next match against John Van Lottum before eventually falling to Xavier Malisse in three tight sets in the third round. Moscow-born Tursunov, who moved to California at age 12, also had a successful year at Challenger level, claiming titles in Mandeville (d. Hernych) and San Antonio (d. De Chaunac). He climbed 233 places in the ATP Entry Rankings and finished in the Top 100 year-end rankings for the first time in his career. The Russian improved his year-end ranking for the fifth time in six years.

Igor Andreev (RUS)

Andreev (pictured above) had a breakthrough year on the Challenger circuit in 2003, reaching three finals (Helsinki, Braunschweig, Tampere). But it was at ATP level that the Russian really came into his own, winning his first career ATP match as a qualifier in Bucharest against top seed Nikolay Davydenko. The 20-year-old Russian went on to defeat No.1 seed Sjeng Schalken in the first round of Moscow, and followed that up with a second round win over Ivan Ljubicic, before falling to Paul-Henri Mathieu in the quarterfinals. Andreev, who moved to Valencia, Spain, at age 15, finished with a 4-4 match record at ATP level.

Rafael Nadal (ESP)

Following successful results at Challenger and ATP level in 2003, Nadal (pictured left) finished in the Top 100 of the ATP Entry Rankings for the first time in his career this year. The young Spaniard, who is widely recognized as the next big thing in Spanish tennis, notched wins over the likes of Carlos Moya, Albert Costa and Younes El Aynaoui during a season in which he reached his first ATP semifinal (Umag). At age 17, Nadal made his Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon, reaching the third round and becoming the youngest player to reach that stage since a 16-year-old Boris Becker had done so in 1984.

Nicolas Mahut (FRA)

Mahut compiled a 23-13 match record at Challenger level and a 3-6 record at ATP level to finish in the Top 100 of the ATP Entry Rankings for the first time in his career in 2003. The Frenchman finished the year strongly, posting first round wins over Younes El Aynaoui and Sebastien Grosjean in Metz and Lyon respectively. Mahut, who won the Wimbledon junior title in 2000, also won his first TMS match at the BNP Paribas Masters, defeating Jarkko Nieminen in the first round before falling to Juan Carlos Ferrero in round two.

Singles Century Club

Players who have moved at least 100 places into the Top 100 ATP Entry Rankings from the 2003 year-end Entry Rankings.

Player Places Moved '03 Rank '02 Rank

Ascione, Thierry (FRA) 455 89 544
Tursunov, Dmitry (RUS) 233 98 331
Andreev, Igor (RUS) 196 90 286
Nadal, Rafael (ESP) 188 47 235
Mahut, Nicolas (FRA) 172 94 266
Moody, Wesley (RSA) 166 82 248
Soderling, Robin (SWE) 117 59 176
Hernandez, Oscar (ESP) 117 91 208
Volandri, Filippo (ITA) 106 48 154
Karlovic, Ivo (CRO) 101 74 175
Bogomolov Jr., Alex (USA) 101 97 198
Hanescu, Victor (ROM) 100 70 170