2022 ATP First Time Champions Club

James P

James P

G.O.A.T.
First Timers Club 2022
Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) 01/15/22 @ Adelaide 2 ATP 250
Alexander Bublik (KAZ) 02/06/22 @ Montpellier ATP 250
Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) 02/13/22 @ Rotterdam ATP 500
Pedro Martinez (ESP) 02/27/22 @ Santiago ATP 250
Holger Rune (DEN) 05/01/22 @ Munich ATP 250
Sebastian Baez (ARG) 05/01/22 @ Estoril ATP 250
Tim van Rijthoven (NED) 06/12/22 @ s'Hertogenbosch ATP 250
Francisco Cerundolo (ARG) 07/17/22 @ Bastad ATP 250
Maxime Cressy (USA) 07/17/22 @ Newport ATP 250
Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) 07/24/22 @ Hamburg ATP 500
Brandon Nakashima (USA) 09/25/22 @ San Diego ATP 250
Marc-Andrea Huesler (SUI) 10/02/22 @ Sofia ATP 250



Continuation of the StringerTom tradition, we'll catalog the year's first time ATP Champions here.

To start off this week, we have a final between two players that have never won a title, so a guaranteed first time ATP Champion: Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia or Arthur Rinderknech of France in the Adelaide 2 250.
 
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James P said:
And the winner is...Thanasi Kokkinakis. First first-timer of the season.
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The next question: will he be the newest member of the other less celebratory club? His top half matchup vs qualifier Yannick Hanfmann will determine if he goes penthouse to outhouse, although the WATLYNM is a well furbished establishment.

Congrats, Thanasi!
 
stringertom said:
The next question: will he be the newest member of the other less celebratory club? His top half matchup vs qualifier Yannick Hanfmann will determine if he goes penthouse to outhouse, although the WATLYNM is a well furbished establishment.

Congrats, Thanasi!
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You don't think he deserves to at least meet Rafa in the 2nd round? (Once he's there who knows what can happen)
 
Aabye5 said:
You don't think he deserves to at least meet Rafa in the 2nd round? (Once he's there who knows what can happen)
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How do you read my post as stating Thanasi is not “deserving” to advance? I merely stated the fact he has a quick turnaround to avoid the WATLYNM trap that a majority of 2021 first time winners fell into.
 
I Am Finnish said:
He won the atp cup with his team
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No. Just no.
ray-liotta-laughing.gif
 
@James P , you will be busy in this thread over the weekend with 3 of the 4 Pune SFs, a guaranteed finalist (Bublik/Krajinovic) in Montpellier and 4 of the 8 QFists in Córdoba possible newbies.
 
It is still very tough going to even win a ATP 250 tournament for players that already in their past won a ATP 250. For 1st timers, it a break through in their career. They have achieve something only an elite # of Tour players have done in their careers.
 
Three bites at the apple today on three continents. I’m liking Tabilo’s chance to continue a strong Córdoba tradition as Factory of New Champions, followed by Emil’s chance to FINNISH with a flourish vs Sousagroan. Those are first finals for both.

Bublik has his work cut out vs Zedraffe in his attempt to avoid creeping up closer to Felix in the lost finals category (currently four behind).
 
James P said:
Congratulations Alexander Bublik, first title in his fifth attempt. Would have rated his title attempt the least probable, but he pulled it off!
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Hopefully he recovers well before 1R in Rotterdam vs The Muzziah. Tough draw there. Healthy Andy dominated at Wimby’17. Heavy Metal Andy may struggle in his WATLYNM sales pitch.
 
Jenson Brooksby with a shot at becoming the 4th first time champion of the year later today. He'd be the second born in the 2000s following Felix's should he manage to beat Reilly Opelka.
 
I'm actually shocked FAA won his first title, the meme was seemingly super powerful. Is Tsitsipas simply that bad or did Felix find something new within himself???
 
El_Yotamo said:
I'm actually shocked FAA won his first title, the meme was seemingly super powerful. Is Tsitsipas simply that bad or did Felix find something new within himself???
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Stefano isn't playing great - we've all seen him play better. But FAA really is playing well. He's improving and mentally getting it together.
 
We're going to have a first timer to add to the club tomorrow. Winner of the Chile Open, either Sebastian Baez or Pedro Martinez.
 
James P said:
We're going to have a first timer to add to the club tomorrow. Winner of the Chile Open, either Sebastian Baez or Pedro Martinez.
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Pedro to say, “I’m your daddy!” from his perch on the pitcher’s mound. Maybe it’s close if Sebi takes hitting lessons from his cousin Javier Baez.
 
I was rooting for Baez but congratulations to Pedro Martinez! It was a close match and better luck next time, Sebastian! (: (: (:
 
Guaranteed first time titleist in Munich this week as Holger Rune meets Botic van de Zandschulp. Sebastian Baez is also seeking his first title over in Estoril, facing the winner of Korda/Tiafoe.
 
James P said:
Big day as both Holger Rune and Sebastian Baez log their first titles. Also become the 7th and 8th titleists born in the 2000s
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They both join Kokkinakis, Bublik, Auger-Aliassime, Martinez as maiden titlists in 2022.
 
James P said:
Big day as both Holger Rune and Sebastian Baez log their first titles. Also become the 7th and 8th titleists born in the 2000s
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I told you it would be a busy weekend!

Let’s hope neither go from Maiden Circle to the WATLYNM. They are both off until attempting to qualify at Rome (WATLYNM lodgings are only offered if the loss is MD).
 
The 205th ranked ATP player in the world has a chance to add himself to the list, Tim van Rijthoven will face the winner of Medvedev and Mannarino. A tournament win would launch him nearly 100 spots up the rankings to #106 in the world, knocking on the door of the top 100.
 
James P said:
The 205th ranked ATP player in the world has a chance to add himself to the list, Tim van Rijthoven will face the winner of Medvedev and Mannarino. A tournament win would launch him nearly 100 spots up the rankings to #106 in the world, knocking on the door of the top 100.
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Roll over Rijhoven, dig these rhythm and blues!
 
James P said:
Congratulations Tim van Rijthoven, first ATP title, impressively knocking off two top ten players in the final two rounds for a pretty improbable title run!!
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And his 2R victory, while not vs top 10, was against a player with a grass title. This week was his first ever ATP Tour level competition on grass, preceded only by one match at Challenger level, a 1R exit at Surbiton two weeks ago.
 
Filip Krajinovic and Botic Van de Zandschulp keep the dream alive in Queen's. Emil Ruusuvuori appears to be Finnish.

Oscar Otte needs two more wins over in Halle.
 
Guaranteed finalist at Eastbourne (Cressy vs Draper).

Potential newbies at Mallorca: Bellier and Bonzi. I would not be surprised if the Wimby draw influences the efforts of RBA and/or Tsitsipas vs these guys if they wind up in the top half and potentially play on Monday. The draw is tomorrow morning at 1000 BST; the first match begins mid afternoon in Mallorca.
 
Francisco Cerundolo is in the final of Bastad this week, chance to join the first timers club. Compatriot Sebastian Baez stands in his way. In Newport, Jason Kubler and Maxime Cressy are in the final four and could meet in the final.
 
Four of The New Nine were born in a 2-month span of 1997. They are (oldest to youngest) van Rijhoven, Martinez, Cressy and Bublik. Only Kokkinakis is an older 2022 club member (now 26). Rune remains the youngest newbie and only teen.

Good distribution of surfaces with 4 on clay, two each on indoor HC and grass and one on outdoor HC.
 
Felix still only won at 500 level.

I got my eye on the CAN-CIN Masters hoping a youngster comes through there.
 
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